
Qass. 
Book. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 




"^^^^ cy^ /t^^^^^. 



, H 



HISTORY 



T 



BRUNSWICK, 



TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL, 



MAINE, 



INCLUDING THE ANCIENT TERRIIOKY KNOWN AS 



Itjepsrat. 



y 



GEORGE AUGUSTUS WHEELER, M.D., 



HENRY WARREN WHEELER. 



"Histories make men wise." — Bacon. 



'■^ No...;.' 



BOSTON: 

ALFRED MUDGE & SON, PRINTERS, 

18 78. 




7/ 



Copyright : 
By GEORGE A. akd HENRY W. WHEELER. 

1877. 



F^1 ^ 



y^ 



TO 

STfje IWemors of 

THK ESTEEMED CITIZEN, 

AND 

FAITHFUL AND EARNEST HISTORICAL STUDENT, 

TOE LATE 

M\ McKeEN, ESQUII^E, 

WHOSE KESEAKCIIES IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE 

PEJEPSCOT REGION 

JUSTLY ENTITLE HIM TO OUR GRATEFUL 
REMEMBRANCE, 

Srijfs Volurac fs Dct)fcateli. 



PREFACE, 



The labor of compiling a local history, though uot necessarily requiring a 
vciy high order of talent, does require a careful and conscientious examina- 
tion of a large amount of miscellaueous matei'ial. The difficulties attending 
a compilation of this kind are numerous and, many of them, not easilj^ to be 
anticipated In the words of Sterne, " When a man sits down to write a his- 
tory, though it be but the history of Jack Hickathrift or Tom Thumb, he 
knows no more than his heels what lets and confounded hindrances he is to 
meet with in his wa3^" 

So much is said Ijy waj^ of apology for the unavoidable errors that ma}^ 
perchance, be discovered in this volume. The undertaking itself needs no 
apology, as the value of such compilations, not only to the writers of general 
history, but also to the public more immediately interested, is now everj^where 
admitted. 

The aim of the compilers has been to furnish a work which should be valu- 
able rather than merely entertaining. 'Ihey have endeavored to give a faith- 
ful and complete history of the three towns, and although they have tried to 
make the volume more interesting by the introduction, when proper, of nar- 
ratives and traditions, yet this they have considered of secondary importance. 

The methodical ari'angement of a Avork of this kind, so as to embrace all 
that is desired and at tlie same time to avoid frequent repetition, is involved 
with difficulties, and is, after all, somewhat a matter of taste. In this work 
the arrangement by the topics into Avhich thesubjcct is most naturally divided 
has been adopted as, on the whole, the best. Each division of the subject 
has, however, been arranged in chronological order, and for further conve- 
nience of reference full indexes have been appended. 

It is proper, in this place, to acknowledge the assistance which the com- 
pilers have received, in various ways, in the prosecution of their work. Their 
very great indebtedness to the labors of the late John McKeen, Esquire, has 
already been shown, and is still further shown by the frequent reference to 
him throughout the book; but they desire also to acknowledge the kindness 
of Miss Frances A. McKeen in furnishing them with the private papers of her 
father. 

The name of the late Moses E. Woodman, Esquire, is also entitled to be 
held in grateful remembrance for the work he did in collecting and tracing the 
genealogy of Topsham families. 

Much interesting information has also been obtained from notes made by 
the late James McKeen, M. D. 



VI PREFACE. 

It is proper also to acknowledge to the public the great obligations of the 
compilers to the late Doctor John D Lincoln, both for tlie material assistance 
rendered by him, and for his steadfast encouragement in their nudertaking, 
from its very inception up to his last hours. 

The thanks of the compilers are also espcciall^v due to Mr. A. G. Tenney, 
for his pei'sonal help and advice, as well as for the great assistance atfordedby 
his file of the Bmnsvick Telegraph, and for the many courtesies extended by 
him; to Professor A. S. Packard, for valued advice and assistance, and for his 
kindness in affording unusual facilities for examining the books and papers in 
the historical and college libraries ; to General Joshua L. Chamberlain, Hon- 
orable Charles J. Gilman, Professor Stephen J. Young, and Professor Geoi'ge 
L. Vose, for valuable advice and assistance; to Eeverend Elijah Kellogg, for 
his manuscript lecture on the history of Harpswell ; to Messrs. Charles J. 
Noyes, Stephen Purinton, Edwin Emery, Professor Henry Carmichael, Rever- 
end George T. Packard, and Doctor Asher Ellis, for assist;uice in the collec- 
tion and preparation of material for tlie work ; and to the raan}'^ others who 
have, In one way or another, assisted them, the compilers return their sincere 
thanks. 

The various illustrations given in the book will, it is hoped, be satisfactory 
to the public. 'Y\\e portraits were furnished by and inserted at the expense of 
the friends of the persons whom they represent. 

The Pejepscot plan of the Brunswick and Topsham lots was made from two 
of the original plans, and was reduced and engraved by the photo-lithographic 
process, by J. H. Bufford's Sons, Boston. The map of Brunswick and Tops- 
hamAillages in 1S02 was compiled from a written description of Brunswick by 
the late John McKecn, Esquire, and from verbal descriptions of Topsham by 
Mr. James Wilson and the late Mrs. Nathaniel Green. 

All of the maps and most of the illustrations are from drawings made by 
Mr. Charles G. Wheeler, Bowdoin, Class of 1876. 

Whatever praise or censure may be due the authors for the manner in which 
they have executed their work should be equally divided Ijetween them, as it 
has been a joint production, in which they are themselves unable to specify 
their respective claims of authorship. 

In conclusion : To the citizens of tlie three towns, and more especially to 
those of Brunswick and Harpswell, whose interest in the work has been so 
fully shown by their liberal appropriations in aid of its publication, this vol- 
ume is offered with gratitude and respect, and its favorable reception will be 
deemed an ample remuneration for their labors by 

The AuTJioiis. 



CONTENTS. 



PART I. 

CHAPTER PAGE 

I. Aboriginal Inhabitants 1 

II. PE.JEPSCOT Purchase and Prior Settlements 7 

III. Doings of the Pe.iepscot Proprietors and Settlements 

UNDER TIIEM 27 

IV. Period of the Indian Wars 49 

PART II. 

I. Boundaries and Notable Features 75 

II. Municipal History of Brunswick 104 

III. Harpswell 155 

IV. TOPSHAM 180 

V. General and Social 205 

VI. Fires and Fire Companies 257 

VII. Courts and Trials, Crimes and Criminals, Lawyers . . 277 

VIII. Taverns and Public Halls, Mails, Newspapers, etc. . . 200 

IX. Diseases and Accidents, Frkshets 311 

X. Stages, Railroads, Navigation, Telegraph, etc 323 

XI. Buri-4X-Places and Epitaphs 339 

XII. Ecclesiastical History of Brunswick 352 

XIII. Topsham 406 

XIV. Harpswell 436 

XV. Educational History of Brunswick 456 

XVI. Topsham 482 

XVII. Harpswelt 493 

XVIII. BowDOiN College and Medical School of Maine . . . 498 

XIX. Public Lands, Roads, Bridges, etc 521 

XX Commercial History of Brunswick 552 

XXI. Topsham 603 

XXII Harpswell 618 

XXIII. Forts, Garrisons, Churches, etc., Brunswick 625 



vill CONTENTS. 

CIIAPTF.R PACK 

XXIV. Fours, Gaurisons, Churches, ktc, Topsham and Harps- 

WKI.I G51 

XXV. Interkstixg Relics 670 

XXVI. Military History of the Three Towns 676 

PART III. 

I. Bioguaphical Sketches 709 

II. Family Hisiories 827 

APPENDICES. 

APPtNDIX 

I. List of Early Settlers 865 

IT. List of Soldiers in the Indian Wars 875 

III. Revolution 880 

IV. War of 1812-U ....... 887 

V. Rebellion 896 

VI. List of National and State Officers from these Towns 916 

VII. Town Officers 919 

General Index 937 

Index of Names in Biographies and Family Histories 956 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PoiiTRAiT OF Joiix McKkkx, Esquirk Frontispiece. ' 

PAGE 

The Stocks, Brcnswick 281 

ToNTiNK Hotel, " 295 

President Allen's Academy, Bruxswich 47G 

Franklin Family School, Topsiia:\i 489 

BoAVDOiN College in 1821 498 

Androscoggin Bridge and Falls in 1828 549 

Old Hay-Scales, Topsiiam (;i;5 

Fort George, Brunswick G27 

Town House, " G3G 

First Meeting-House, Brunswick 037 

Third Meeting-House of First Parish, Brunswick 641 

Cornelius Thompson House, Brunswick 646 

Court House, Topsiiam 657 

Old Hunter Tavern, Topsiiam 658 

Walker Homestead, " GGl - 

Interior ov Old Meeting-House, Harpsweli 664 

Andrew Dunning House, " 668 

Joseph Orr Housis, " 669 

Portrait of Rev. George E. Adams, D. D 710 >/ 

PllESIDENT ApPLETON 714 

Prof. Parker Cleaveland 719 

Ebenezer Everett, Esquire 740 / 

Mr. Joseph Griffin 746 / 

Gen. John C Humphreys 754 J 

Dr. Isaac Lincoln 760 y 

Dr. John D. Lincoln 761 / 

President McKeen 763 

Major Nahum Perkins 785 

Mr. William S. Perry 780 

Mr. Francis T. Purinton 797 

Prof. William Smyth S03 >. 

Mr. Chari.es Thompson 810 v 

Rev. a. D. Wheeler, D. D 820 

ISIAPS AND PLANS. 
Pejepscot Company's Plan of Brunswick and Topsiiam . . . Cover. / 

PACE 

Settlements ix 1752 40 

Brunswick and Topsiiam Villages in 1802 72 

Roads in 1765 531 



PART I. 



" This is the place, — stand still, ray steed, 
Let me review the scene. 
And summon from the shadowy past. 
The forms that once have been ! " 

Longfellow, A Gleam of Sunshine. 



HISTORY 

OF 

Brunswick, Topsliam, and Harpswell. 



CHAPTER I. 

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS. 

The Indian race, formerh' occupying tlie territory now embraced 
by the State of Maine, was divided, as most autliors state, into two 
considerable nations, called the Etechemins and the Abena'kis. The 
former nation occupied the region east, and the latter that west, of 
the Penobscot River.' 

The Abenaki nation was composed of four principal tribes, viz. : — 

1. The Sokokis, who had their principal encampments upon the 
Saco River. 

2. The Anasagunticooks, who occupied the entire valley of the 
Androscoggin River. 

3. The Canibas, who dwelt upon the Kennebec, from its tide waters 
to its source. 

4. The Wawenocks, who reside between the Sagadahock and the 
river St. George, and upon the latter. ^ 

The Anasagunticooks were, at the first advent of Europeans, a very 
numerous, powerful, and warlike tribe. The Pejepscot Indians were, 
in all probabilit}^ a sub-tribe of the Anasagunticooks. The}' had cus- 
tomary places of resort, if not permanent places of residence, at the 
Brunswick Falls, at Maquoit, and at Mair Point. It is now considered 
probable, from the remains and relics found there, that the latter was 
the place of one of their villages in the sixteenth century.'-^ 

Like most of the native tribes, the Anasagunticooks were, at first, 

1 Willis, Maine Historical Collection, 4, p. 96. Vetromile, The Abenahis, p 17. 

2 Kidder, Maine Historical Collection, 6, p. 235 Williamson and others. 
8 John McKeen, Manuscript Lecture. 

1 



2 iii'^roRY OF nNi'xswrciy, ror$nA}r, Axn harps well. 

probably iVuMidly to (ho whitos. At lo:\st, our sottlorsnro roprosontcil 
as liviuii' with thorn upon tho most frioudly terms up to about tho timo 
ol' K'u\i^ Philip's War.^ 

Thoy soi>n, howovor, booamo oxtromoly and invotoratoly hostile to 
tho settlors upon their domain, and until their oxtorinination by 
disease and by the ago-rossions of the whites, they eontinned to exhibit 
their animosity by tVequont attaoks upon isolated settlements and habi- 
tations and by lyiug in ambush for individuals or small parties. 

The plaj:ne whii-h broke out anion<: them about the year UU.') or 
IGK) so redueed them that, in the latter year, they numbered only 
l,.")00 warriors.- 

Tlu'y were still further redueed in number by warfan> and other 
eauses, so that there were, aeeording to one authority,^ on Xovember 
24, ITlH), only the Indians in the tribe over sixteen years of age. 
John llegon was their sachem at this time. 

Twenty-five years later there were one hundred and sixty warriors in 
the tribe. ^ This is a large increase in number, but yet it shows how 
Aveak the tribe had become. 

The most celebrated sagamores of this tribe were Darumkin, Wo- 
rumbo, and llodgkins, — called sometimes Hawkins. Of the former 
but little is kijown, except that he was the father of Terranmgus. and 
on several occasions served as orator for the tribe. 

Worumbo is better known on account of his deed to Richard Whar- 
ton, July 7, U>Sl, continuing to him the lands fonuerly conveyed to 
and possessed by Thomas Purchase. 

llodgkins (or Hawkins), whose Indian name was Kankamagns, 
was, in reality, a sachem of the rennacooks, but he Joined the Andros- 
coggius alunit U)84, and lived with Worumbo. 

Mugg is thought to have been another of their sachen\s,"' although 
by some authors he is supposed to have belonged to the Penobscot 
tribe.*' He was very conspicuous in the Indian war of Ui7(>-77. On 
October Pi. of the former year, he assaulted Black Point, now 
Scarborough, with one hundred men, and caiUured it. In lt>77 he 
again besieged that garrison for three days, and killed three men and 
took one captive. He was himself killed, ^lav IG of that year. Prior 
to this war he had lived for some time with the English, and had been 
vexy friendly to them." 

^McKi'en, Mi^S. Lecture. Woodman, Manuecript Histonj o/P^V;ww*. 
3 M'illiiinmut, 1, p. +s;\ * Gyleg's :>taiement, Maint' Historical Collection, 3. p 357. 
"• ir//?/(t»n,vt>H, 1, p. 483. * Drake. Book of Indians, 3. p. 110. 

6 Ilistonj of Pcnmquid, p. 122, "^ Drake, Jiook of Indians, 3, p. 110. 



.(/.•0/.•/^7iV.l^ IS'IIAIIITANTS. 3 

'I'liiM cliicf iiiiihI, not lie conroiiiKlctl uitli Moji^;, — ;4fii<'iJilly known 
nH Mo};';^" Mc^onc!, — who wiih killed nl, the (inui of IJmhIc'h dcjilli 
(1721), ;in(l who lK!l(jn}/;(Ml to tlm Siic(j Indi.-ins. 

AnothtT of (h(!ir HjijjfnniorcH wmh IMiilip Will, ori^!,iniilly :i Ciijtc Cod 
Indian ; he wjim cjiptnrcd l»y tin; l''r»'ii<'li, .-it tlu; HJc^t! ol' Jionisbin'ii;, 
when only fourtcuMi y(^nr.H of nj^o. lic^iniunin^ with th(! Alu'nnki In- 
• liiuiM, he l)c<-:ini(', cvcnlnully, »i(!hi<'ror this triho. Will wjis l)ron;;,ht 
ii|) in llif fiiniily ol" ii I\Ir. Crocker, in which Ik; wiih tan^hl " to I'ciid, 
write, iind ciiihei'." Il(( pnrventcid, Ibr many yeiUH, Ihe linal extint;- 
tion of his trilie. lit; was six fei^t thret; inches in heii.rht, ami pos- 
HOHHod a <:;ood diiveloitincnt.' 

'Ph(! fact that tli(! lands oc(Mipied l»y the whiles were duly pinchased 
of and conveyed to them l»y the; Indians theniscdves, and that lhee;irlier 
setllei's in this region emleavored to (conciliate and make friends of 
them, seems to ha\(! had lint litth; ellect in reslrainin<^ tin; sava}i,'e 
disposition ol" tlu; natives. After the lirst oiithreak, they rarcrly lived 
on ically pe.-ieealde terms with the settlers, and when llicrc; were no 
actual hostilities ^^oiiif^' on, they were continnally strollinii' ahont and 
annoying' the inli;d»itants,'- and v.\'(.\\\ isolated acts of l"riendshi[) on the, 
p:irl, of individuals anionj^st tli(!in were corn[)uratively ran;. 

Thii Hcltlement of tli(! nf^ion occupied by this tribe, Hubs('f|iient t,o 
the time; of Kinjj; lMiili|>'M War, presents (tontinnal hccmics ol" <-:irna<;(! 
and destrnction, inidni{j;ht niussueres and conllaj^rations, imlil the tribe 
its(!lf becanio extinct. 

The lan<;iia«^(c of the y\i»enaki nation has been caicfidly sIikTkmI by 
many competcMit HtiidentH, bnt tla; (lillicidti(!H in tlu! way of thoroughly 
understandinj^ tlu! diiren^nt dialeetH are ho ^reaf that nnicli nncer- 
tainly still exists, both as to the correct proniinciution and dei'iv.-ition, 
and also as to \\n' meaning, of very many of tlu! names forni(;rly 
ap|)lied to localities. 'I'lu; Indian names, and tlmir si j>;n ideation in 
Knf^lisli, of som(( ol" tin; more important plac(!s, will, lUiverthelesH, 
l)rov(! inter(wtin<i;, and are therefon; <i;iv(!n in this (toinicction. 

AiJACADiissKT Riv(cr and Point. — Tlu; ori<;inal name (tf the point 
was Naf^nsset.'* At, a, later d:iy it was cidled I'oint: Agreeable. 
Ab!i<:ii,a,(hissct, or Ji n/ddii.^srf., one of its forms, nuians "to shine," 
the relleclion of tli(! lij^lit from the wat((rs of the bay probably "ivinf^- 
llicname.' This river and ))oinl, is not included within the present 
territory of eitluM- of t-lu! thr<!(! towns, bnt was within tht! limits of the 
l'eje[»scot tract as orij^inally clainuMl, and refen.'iice to it is often mad(!. 



1 Wili!(irnni)n, I, p. 481. ^ Me Keen. MSS. Lcrture. »/'<■/, puroi. J'ii/„r^. 

•' /Jr. Itiilliinl ill. t/if Uiiitnl Stdlcn (Joiixt Sitrvrij Iti'puri, 1808, /<. L'K;. 



4 HISTOBY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSJIAM, AXD IIARPSWELL. 

Aii-ME-LAii-coG-NETUR-cooK, whicli iiieans a place of much game, 
of fish, fowl, and beasts, was the ludian name for Brunswick near the 
Falls. 1 

Androscoggin. — The river now known as the Androscoggin, and 
from which the tribe inhabiting its shores received its name, was 
variously" called the Andsayunticook, the Ancongmiunticook, Aynasa- 
qwintf-g, and Amascoi'gan. The latter is the original of Androscog- 
gin, as appears b}' the deposition of the Indian Perepole.^ The 
name has been written in some sixt}^ different forms, as its sound was 
received b}' the ancient hunters, owners, and settlers. There seems 
to have been a disposition to make it conform to known words in the 
English usage. The name " Coggin" is a family' appellation in New 
England ; and it was easy to place before it, according to each man's 
preference, other familiar names, and to call the stream " Ambrose 
Coggin," *'Amos Coggin," "Andrews Coggin," " Andros Coggin," 
and '• Andrus Coggin." ^ Vetromilc* says that Coggin meaus " com- 
ing"; that Ammascoggin means "fish coming in the spring," and 
that Androscoggin means " Andros coming," referring to the visit of 
a former governor of the province. But the visit of Governor 
Andros was not made until 1688, while the river is called Andros- 
coggin in an indenture, made in 1G39, between Thomas Purchase and 
Governor Winthrop.^ 

Another authority ^ saj's the word means " the Great Skunk River." 
By another, ■'' it is said to be derived -from naamas (fish), kees (high), 
and auke (place), and to mean "the high fish place." According 
to Reverend Dr. Ballard,^ its derivation is from the word namas 
(fish), abbreviated, as is the frequent practice, by dropping the first 
letter, and Skaunhigan (Skowhegan), a fish-spear. The name may 
therefore be translated the Fish Spear, or Fish SiJearing. The name, 
as furnished b}^ Perepole, with his description, marked the part of the 
river above the Amitigoapontook — that is, the " Cla^'-land Falls" at 
Lewiston, — upward to ^'' Arockamecook" that is, the "Hoe-land," 
at Canton Point. The rips and shallows in this portion were favora- 
ble for spearing fish be3'ond an}' part below. 

Bttnganunganock, commonly shortened to Bunganock, is the name 

1 PejepsaA Papers. 

"^ Maine Historical Collection, 3, p. .S33, taken from the Pejepscot Papers. 

«Dr. Ballard in United States Coast Survey, 1868, p. 247. 

4 History of the Abenakis, p. 24. 6 See next chapter. 

6 Willis, Maine Historical Collection, 4, p. 115. 

''Potter, Maine Historical Collection, 4, p. 189. 

« Report of the United States Coast Su7rey, 1868, p. 247. 



ABOBIGIXAL INHABITANTS. 5 

of a small stream flowing into Maquoit Bay. It runs at the bottom of 
a deep ravine, suggesting the name of Bunganunganock, which means 
the " High-bank Brook." i 

Cathance River, pronounced b}' the Indians Kat-hak-nis, is said 
by them to mean bent., or crooked.^ 

Maquoit means the "bear-place " or "■ bear-bay." 

Merricoxeag. — This name was originallj- applied only to the In- 
dian "carrying-place" at the upper end of Harpswell Neck, but 
finally denoted the whole peninsula. The word in full would be 3fer- 
rucooKegan, from merru (swift, quick), and ooncgan (portage), mean- 
ing the " quick carrj'ing- place. "^ 

Pejepscot. — That portion of the Androscoggin River extending from 
Brunswick Falls to Merrymeeting Bay, and the adjacent land upon the 
south, was called Pejepscot. The word was originall}' applied to the 
water, and meant " crooked, like a diving snake." ^ 

QuABACOOK, meaning "the duck water place," ^ was the Indian 
designation of Merrymeeting Ba3\ The English name of this bay, ac- 
cording to one, and the most probable, tradition, had its origin from 
the meeting of the waters of five rivers. According to another ac- 
count, the name was due to the meeting of two surveying parties, and 
their enjo^-ment of the occasion upon its shores.*^ 

Sawacook, as the land upon the north side of the river where Top- 
sham is situated was called, signifies, according to one authority,''' 
"the burnt place"; according to other authorities it means either 
"a tree forking in man}- branches," or else it means " the place to 
find man}' cranberries."^ 

Sebascodegax is the Indian name of the Great Island in Harpswell. 
This name is supposed to be derived from k'tche (great) and fbasco- 
degan (measure), and this solution of the name shows that the na- 
tives had taken some means of measuring the island and had found it 
great.^ 

There are other Indian names of localities in the vicinit}' of Bruns- 
wick, Topsham, and Harpswell which have been preserved by tradi- 

i2)r. Ballard in United States Coast Survey Report for 18G8, p. 218. "^ Ihid. 

^Dr. Ballard in United States Coast Survey Keportfor 1868, pp. 248, 258. 
4 Willis, in Maine Historical Collection, 4, p. 108. 

^Pejepscot Papers, Perepole's Deposition. Also, Dr. True, in Brunsivick Tdeyraph, 
1864. 

6 Dr. Ballard in United States Coast Survey Beportfor 1868, p. 253. 

"^Dr. N. T. True, of Bethel. 

^Potter, Maine Historical Collection, 4,j9. 191. 

9 Dr. Ballard in United States Coast Survey Repjortfor 1868, p. 258. 



6 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

tion, but tliose that have been mentioned are the best known. The 
others hardly require particular mention in this connection. 

The Indians, in their travels from place to place, went b}' water 
whenever possible. The places where they were obliged to leave the 
water, either to go around falls and rapids or to cross from the salt 
water to the fresh, or from stream to stream, were called carrying- 
places, because at these places they were obliged to leave the water 
and carry their canoes. The paths the}' made from one carrying-place 
to another were called trails. The principal carrying-places were in 
Harpswell, at Condy's Point, Sebascodegan, the trail leading across 
the point, and at Indian Point Landing, on the northeast corner of 
Sebascodegan. There was also one across the upper end of JNIerki- 
CONEAG Neck. In Brunswick, the chief carr3'ing-places were : The 
Upper Carryixg-Place. This was at the bend of the river above the 
falls, and was the place where the Indians left the river on their waj' 
to Maqnoit. The name was given to distinguish it from the lower or 
Stevens's Carrying-Place. The latter was at the narrow neck of laud 
between the N'ew Meadows liiver and Menymeeting Ba}'. The land 
was owned in 1673 by Thomas Stevens, hence its name. Wigwam 
Point, a small point of land extending into the New Meadows River, 
a short distance above the dike or bridge at the foot of Ham's Hill, 
though not strictl}' a carrying-place, was a landing-place of the Indians, 
who probably had a wigwam there. It was once called Indian Town. 

In Topsham, the chief carrying-place was at the Androscoggin 
River, above Merrill's, and the trail led to Cathance Pond. It is 
probable there was another carrying-place at the head of Muddy 
River, with trails leading to the Androscoggin and Cathance Rivers. 

After Lovewell's war, the Indians dwelling on the Androscoggin, 
finding they were too weak to protect themselves either from the set- 
tlers or from other tribes, moved to Canada and joined the Saint 
Francis tribe. Even the bones of their ancestors are no longer to be 
found, and naught but a few names remains to remind us of the exist 
ence of this once powerful tribe. 



PEJEPSCOT PURCHASE, AND PPdOIi SETTLEMENTS. 



CHAPTER II. 

THE PF.JIU'SCOT rUUCIIASE, AND PRIOR SETTLEMENTS. 1605-1714. 

The earliest voyage of discover}' made to the immediate vicinity of 
the Androscoggin River was possibly that of Captain George Wey- 
mouth, in the spring of IfiOo. He is supposed to have come up to the 
falls. 1 That it was the Sagadahoc River, and not tlie St. George's or 
the Penobscot, which Weymouth visited, has not, however, been full}' 
settled. 

[1607.] lie was followed in the year 1G07 l)y Captain George 
Popham, who arrived near Monhegan, July 31, in two vessels, the 
" Gift of God " and the " Maiy and John," canying one hundred and 
twenty planters. From Monhegan they went to Cape Small Point, 
and built a fort on Atkins Ba}'. This fortification was named Fort 
Saint George. Though the place was abandoned the next summer, it 
was intended to be a permanent settlement, and was occupied sufli- 
ciently long to establish its claim to be called the first English settle- 
ment on the New England coast. 

[1G20.] In the year 1620 a charter was granted by King James I 
to forty " noblemen, knights, and gentlemen," constituting them a 
body corporate, called the Council of Plymouth. Their territorial 
limits extended from the fortieth to the forty-eighth parallel of lati- 
tude, and from sea to sea. 

The Council of Plymouth, in addition to the grant to the Plymouth 
Compan}^ of New England, granted patents in the Piovince of IMaine 
to the Kennebec (or New Plymouth) Company', the Muscongus 
(or Waldo) Company, and to the Pemaquid Company'. 

[1632.] They also, June 16, 1632,2 granted a patent to Thomas 
Purchase and George Way. B}' some this patent is thought to have 
emanated directly from King James. ^ The i^atent itself was lost,"^ and 
no record of it has been found. It is known to have existed from the 
frequent references to it in old deeds and other documents.'' 

1 McKeen, Maine Historical Collections, 5. p. 335. 

2 Willis, History of Portland, p. 64. 8 Pejepscot Records, Statemmt of Title. 
* Very likely ivhen Purchase's house was burned. 

5 "■A Patient for a Plantation att Pechipscot," is recorded in the " Cattahfjiie of such 



8 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AXD HARP SWELL. 

The Thomas Purchase above named was undoubtedly the first 
indi^'idual to settle in tiiis region of the Androscoggin. He came 
about the 3'ear 1628, before the issue of the patent, therefore, and 
located himself somewhere within the limits of the present town of 
Brunswick. Whereabouts he established his house is a matter of 
doubt. The question is discussed at some length in the Pejepscot 
Records.! Abram Whitney, who lived at Little River in 179G, 
Samuel Wilson, Symonds Baker, a Mr Tebbetts, and Andrew Dun- 
ning all testified, about 1796, that according to common report, 
prevalent during their childhood, Thomas Purchase lived at the Ten- 
Mile Falls (Little River), and that they had seen there an old chimne}' 
and a cellar, which the aged people called Purchase's cellar. John 
Moulton, Gideon Ilinkley, and Richard Knowles testified in 1794, 
Thomas Thompson and James Hunter, of Topsham, in 1795, to the 
effect that they had been told by their parents and other aged people 
that Purchase formerly lived at New Meadows River, at a place after- 
wards known as " Stevens's Carrying-Place." A great many others 
testify, on one side or the other, and a certain number of them to the 
effect that his residence was at the Pejepscot Falls. ^ 

The opinion has been expressed b}' some that Purchase, on first 
settling down as a trader with the Indians, dwelt at what was subse- 
quently known as Stevens's Carrying-Place, and that when the English 
settled in somewhat near proximity to him, he, in order to monopo- 
lize, as much as possible, the trade with the natives, moved up to the 
Pejepscot Falls, and subsequently to the Ten-Mile Falls. Since it is 
known, however, that he very earl}' went into the fishing business, it 
would seem quite as probable that he first settled at the falls, and 
afterwards, when too old to carry on the fishing business, took a farm 
at New Meadows. - Thei'e is, probably, no reasonable basis for the 
supposition, entertained b}' some, that there were three individuals of 
the same name, situated near each other. ^ 

Nothing has been found to show that George Way was ever settled 
in this vicinity. At the time the patent was issued Way lived in 
Dorchester, England ; and though his widow and sons afterwards 
resided in Hartford, Conn., it is not known, with certainty, that he 
himself ever came over to this countr}'. 

Pattentes as I know (j ranted for malcin^i Plnntacons in New Kn[/land," No. V), Vol 2, 
Colonial Records, in the Public Record Office, London. (See Maine Historical Collections, 
Memorial Volume, p. 124 ) ■ 1 Statement of Title. 

2 There are said to he nearly one hundred depositions in the Pejepscot Records, in ref- 
erence to the residence of Thomas Purchase. 

8 See Sketch of Purchase in Part III. 



PEJEPSCOT PUnCHASE, AND PBIOR SETTLEMENTS. 9 

The grant to Purchase and Way was not very extensive. It is 
defined as " certain lands in New England called the river Bishops- 
cotte, and all that bounds and limits the main land adjoining the 
river to the extent of two miles" only.^ The river called Bishops- 
eotte is undoubtedly that portion of the Androscoggin known as the 
Pejepscot. The old patents were apt to be indefinite, and oftentimes 
conflicted with one another, but this grant seems unusually definite as 
to its width, and tallies well with the following indenture, between 
Thomas Purchase and Governor Winthrop : — 

" This indenture, made the 22"' day of the 5* M^ @ 1639, betweene 
Thomas Purchas, of Paglscott, gentleman, of the one parte, and John 
Winthrope, Esq : Governo'' of the Massachusets, on the behalfe of 
himselfe, the Governo'' & Company of the Massachusets, on the other 
parte, witnesseth, that the said Thomas, for divers good causes & con- 
siderations him therevnto moveing, hath given & granted, & b}' these 
p''sents doth give & gi'ant, vnto the said John AVinthrope & his suc- 
cessors, the Governo'' & Company of the Massachusets, forever, all 
that tract of land at Pagiscott aforesaid, vpon both sides of the rjver 
Androscoggin, being four miles square towards the sea, w"' all liber- 
ties & priviledges therevnto belonging, so as they may plant the same 
w"' an Inglish colon}' when they shall see fit. and shall have as full 
power to exercise iurisdiction there as they have in the Massachusets ; 
provided, that the interest & possession of such lands as the said 
Thomas now vseth, or shall make vse of, for his owne stock, & 
improvement w*'' in seaven yeares next ensuing the date hereof, shall 
bee & remaine to the said Thomas & his heires & assignees forever 
vnder the iurisdiction afoi-esaid ; and as well the said Thomas himselfe, 
& his famil}', & his heires & assignes, as all other the inhabitants vpon 
said lands, are forever to bee vnder the due ptection of the said Gov- 
ern©'' & Compan}', b}^ order of the Generall Court, as other inhabi- 
tants of the same iurisdiction are : This grant by approbation of the 
said Generall Court to bee recorded and exemplified vnder the comoi 
scale, or otherwise to be voyde — In witnes whereof the parties abo^ 
said have herevnto interchangably set their hands & scales the df 
& yeare first above written. 

TnOMAS PUKCHES. 
Signed, sealed & deliv'ed iu the i^eseuce of 

Stephen Winthrope 

Thom : Lechfori> 

Amos Richardson.^ 

^ Maine Historical Collections, \,i). 152. 

^Records of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay in Nov England, 1, pp. 27' 



10 HISTORY OF nnrxswicK, topsham, axd harpswell 

It is uiMiorally (H>nsi(lcM-iMl thnl this deed givos the riiilit ol' jurisdic- 
tion only. ;ind not tho rijilit to the soil. The '' four miles square 
towards the soa "" eau only refer to the direction towards Casco Bay, 
which is only about four miles distant. Up to this time Purchase was, 
probably, the only settler within the limits of what constitutes the 
present towns of Brunswick, Topsham, and Ilarpswell. 

[I(!."t7.] There was about this time considerable uncertainty as to 
what government had jurisdiction over this region. It was deter- 
mined, in the year 1(1.")7, by an action brought for the i)urpose, by 
the widow Elizabeth ^Vay against Purchase.^ The matter was 
referred to the General Court of ^Massachusetts. In the legislature 
tliere was a ditferenee of opinion on the subject, and tliat body ap- 
l^ointed Monntjoy to run the easterly line of ^Massachusetts. He did so, 
and it was found that it extended to the month of the Sagadahock.- 

[lOi;;) to l(w().] About the year li^G',) Thomas Gyles settled at 
Pleasant l\>int. on ^Merrymeeting Bay, in what is now Topsham. He 
purchased a tract of land two miles long and t)ne mile broad, on the 
left bank of the Pejepseot. of Thomas Watkins, one of the residents 
on the Kennebec, and also of the Indian sachem, Darumkin.-* His 
biother ,lanies settled near him.'* as did also James Thomas and Sam- 
uel York, who, July lH), 1670, bought of Pobinhood and Daniels all 
the tract of land l)etween Gyles's lot and Terramugus^ Cove.^ 

In 1()7.") Thomas Purchase added to the land granted by the Council 
oi' Plymouth, a large tract oil the river, which he had bought of the 
Indians." duly od of this year, Thomas Stevens, who had previouslj' 
owned land in North Yarmouth, settled at New Meadows, and bought 
a tract oi' land on the New ^Meadows River, of three Indian saga- 
mores, Ki)binhooil. Kramket Daniels, and IManessumet.*' He had pre- 
viously bought land of Thomas Purchase.-' 

The land purchased of the above-mentioned sagamores was " a 
•ertain [nece or i^arcel of land adjoining to Pejepseot Kiver, butted 

id bouiuled as follows : To the land of Thomas Stephens, now in 

>ssession, east, and to Alister Coombs, his land, south, and from 

3 head of Alister Coombs, his marsh, westerly, to a certain path, 

Mdsaachusetts Bap Cohmt/'s Records, Vol. 4, Part 1, ;>. 3i>l. 
McKecn, MSb. Lecture. 

York Counti/ Records, 10, /). 82. * Gi/lcs Memorial, p. 103, ct seq. 

liis core, named/or an Indian chief, is beiiceen the flour mill of Purinton, Beau- 
lO Co., on the "'Granni/ Hole " stream, and the Topsham end of the railroad 

le Historical Collection, 3. ;>. 315, et seq. ' Williamson. Ihihbard. 

Countii Records, 9, p. 254. * Maine Historical Collection, 3, p. 315. 



VKJKPSCOT PURCHASE, AND PRIOR SETTLEMENTS. W 

called the carrying path, or carrying place, and IVoni said path upon a 
strait line to a certain island, commonly called the Stave Island, 
standing at the lower end of I'ejepscot Narrows, and to I'ejepscot 
River north, and to the aforesaid land of Thonnis Stephens easterly, 
to hold in fee with general warranty." ^ 

June 30, 1076, Stevens sold the above-described piece of land to 
Lancellot I'ierce, who resided there for " some time." What l)ecame 
of liim is not known, but as William Pierce, of Milton, in 171."), 
claimed this land as heir of Lancellot Pierce,^ it is probable that 
the latter moved to Milton or that vicinity, and died there. Stevens 
probably lived on the land which he bought of Purchase. 

In 1072 Nicholas Cole and John Purrington bought of Sagettawon 
and Robin lIoo<l, Indian sagamores, "all the Land Lying & Being 
between the Two Carrying Places Upon Merriconeag Neck Beginiiing 
at the head of the Westermost Branch of Wiggen Cove so directly 
over to Wester Bay to the Bight, and so ui) along the neck from side 
to Side untill they come to the Uppermost Carrying place at the head 
of the Wester Bay at the Meadow which George Phipping has formerly 
mowed, so over to the head of the crick that Coukjs in from the Easter 
Bay" ; also " That whole Tract of Meadow which they have formerly 
possessed Upon the Great Island lying and being at the head of the 
Cove against the Little Cove on Great Jebege Island " The deed was 
witnessed by Thomas Stevens and his wife, Margaret. ^ It is probable 
that Purrington himself did not occupy this land. If he did, he after- 
wards moved to Arundel.'* 

Nicholas Sluipleigh, of Kittery, had, about the year 1G59, though the 
exact date is unknown, purchased and caused to be settled Merri- 
coneag (Ilarpswell) Neck and the island of Sebascodegan. Tlie pur- 
chase was made of the Indians, and the price paid for the deed was 
" a considerable sum of wampumpeag, several guns, and a parcel of 
tobacco."^ There is no special reason for supposing, however, that 
Shapleigh actually settled there himself. 

[1G8;3.] This land of Purchase and Way, and of Nicholas Shap- 
leigh, all came into the hands of Richard Wharton, a Boston merchant. 
July 4, 1GH3, John Shapleigh, the heir of Nicholas, sold to Richard 
Wharton " all that tract or neck of land called Merryconeg in Casco 
Bay, Province of Maine, and is bounded at head or upper end, with 
the plains of Pejepscot or lands late belonging to or claimed by Mr. 



1 Pejepscot Papers, Statement of Title. ^ Pejepscot Palmers. 

^ Pejepscot Papers. * Ibid. ^ Pejepscot Records. 



12 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

Purchase, and on all other sides or parts is inconipassed and bounded 
with and by the salt water ; and also all that the aforesaid island 
called Sebasco, alias Sequasco-diggin." ^ 

October 10, 1683, Eleazer Way, of Hartford, son and heir of George 
Wa}', the partner of Thomas Purchase, sold to Richard Wharton, for 
£100, '•' one moiet}- or half part, or whatever share or proportion, be the 
same more or less, he the s*^ Eliazer Way, now hath, may, might, should, 
or in anywise ought to have or claim, of, in or to a certain tract or 
parcel of land commonl}' called and known by name of Pejepscot, 
situate, l^'iug, and being within the Province of Maine in New Eng- 
land aforesaid," together with one half of all lands, uplands, meadows, 
etc., belonging to the same, " which said tract of land and prfemises for 
the space of fort}' ^^ears, or thereabouts, before the late war with the 
Indians, was in the actual possession and improvement of Mr, Thomas 
Purchase, and was actually given by patent from the Council of Plym- 
outh within said Kingdom of England, to the said George Way, and 
Thomas Purchase, deceased." '^ 

October 25, 1683, John Blaney, of Lynn, and Elizabeth, his wife, 
the former widow of Thomas Purchase, of Pejepscot, deceased, and the 
administratrix of his estate, testified " that said Eliazer Wa}' had sold 
his [Purchase's] moit}' to s"* Wharton in s** Patent b}' the consent of 
the children of s*^ Purchase for their support and settlement for £150," 
reserving seven lots which were secured to the children by articles in 
the deed. The portion sold was, " All that moiety, half deal and 
remaining share, whatsoever the same is or may be, of the said lands 
late belonging to the s*^ Thomas Purchase by virtue of the said patent 
on any other right in partnership with the said George or Eliazer Wa}', 
aifl all the right and title, propriet}' and interest which the said 
Tllomas Purchase died seized of, or that he might, should, or ought 
tolhave had in the said Province of Maine." The children of Pur- 
chlse signified their consent to the sale on the deed itself. ^ 

V will be seen, from the above extracts, that at this time Wharton 
owiied the whole of what is now the town of Ilarpswell, — except a few 
islaiids, — the greater portion of Brunswick, and a tract on the river in 
what is now the town of Topsham. 

[lV)84.] On July 7, 1G84, Worumbo and five other Indian saga- 
mores signed and delivered to Wharton the following deed : — 

" '"'') .1^ People to whom these presents shall come, Know Yee that 
whereas iic-.ix'" hree score vears since M"" Thomas Purchase deceas'd 



1 Pejepscot Wipers, Statement of Title. '- Ibid. 3 jua. 



PEJEPSCOT PURCHASE, AND PRIOR SETTLEMENTS. 13 

came into this Countrey as wee have been informed and did as well by 
Power or Patent derived from the King of England as b}^ consent con- 
tract & agreement with Sagamores & Proprietors of all the Lands 
lying on the Easterly Side of Casco Bay & on the both sides of 
Androscoggen River & Kennebeck River, enter upon & take posses- 
sion of all the Lands lying four Miles Westward from the uppermost 
Falls in S'^ Androscoggan River to Maquoit in Casco Ba}- & in the Lands 
on the other side Androscoggan River from above s*^ Falls down to 
Pejepscot and Menymeeting Ba}' to be bounded by a South West & 
North East Line to run from the upper part of s** Falls to Kennebeck 
River & all the Lands from Maquoit to Pejepscot & to hold the same 
Breadth where the Land will bear it down to a place called Atkins his 
Ba}' near to Sagadahock or the Westerly side of Kennebeck River & 
all the Islands in the S"^ Kennebeck River & Land between the said 
Atkins bis Bay & Small Point Harbour the Lands & Rivers & Pond 
interjacent containing in breadth about three English Miles more or 
less, And whereas we are well assured that Maj'' Nicholas Shapleigh 
in his lifetime was both by purchase from the Indian Sagamores our 
Ancestors and consent of M'. Gorges Commissioner possessed & d3'ed 
Seized of the remainder of all the Lands lying & adjoining upon the 
Maine & all the Islands between the said Small Point Harbour & 
Maquoit afores'd & particularly of a Neck of Land Merryconege & an 
Island called Sebasco Diggin. And whereas the Relicts & Heirs of 
said Mr Purchase and Maj'' Nicholas Shapleigh have reserved accom- 
modations for their several Families sold all the remainder of the 
aforesaid Lands & Islands to Richard AVharton of Boston Merch*, 
And for asmuch as the said M'' Purchase did personally possess 
improve & inhabit at Pejepscot afores*^ near the Centre or Middle of 
all the Lands afores'^ for near fifty years before the Late unhappy War, 
And Whereas the s'^ Richard Wharton hath desired an enlargement 
upon and between the s^ Androscoggen & Kennebec Rivers & to en- 
courage the Said Richard Wharton to settle im English Town & pro- 
mote the Salmon and Sturgeon Fishing by which we promise our Selves 
great Supplies & Relief. Therefore & for other good causes & consid- 
eration, & especialh' for & in consideration of a Valuable Sum received 
from the S'^ Wharton in Merchandize. Wee Warumbee, Darumkine, 
Wihikermet. Wedon-Domhegon, Neonongasset, & N'5mbauewet Chief 
Sagamores of all the aforesaid and other Rivers & Land Adjacent have 
in conformation of the said Richard Whartons Title & Propriety full}' 
freely and absolute^ given granted ratifyed & confirmed to him the said 
Richard Wharton all the afores*^ Lands from tlie uppermost part of 



14 IIISTOEY OF BRUNSWICK, TOrsiIAM, AND HARrSWELL. 

AxDRoscoGGAN Falls Fouu Miles "Westwaixl & so down to Maquoit & 
by Said River of Pejepscot & from the other side of Androscoggan Falls 
all the Land from the Falls to Pejepscot & Merrymeeting Ba^' to Ken- 
ebeck & towards the Wilderness to be bounded hy a South West & 
North East Line to extend from the upper part of the said Andros- 
coggan UPPERMOST Falls to the said River of Kenebeck & all the Land 
from Maquoit to Pejepscot «fe to run & hold the same Breadth AVhere the 
Land will bear it unto Atkins his Bay in Kenebeck River & Small Point 
Harbour in Casco Bay and all Islands in Kenebeck & Pejepscot Rivers 
& Merrymeeting Bay & within the afores'' Bounds. Especiall}' the 
aforesaid Neck of Land called Merryconege & Island called Sebasco 
Deggin Together with all Rivers Rivulets Brooks Ponds Pools Waters 
Watercourses. All wood Trees of Timber or other Trees & all Mines 
Miueralls & Quarries and especially the Sole & absolute use & benefit 
of Salmon and Sturgeon Fishing in all the Rivers Rivulets or Bays 
afores"^ & in all Rivers Brooks Creeks or Ponds within an}- of the 
Bounds aforesaid. And also Wee the Said Sagamores have upon the 
considerations aforesaid given granted bargained & sold enfeoffed & 
confirmed & do bv these presents give grant bargain sell aliene enfe- 
otfe & confirm to him the said Richard Wharton all the Land lying 
FrvE Miles above the uppermost of the said Androscoggan Falls in 
Breadth & Length holding the same Breadth from Androscoggan Falls 
to Kenebeck River & to be bounded by the afores*^ South West and 
North East Line & a parcell of Land at Five Miles Distance to nin 
from Androscoggan to Keunebeck River as afores*^ Together with all 
the Profits Priviledges Commodities Benefits & Advantages & particu- 
larly the Sole Propriety Benefit & Advantage of the Salmon & Stur- 
geon Fishing within the Bounds & Limits aforesaid To have & to 
hold to him the said Richard Wharton his heirs & assignes for ever all 
the aforenamed Lands Priveledges &, Premises with all benefits rights 
appurtenances or advantages that now do or hereafter shall or may 
belong nnto any part or parcell of the Premises fully freely & abso- 
lutely acquitted & discharged from all former & other gifts grants 
bargains sales m^irtgages & Incumbrances whatsoever, And Wee 
the said Warnmbee Dernmkine Wihikermet Wedon-Domhegon, Neon- 
ongasset & Numbenewet do covenant & grant to & with the said 
Richard ^^'llarto.ti that we have in our selves good right & full power 
thus to confirm <»c convey the premises & that we our heirs and suc- 
cessors shall & ^vjii wan-ant & defend the said Richard Wharton his 
heirs & assignes for ever in the peaceable enjoyment of the Premises 
& ever}' part tliereof against all and ever}' person or persons that may 



rEJEPSCOT PURCHASE, AND PRIOR SETTLEMENTS. 15 

legal!}' claim an}" right Title Interest or Propriet}^ in the Premises by 
from or under us the abovenamed Sagamores or an}- of our Ancestors 
or Predecessors, Provided nevertheless that nothing in this Deed be 
construed to deprive us the S*^ Sagamores our Successors or People 
from improving our antient planting grounds nor from hunting in any 
of the said Land being not inclosed nor from fishing for our own pro- 
vision so long as no Damage shall be to the English Fishery, Provided 
also that nothing herein contained shall prejudice any of the English 
Inhabitants or Planters being at present actually possessed of any of 
the Premises & legally deriving right from S*^ Mr. Purchase &c or 
Ancestors. In witness hereof we the aforenamed Sagamores well 
understanding the Purport hereof do set to our hands & Scales at 
Pejepscot the seventh Day of July in the thirty fifth year of the Reign 
of our Sovereign Lord King Charles the Second One Thousand Six 
hundred eighty four. 

The mark of Warumbee %«fy [His 

^^ ^eal] 

The mark of Darumkixe )^ [Seal] 
Sealed and Deliv- 
ered In pres- ^.^v 
ence of The mark of Wihikermet ^^ [Seal] 

Jonx Blaxey / 

James Anduews The mark of Wedon Domhegox /o/ [Seal] 

Henry Walters / 

John Parker 

Geo. Felt The mark of Xehonoxgasset ^^ [Seal] 

The mark of Xumbeneavet Cs^ [Seal]" 

Upon this deed was the following indorsement : — 
" Upon the day of date of the within written deed the several Sag- 
amores whose names are subscribed thereto & inserted therein did at 
the Fort at Pejepscot deliver quiet and peaceable possession of the 
premises with livery and seizen to Mr. John Blaney and wife in their 
own right as she is administratrix of the estate of Thomas Purchase 
dec'd and in the right of his children. Also the S*^ Mr. Blaney Attor- 
ney to Mr. Eleasar Way did the same day deliver quiet & peaceable 
possession, with Livery & Seizen of the Premises to Mr. Richard 
Wharton, the Quantity of Seven hundred Acres of Land being 
excepted according to a Former Agreement." This was signed by 
Henry Waters and John Parker, and sw^orn to July 19, 1684, before 



16 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

Edward Tyng, justice of the peace. On Jul}' 21 following, Warum- 
bee, for himself and the other sagamores who sealed and delivered 
the foregoing deed, acknowledged it to be his and their free and volun- 
tary act, before the same justice. James Andrews, on July 21, 1684, 
and John Parker, July 9,- 1684, two of the subscribing witnesses, made 
oath before the same justice, that thej^ saw this deed signed, sealed, 
and delivered 

John Parker furthermore swore, at the same time, and before the 
same justice, that he saw possession given, together with livery and 
seizin of the premises, in presence of the several witnesses before 
named, and further stated that upon the eleventh day of Jul}', he with 
Henry Waters was present and saw Worumbo deliver possession and 
livery and seizin "b}' a turf and twig and a little water taken by him- 
self off the land and out of the main river above Androscoggin Falls, 
to Richard "Wharton in full compliance with the conveyance of the 
premises within granted and confirmed." 

This deed, with the several proofs thereof and possession given 
thereon, were recorded iu the Province (York) records, July 26, 1684.^ 

Wharton fouijd his deed encumbered by prior deeds, one of which 
was an Indian deed, dated 1659, to John Parker, the consideration for 
which was ' ' one Beaver skin received and the yearl}' rent of one 
bushel of corn and a quart of liquor, to be paid on or before the 25"^ 
of December." ^ It is probable that tliis was the same tract of land 
(Sebascodegan) which Wharton, in behalf of his son AVilliam, sold to 
John Parker on July 20, 1684.3 

The fort referred to in this Worumbo deed was not, as will be 
noticed by the date, the one built by Governor Andross in 1689, nor 
Fort George, which was built still later. 

In this connection, it is proper to speak of the claim of the Eaton 
famil}- to the territory now comprising the town of Brunswick. Ac- 
cording to tradition, Jacob Eaton came here from Salisbur}', Massa- 
chusetts, about 1680, or earlier, with one Michael Malcom, as a trader 
and trapper with the Indians. They are said to have bought this 
tract of land of the Indians, and the family believe, and it has been 
thought b}' members of the legal profession, that there was a valid 
claim. There are no deeds in possession of the family, and none were 
found iu the York Count}' records to substantiate this claim. It is 
very pro1)able, however, that there was such a purchase from the In- 
dians, and that this Vtas one of the " prior claims " referred to as com- 

^Pcjepscot Records. 'Ibid. 8 York County Records, 4, 2). 19. 



PEJEPSCOT PURCHASE, AXD PRIOR SETTLEMENTS. 17 

plicating Wharton's deed. Unfortunately for the famih-, however, a 
deed from the Indians would not be vaUd if there was at any time a 
grant from the throne of England covering the same territory. Such 
a grant Purchase and Wa}' undoubtedly had, and as this land came 
legally into the possession of "Wharton, and as, at a later da}*, the claim 
of the Pejepscot proprietors was acknowledged to be valid b^' the Com- 
monwealth of Massachusetts, there can be no question that, whatever 
claim the Eatons ma}* have once had, it is now irrecoverably lost. 
The case would be no better if the Eaton claim should be proved to 
have been derived from the Kennebec or Pl^-mouth Compan}-. 

[1G91.] About the year 1601, one Nicholas Cole, who had previ- 
ously settled on Harpswell Neck under a title derived from the Indians, 
set up his claim to possession under an old title of Harvard College. 
It seems that on Februar}* 7, 1682, the Cxeneral Court of Massachu- 
setts granted '^ INIerriconeag Neck with 1,000 acres of land adjacent," 
to the President and Fellows of Harvard College.^ The same year 
the same Court also granted to Richard Wharton 1,000 acres of land 
'"• in the Province of Maj-ne, either upon any free Island or place upon 
the Mayne." ^ The college afterwards became anxious to secure the 
grant which had been made in 1682, and applied to the legislature for 
its contirmation ; the decision was, however, in favor of the Pejepscot 
proprietors, into whose possession the property had come. The col- 
lege obtained permission to review the case, but were again defeated. ^ 

Notwithstanding these decisions, the General Court, on May 7, 
1684, granted " to the Honoured Deput}', Governour Thomas Dan- 
forth, Esq., President of the Province of Maine, and to Sumner 
Nowell, Esq., for their great Pains and good Service, done b}' order 
of this Court, in the expedition in several Journeys to Casco, for 
which no Recompense hath been made them, an Island called Shebis- 
codego, in Casco Ba}^ in the Province of Maine, Provided the}* take 
the said Island in full satisfaction for all service done, referring to the 
Settlement of the Proviuce of Maine to this da}-." ^ 

OTHER EAULY SETTLERS. 

[1653.] In 1653 the General Court of New Plymouth appointed 
Thomas Prince a commissioner to institute a civil government in 
this portion of the Province of Maine. A meeting of the inhabi- 
tants was notified by Prince, to be held at the house of Thomas Ash- 



1 Attested Copy of Court Record in Pejepscot Papers. ^Ibid. 

^McKean, MSS. Lecture. 

* Attested copy of Court Record in Pejepscot Papers. 
2 



18 lUSTOhY OF BRUXSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

ley at Merrymeeting Bay, in what is now called Dresden,' on May 25, 
1C)54. 

At this meeting "Thomas Purchase of Pejepscot" was chosen 
" Assistant to the Government," and John Ashle}-, constable. Prince, 
also, at this meeting, administered the oath of allegiance to sixteen 
men. 2 The residence of these men was, for the most part, on the 
east bank of the Kennebec and on the Sagadahoc. Alexander Thwait, 
one of the number, was settled, according to McKeen, on the part of 
Merrymeeting Bay opposite Fulton's Point, ^ and if this was the case, 
he and Richard Collicutt, who lived near him soon after, nuist have 
been Mr. Purchase's nearest neighbors. Sewall.^ however, locates 
Thwait at Winnegance. 

[1658.] Thomas Ilaynes is thought to have settled this year at 
Maquoit,^ where he retained land as late as 1678. His wife's name 
was Joyce.*' 

[1672.] Richard Potts was settled as early as 1672,^ and })rob- 
ably a year or two earlier,** on what was known as New Damariscove 
Island. In 1673 he owned and lived upon the point which still bears 
his name, at the extremit}- of Harpswell Neck.^ 

The following individuals are known to have been settled about 
this time, certainly prior to 1700, within the limits of what was after- 
wards called the Pejepscot purchase : at Middle Bay, John Cleaves ; 
on AVhite's Island, Nicholas White; at Mair Point, James Carter, 
Thomas Ilaynes, Andrew and George Phippeny ; at Maquoit Bay, 
John Swaine, Thomas Kimball, of Charleston, who settled on Hoeg 
Island in 1658,io John Sears, Thomas Wharton, Samuel Libby,ii who 
subsequently resided in Scarborough, Henry Webb, Edward Greet (or 
Creek),!- .^,j^] Robert Jordan; on Smoking Fish Point, '^ Christopher 
Lawson, an Antinomian ; at or near New Meadows, in 1675, was 
Alister Coombs, i"* 

The island of Sel)ascodegan was settled as earh' as 1639 by 
Francis Small and his wife Elizabeth, whose child was the first born 
on the island, of English parents. He was from Kittery,'-^ and was a 

^McKeen, MSS. Lecture. '^ Maine Historical Collections, 5, p. 194. 

^McKeen, MSS. Lecture. * Ancient Dominions of Maine, p. 131. 

5 Willis, History of Portland, p. 98. 6 York Coimty Registry of Deeds, 4, p. 20. 
'' Pejepscot Papers. 8 York County Records, 2, p. 360. 

9 York County Records, 10, p. 89. " York County Records, 2, p. 90. 

11 York County Records, various references. 

12 York Records, 4. p. 20. Land adjoined Tho7nas Haines's. 

13 What is called Ireland, McKeen. ^^Pt^epscot Papers, Statement of Title. 
^^McEeen, Harpswell Banner, Oct., 1832. 



PEJEPSCOT PURCHASE, AND PRIOR SETTLEMENTS. 19 

tenant under Colonel Shapleigh. The latter also owned Merriconeag 
Neck. The neck at this time had a number of settlers upon it who 
were all driven off by the Indians at the commencement of King 
Philip's War in 1675.1 In 1683 Shapleigh. finding his property almost 
worthless on account of the Indian troubles, sold the neck and island 
to Richard Wharton, of Boston. 

After Wharton's purchase of Sebascodegan, the Indians continued 
possession of tlie island, for the purpose of catching fish, seal, and 
porpoise. This prevented any further settlements there for some 
years.- 

[16.S9.] In the year 1689 that portion of the Pejepscot tract adja- 
cent to Brunswick, known as the "Gore," which formerly belonged 
to the town of Yarmouth, but is now a part of Freeport, began to be 
settled. Eight or ten families who had been driven from Eleutheria, 
one of the West India Islands, by the Spaniards, and who were 
dependent on Boston for support, came thither for a home.^ The 
Gore was a triangular strip of land left between the southwestern 
boundary of Brunswick and the northeastern line of Yarmouth. 

[17U2.] In 1702 Benjamin Marston received possession by deed, 
of Thomas Potts, of Dover, New Hampshire, son of Richard Potts, of 
the estate at Potts's Point and the island near by, which was previously 
owned by Potts.'' He is thought to have made a settlement there. 

Among the Pejepscot Papers is the following memorandum, which, 
though in part a repetition of what has already been given, is inserted 
on account of the more particular information it conveys about certain 
matters. No date or authorship is given to the paper, but there is no 
doubt that it was made about the 3'ear 1714, by one of the Pejepscot 
proprietors. 

"AN ACC'T OF THE EASTERN PARTS AND OF THE SEVERAL 
SETTLP:iMENTS that have ever been made on THE LANDS 
FORMERLY PURCHASED BY MR. WHARTON AND NOW 5 BOUGHT 
BY EIGHT OF US. 

' ' The narrow carrying place that parts Casco Bay from Merrymeet- 
ing Bay, settled b}' Stevens, who has a son now at New Haven mar- 
ried to Parkers' daughter. 

" Settlements on the Eastern side of Small Point Neck. 

" Next to above s*^ Stevens, at the upper Whigby, or Wiskege, by 
Lawson owned by Ephraim Savage. 

^McKeen, Harpswdl Banner, Oct., 1832. ^McKeen, Ibid. 

^ McKicn, " Gleaninf/s" in Brunswick Telegraph, 1859. 

4 York County Rcconh, 10, p. 88. 

5 The Pejepscot Company was formed in 1714. 



20 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

" William Rogers about 2 leagues lower. 

"■ Thomas Watkins about a mile lower. 

" Mr. Gooch, the minister, about a mile lower down the river. 

'•John Filman about a mile lower. 

" Capt. Reynolds about a mile lower. 

" John Laj'ton at the neck just above Winegance. 

" MaiT Webber about 2 mile lower — her sou goes now with Cap- 
tain Bracket. 

" William Baker about a mile lower. 

" Sylvanus Davis, now suppose Nelson. 

"John Parker. 

" Thomas Humphreys. 

" Ichabod Wiswall. 

" John Verin. 

" .iami;el Newcomb. 

" William Cock and John Cock within half a mile. 

" Robert Edmunds, said to be claimed now by S" Charles Hobb}-. 

" James Mudge within a quarter of a mile. 

"Thomas Atkins, said to have bo't the whole neck down to Small 
Point of Indians and to have sold their interest to the other inhabi- 
tants. Some of his heirs supposed to be now living at Roxbur}' or 
Dorchester. 

"Ambrose Hunniwell the lowest settlement on that side, about 4 
mile short of Small Point. Hunniwell that works for Captain Belcher, 
one of that family. 

"On the western side of that neck onh' Drake who settled at 
Small Point harbour — lived there but a little while. 

"On JMerriconege Xeck only 2 settlements. 

" Richard Potts who lived at the lower end. 

" John Da)narell about 3 miles above him. 

" But one settlement at Mair Point by John Phippany. 

" But one settlement at Maquoit by Robert ' Haines. 
" Settlements between Pejepscot & Swan Island on the north side 
of Merry meeting Bay. 

" Samuel York about 4 or 5 mile down from the Falls on the East- 
ern side. Living now at Squam, Cape Ann, he supposed the likeliest 
man to inform how far Merriconege Neck or Shapleys Island have been 
possessed or improved. 

"James Thomas h a mile below. He and his heirs supposed to be 
wholh' extinct. 

^Possibly Ihomasis meant. 



PEJEPSCOT PURCHASE, AND PRIOR SETTLEMENTS. 21 

" "Williams J a mile farther — only a man & his wife — had no chil- 
dren — supposed to be extinct. 

'* James Giles about 4 miles up Muddy River. 

"Thomas Giles at Point on south side of Muddy River mouth. 
Of these families Gyles of Winnissemet Ferry and Giles the Inter- 
preter now live at Salisbury. 

"Thomas Watkins at Shildrake Point, between Muddy River and 
Cathance. 

" Alexander Browne east side of mouth of Cathance River. 

"Dependence CoUicut at point of Abegedasset River claims that 
point — no settlement between s*^ Collicut & Swan Island. 

" One settlement at Swan Island by Collicut, Alexander Brown and 
Humphrey' Davis, b}* turns — " 

Samuel White, in 1714, produced the testimony of George Phippen 
and wife that his grandfather, Nicholas White, was settled at the 
upper end of Mair Point about forty-four years previously, and that 
Phippen and his wife were for several years the nearest neighbors. 
Two other testimonies, of persons living " on Pulpit Island or New 
Damariscove," were given to the same effect. The names of these 
two witnesses are not recorded.^ 

ORIGIN OF THE PEJEPSCOT COMPANY. 

[1693.] Richard Wharton, who had become possessed of the 
greater portion of the lands already mentioned, having died in England, 
administration (Je bonis non on his estate was granted Dec. 30, 1G93, 
to Ephraim Savage, of Boston. 

[1697.] On Oct. 26, 1697, the Superior Court at Boston author- 
ized and empowered Savage to sell Wharton's estate in order to liqui- 
date his debts. 2 

[1714.] On Nov. o, 1714, Savage, acting in accordance with the 
authorit}- above mentioned, sold the whole of the above tract of land 
to Thomas Hutchinson, Adam Winthrop, John Watts, David Jeffries, 
Stephen Minot, Oliver Noyes, and John Ruck, of Boston, Massachu- 
setts, and John Wentworth, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, for the 
sura of £140, to hold in fee as tenants in common. The conveyance 
was acknowledged the next day and was recorded in the York records 
on the nineteenth of the following November. ^ 

These "tenants in common" constituted the original company of 
the Pejepscot proprietors. On Oct. 20, 1714, the General Court of 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 2 Pejepscot Records, s Pejepscot Papers, Statement of Title. 



22 HISTORY OF BRUXSWICK, TOPSILUf, AXD IIARPSWELL. 

Massachusetts passed a resolution that it was for the pubhc interest 
that some townships be laid out and settled in the eastern country, 
and John Wheelwright and others were appointed a committee to 
receive the claims of all persons claiming lands there. 

[1715.] On the 18th of February, 1715, the Pejepscot proprie- 
tors made certain proposals to the above-mentioned committee : — 

1. That the General Court should give confirmation to their pur- 
chase, in order that they might " be better able to encourage substan- 
tial farmers to remove, with their stock from England." 

2. J^or the encouragement of a fishing town at Small Point. 

3. That whenever twelve or more persons offered themselves for 
any new settlement, they should be " covered "i with such a force 
and for such a time as the General Court should deem necessary. 

4. Tliat those settling in the limits of the Pejepscot tract should, 
for the first seven 3'ears, have some assistance from the public towards 
the maintenance of a ministr}-, and should be exempted from the pa}'- 
ment of any Province tax. 

Tlie proprietors agreed that, if the General Court would consent to 
the foregoing prc)i)osals, they would, on their part, agree to enter into 
the following arrangements : — 

1. To lay out three or, if the land would admit, four plats or 
towns, and have them survej'ed and platted that same summer, at 
their own cost. 

2. " In seven years, if peace continues with the Indian^," they 
would settle "each of said towns with fifty families or more, in a 
defensive manner, having already offers of very considerable num- 
bers, both in this country and from England." And in order thereto 
the}' were willing to grant them such house-lots, in fee, and such 
accommodations in regard to their lands, as might induce them to set- 
tle there. 

3. That they would lay out a convenient portion of land in each 
town, for "the subsistence of the first minister, tlie ministry, and a 
school." 

4. "Being desirous that the people might not live like heathen, 
without the worsliip of God, as had been too frequent in new settle- 
ments," they engaged, for the more speedy- procuring of a minister, 
and to make it easier for the inhabitants at their first settling down, 
that as soon as there should be twenty householders in each of the 
towns, who would provide a frame for, and raise a meeting-house 

1 i. e., protected. 



PEJErSCOT PURCHASE, AND PRIOR SETTLEMENTS. 23 

the}' would, at their own expense, furnish glass, lead, nails, iron 
work, and other materials, and finish the meeting-honse for them, and 
pay towards the maintenance of an "orthodox gospel minister" in 
each town, the sum of £40 per annum, for five j-ears. These pro- 
posals to the committee received the signature of all the proprietors. ^ 
On the twentv-seventh of the following Ma}-, the connnittee reported 
favorably' on these proposals, and the General Court, on the tenth of 
June, passed resolutions in accordance therewith. Thus tliis company 
became undoubted legal owners of the territor}- the}- had i)urchased. 

STATEMENT OF THE TITLE. 

The Pejepscot tract, in consequence of the varied mode of its acqui- 
sition and the uncertaintv of its true bounds, became the subject of a 
lengthy and severe controversy between the proprietors and several 
other claimants, — more particularly the Kennebec Company, — which 
lasted until about 1814. In order to understand this controvers}-, as 
well as the decision arrived at, it becomes necessary to state the sev- 
eral questions involved, and to make some explanatory remarks. 

It is not, however, necessar}' to reproduce the exact points urged 
by the opponents of the Pejepscot Compau}-. The questions to be 
considered are evidenth' as follows : — 

1. In regard to the validity of the original titles to the land. 

2. In regard to the extent of these titles. 

3. In regard to the validity of the sul^sequent sales and convey- 
ances. 

4. In regard to the jurisdiction. 

In regard to the first, it is proper to state that the original claims 
to all lands in this section could onh* originate in one of three ways : 
Jirst, b}^ grant from the King of England, direct or indirect ; 
secondly., hy purchase from the Indians ; thirdly., by right of occupa- 
tion of unclaimed land, in other words, by the right of '' squatter 
sovereignty." 

The valitlit}- of the claims to land obtained in these three ways may 
be considered as strong in the order given. The right in virtue of a 
grant emanating from the government holding possession of the coun- 
tr}' has ever been considered indubitable, unless conflicting with some 
prior grant from the same source. The right in virtue of a grant from 
the Indians is more than doulitful, though it ma}-, we presume, some- 
times have been deemed valid in those cases where no other grant 

1 Pejepscot Records. 



24 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

existed,! and Avhere there had been no prior sale by parties represent- 
ing the same tribe, and the right either of those selUng, or of the tribe 
the}' claimed to represent, was not contested. The right b}- virtue of 
occupation simply, is valid after the lapse of a certain number of 
3'ears, determined In' legal enactments. 

In appl^'ing these principles to the different grants of the Pejepscot 
lands, it will l)e seen at once that the grant by the council of Plymouth 
to Purchase and Way was perfectly valid, unless it conflicted with a 
previous grant, by the same council, to the Kennebec Company. The 
evidence that a grant was issued to Purchase and AY ay Avas virtuall}" 
proved. The deed of land bought b}' Purchase of the Indians, if an}'' 
such there was, would only serve to strengthen his other claim. 

The title to the lands, purchased of the Indians by Thomas, York, 
Gyles, and Stevens, should be considered valid, except as to any por- 
tion which might overlap the territory belonging either to Purchase 
and Way or to the Kennebec Company. The purchase of lands from 
the Indians by Nicholas Shapleigh was valid, there being no prior 
grant. Tluit of Wharton from Worumbo, etc., was equally valid for 
the same reason, except where it conflicted with the other grants. 
The ground assumed by the Kennebec Company was that they owned, 
by virtue of their charter, all tlie land up and down the Kennebec 
River for fifteen miles upon each side, and that consequently some of 
the before-specifled titles, being later, were null and void. They also 
claimed that the Pejepscot Company had not located their lands in 
accordance with the Worumbo deed. 

The question, in regard to the boundaries of the lands granted, is 
the most im[)ortant. The descriptions used in the old conveyances 
were often very indefinite. The bounds, said to have been given in 
the patent to Purchase and Way, are, however, sufficiently explicit as 
to one direction, and Purchase's deed to Massachusetts gives the 
bounds in the other direction. The territory granted in the sale to 
Nicholas Shapleigli is also clearly defined, being bounded by Pur- 
chase's possessions and by the sea. The point of the long dispute 
lay in the description given in the Worumbo deed. This deed in- 
cluded all the lands before granted. Did it include more? It could 
not include more on the south and east, but it undoubtedly did on the 
west and north. 

The description reads : — 

' ' All the aforesaid lands from the uppermost part of Androscoggin 

1 Maine Historical Collections, 2, p. 273, Kent's Commentaries, 3, p. 385. Wheaton's 
International Law {Dana), p. 40, 7iote, 



PEJEPSCOT PURCHASE, AND PRIOR SETTLEMENTS- 25 

falls four miles westward and so down to Maquoit," and on the other 
side of the river from the same falls to the Kennebec, on a line running 
southwest and northeast 

The principal question to be decided is as to what falls were meant. 
Were such terms to be used in a deed at the present day, there would 
be but little doubt that a point above all the falls in the river was 
intended. At the time of the deed, however, the river was not so 
well known as now, and serious doubts might justly- be entertained as 
to whether the falls at Lewiston, Lisbon, or Brunswick were intended. 
If the Lewiston Falls were meant, the territory would consist of about 
500,000 acres,! whereas if the falls at Brunswick were meant, the 
extent of territory embraced by the deed would not be one quarter so 
large. The opponents of the Pejepscot Company claimed that the 
Brunswick Falls were the ones intended. The proprietors, however, 
took the ground, doubtless correct, that the river below Brunswick was 
called the Pejepscot by both Indians and settlers, and that the lower 
falls were uniformly described, at that date, as the Pejepscot Falls, 
and consequently, that the falls referred to were those at Lewiston. 
The proprietors, however, came to a settlement with the Plymouth (or 
Kennebec) Company, on February 20, 1758, and released to them all 
the lands to the northward of a hne drawn through the mouth of the 
Cathance River, and running west-northwest to the west-side hue of 
the Plymouth claim. ^ 

This settlement, however, proved unsatisfactor}', and, June 17, 1766, 
the southern line of Bowdoinham and the Kennebec River were fixed 
upon and agreed to by the contending parties,^ and on the 8th of 
March, 1787. the legislature of Massachusetts passed a resolution to 
the effect that the Twenty Mile or Lewiston Falls should be considered 
the uppermost falls referred to in the Worumbo deed."* 

The difficulties do not seem to have terminated even then ; for in the 
year 1800, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, acting on the report 
of referees, made substantiall}" the same decision that had been made 
by the legislature, •'"' adding, however, certain stipulations in regard to 
the assignment of lots to settlers. The proprietors for a long time 
refused to abide by the terms of the decision, and the controversy was 
not finally settled until 1814.6 

The claims of individual settlers under other titles were disposed of 
by confirmatory grants from the Pejepscot Compan}', unless their titles 

1 Vide Douglass Svmrnary, 1748. 2 Lincoln County Registry of Deeds, 1, p. 21. 
^Pejepscot Records. * Pejepscot Papjers, Statement of Title. 

^Pejepscot Records. 6 WilUamson, History of Maine. 2, p. 585. 



26 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARRSWELL. 

were proved to be illegal and void, or to have lapsed. The territorial 
limits of the compan}', at the time of the final decision of the contro 
vers3' with the Pl^'mouth Compan}', embraced the present towns of 
Danville, Lewiston, Greene, a part of Lisbon, a part of Leeds, a part 
of Poland and Minot, Dnrham, Bowdoin, Topsham, Brunswick, and 
Harpswell. The territory, as previonsly claimed by the company, 
wonld have included Bowdoinham and Richmond in addition. 

In regard to the validity' of the conveyance b}' Wharton's adminis- 
trator to the proprietors, there can, of course, be no doubt. There is 
also no doubt as to the jurisdiction of Massachusetts after Indepen- 
dence was declared. As to prior governments, it is only necessary to 
saj', that although the jurisdiction over this part of the present State 
of Maine was claimed at different periods hx different rulers, and went 
under the several names of the Province of Laconia^ (1G22), the Prov- 
ince of L^-gouia (1630), the Province of Maine (Gorges-1639), and 
the Massachusetts Colon}' (1651-1677), j'et the transfer of jurisdic- 
tion by Purchase to the latter gave her the strongest claim to the 
Pejepscot tract, though the fairness of her title to the Province of 
Maine is still a mooted question. 

At this earl}' date, however, the jurisdiction was merely- nominal, 
there being but little actual enforcement of the laws in this portion of 
the Province. 

1 The grant of the Province of Laconia teas rather indefinite, but as it inchided the 
lands " betwixt >je lines of West and North West conceived to pass or lead upicards from 
ye rivers of Sagadehock & Merrimack in ye country of Neiv England afores'd," it 
must have included all of Maine west of the Kennebec, and consequently included the 
Pejepscot tract. 



PEJEPSCOT PROPRIETORS. SETTLEMENTS UNDER TIIEM. 27 



CHAPTER III. 

DOINGS OP THE PEJEPSCOT PROPRIETORS, AND SETTLEJIENTS UNDER 

THEM. 

Up to tlie time of the formation of the Pejepscot Compnny, in 1714, 
comparative!}' few persons had made settlements in tliis region, and 
there had been no organized efforts to induce settlers to come hither. 
From this time new settlers appear oftener than before, though not 
very rapidlj" at first. 

[1715.] Among other projects of the proprietors to encourage 
immigration to their lands, the}' voted, at a meeting held Sei)t. 14, 
1715, '' That the present projection for la3ing out the Town of Bruns- 
wick in one Line of Houses be accepted and the Town laid out accord- 
ingly. 

" That each Proprietor will take up a Lot and build upon it as soon 
as ma}' be. That we consent to Mr. Noyes taking his Lot next 
Maquoit (he promising to build a Defensible House thereon next 
Spring). That the Meeting House shall be in the midway between 
the Fort & Maquoit. That the Lots for the Ministry, the First Min- 
ister & the School be the Centre Lots, and as for the other Lots, 
Those persons, whether Proprietors or others, that first take up the 
Lots cfe build upon them, shall take their choice. And that the Out- 
bounds «fe the plan of Topsham be likewise laid out now, three Sides 
of a Square, the Houses Twenty Rods distant according to the plan 
offered to the Generall Court." ^ 

[171G.] The Pejepscot proprietors, some time in 171G, or perhaps 
1717, bought a large tract of land extending from Abbacadasset 
Point up the west side of the Kennebec River, as far as the north end 
of Swan Island, and thence into the country for four miles. Tlie title 
came from Kennebis, and Clark and Lake, but mediately through 
Richard Collicut and Samuel and Hannah Ilolman, of whom the pro- 
prietors bought. 

1 Pejepscot Records. 



28 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARFSWELL. 

The proprietors at tliis time had to send evorything necessary for 
the carrying on of tlieir operations from Boston, and we accordingly 
find that at their first meeting, held Feb. 21, 1710, they voted to have 
twenty hnndred weight of screwed hay, for the use of their cattle there, 
sent to l>runswick 1)3' the first sloop that went ; and that the other 
things that had been requested should be sent to their servant, James 
Irish.' 

At a meeting of the proprietors, hold Sept. 5, of this year, it was 
voted : (Agroeably to their i)revious vote of the twenty-seventh of April, 
granting liberty to Adam Winthroi), one of their partners, to make 
choice of some island, neck, or tract of land within their territory) That 
Swan Island should be ai)propriated to AVinthrop as his share of their 
first division, and that it should be reckoned at 1,000 acres, ^vhether 
it proved to be more or less ; '' That Mair-Point be divided into Two 
Lots, The Lower half part to be Lot No. 2 — The upper half to be 
Lot No. 3 " ; that the portion of land lying between Cathauce lliver 
and the eastern i)art of Abagadasset Point, and a line running north- 
erly from the latter, should be divided into five lots, equal in front, 
and that the lot nearest Cathauce liiver should be called No. 4, 
and that they should be numbered from that lot, successively, Nos. 5, 
G, 7, and <S ; that each lot should run back from Merrymeeting Ba^', 
until it embraced 1,000 acres; that if either half part of Mair Point 
should fall short of 1,000 acres, the deficiencj' should be made up in 
some part of the township of Brunswick. 

After the passage of the preceding votes, the proprietors in-oceeded 
to draw lots \'ov their resi)ective choices, with the following results: — 
Lot No. 2 fell to John Wentworth, Esq. 
3 '• Mr. Stephen Mlnot. 

" 4 " Thomas Hutchinson, Esq. 

" 5 " OHverNoyes. 

" 6 ^' Mr. John Ruck. 

" 7 " David Jeffries, Esq. 

" 8 " John Watts, Esq. 

The above lots were called the First Division. 

It was then voted that there should be eight lots laid out on Small 
Point Neck, etc., and that these lots should be called their Second 
Division. - 

At a meeting of the proprietors, held on the loth of November fol- 
lowing, it was agreed that they should give Captain Nowell a deed of 

1 Pejcpscot Records. 2 JUii 



PEJErSCOT PROPIilETORS. SETTLEMENTS UNDJ-.P THEM. 29 

five huiKlred acres of land witliin the township of Topsham, on the 
condition that he would build a house there and dwell there for the 
next five j'ears, and that he would not leave except by consent of the 
proprietors, and on condition that the land allotted him should l>e so 
laid out as not to interfere with the plan of the town. As no other 
reference is made to Captain Nowell in the Pejepscot Papers, it is not 
probable that the conditions were fulfilled. 

[1 717.] On the third of Ma}', 1717, Brunswick was. by vote of the 
General Court of Massachusetts, constituted a townships and the 
Pejepscot proprietors, with a view to the settlement of the town, 
'"''Voted: That all persons that shall otfer themselves and l)e Excepted 
lulinbitants of the said Town And have a Lott of Land Laid out to 
them in S*^ Township of ninety five Acres as also five acres of meadow 
in some Convenient place The}' building an house on Each Lott so 
Taken u[) witliiu one year next after their taking uj) tiie S'' Lotts &, 
Dwelling upon & improvin their Lands for tlie Terme of Three Yeares, 
And having their Said Lands Discribed & recorded in this Town Book 
by a Clerk Leaguallv Chosen & sworne It shall be accounted a Sure 
Lawfull Title of an absolute State of Inheritance in fee To them their 
Heirs & assignes forever. Provided nevertheless If an}- of y* before 
recited Conditions are not Comply ed with by the said Inhabitants 
according to y* True intent thereof That then y" S'' Lotts of Land 
Shall be wholly forfited to y* use of the S*^ Proprietors as full}' as Ever 
here to fore any thing in this Book Recorded notwithstanding." i 

At a meeting of the proprietors, June 13, 1717, Lieutenant Heath 
was instructed to survey and make a plot of each of the proprietor's 
lots. It was also voted that the township of Topsham be likewise 
suiTeyed and plotted in an oblong square, if the land would allow 
it, frcMiting on Mcrrvmeeting Bay, so as to leave about two hundred 
acres, and that this town plat be laid out into fifty lots, each lot to be 
twenty rods wide. 

It was also decided at this meeting to have a general plan of the 
whole territory made as soon as might be. The proprietors also 
desired Mr. Hutchinson to write to a friend in England for a copy of 
the patent to Purchase and Way, and to send it to them, well attested, 
as soon as possil)le.- The document is not on file witli the Pejepscot 
Papers, and it is probable that it was never obtained. 

At a meeting of the proprietors, June 17, 1717, it was ^'- Voted, 
That a mile and a half upwards from Potts's Neck, and the other prongs 

1 Bninswick Records, in Pejejjscot Collections. 2 Pejepscot, Records. 



30 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

of MeriTConeag Xeck, be left on Die lower end of said Merryconeag 
Neck, for a Town or Fishing Settlement, the rest of said Neck to be 
divided in eight parts equal in Front, to run across said Neck, in par- 
alel lines, from the North West to the South East side, according to 
the bearing of the said land, the Lowest Lott to be No. 1. 
" The Lotts being fairly drawn came out as toUows, viz. : — 
No. 1 . David Jeffries. 

2. John Watts. 

3. John Ruck. 

4. Adam AVinthrop. 

5. John AVentworth. 

6. Oliver Noyes. 

7. Steplien Minott. 

8. Thomas Hutchinson." ^ 

[1718.] At a meeting of the proprietors, held April 23, 1718, it 
was " Resolved: Tiiat whereas it will tend much to the advantage of 
the Settlements for each Partner to settle his Severall Lotts laid out 
to him, and that it ma}' be a means of preventing Troublesome dis- 
putes, we agree, as soon as may l)e convenienth', to build upon our 
Severall Divisions and to put them under Improvement." 

[17rj.] The next reference to this subject that has been found is 
in the proceedings of a meeting of the inhabitants and a committee of 
the Pejepscot proprietors, held Ma}' 8, 1719. 

At this meeting a vote was passed, " That all Persons who have or 
Shall Take up any Lott or Lotts in Brunswick & Shall for y* space 
of halfe a year neglect to put Forward Building on & improving the 
s* Land Shall be Liable to be forever Deprived of their Lott or Lotts ; 
By the vote of this s** Town." The land for a town commonage was 
granted by the proprietors at this time, but the vote passed will be 
given in connection with that sulrject. 

[1731.] In 1731 Phineas Jones was employed to survey the lands 
and make plans. He found Brunswick and the lands above, on both 
sides of the Androscoggin River, to be 480,543 acres, Merriconeag 
Neck to be 4,670 acres, and Sebascodegan Island to be 5,790 acres. 
He made his survey in the winter season with five or six assistants, 
protected from the Indians by a file of soldiers. They selected the 
winter because there were fewer Indians about, and also because, the 
ponds and brooks being frozen, they could travel over them. In deep 
snow they could use snow-shoes.^ 

'^ Ptjcpscot Papers. ^McKeen, MSS. Lecture. 



PEJEPSCOT PROPRIETORS. SETTLEMENTS UNDER THEM. ?>l 

Josei)h Heath, Esquire, had been up to this time the agent and 
clerk of the company, but June 30, of this year, Captain Benjamin 
Larrabee was ap[)ointed agent, and the record book, containing the 
doings of the settlers, was transferred to him.i The proprietor, also, 
on the twelfth of July, 1737, gave John Booker, of New Meadows, the 
power of attorney to keep all unauthorized persons from settling upon 
Sebascodegan Island, or from cutting wood or timber or hay there, 
and to seize upon and ship to Boston any timl)er or wood cut there 
without permission, one half the proceeds to go to Booker for his ser- 
vices, and the other half to the proprietors.- 

The proprietors at the same time gave the power of attorney to 
Colonel Johnson Harmon, of Merriconeag, for the purpose of keeping 
off intruders from the Neck.^ 

July 16, 1737, the proprietors gave Benjamin Larrabee full power 
of attorney to execute deeds to the settlers in Brunswick and Tops- 
ham.^ 

In a letter of instructions to Larrabee, dated two days later, the 
following information was given in regard to the prices of the lots, and 
as to his duties : — 

"The iirst settlers were to pay but five pounds for each hundred 
acres — Since that, Giveen and those near him were to pay Sixteen 
pounds for each hundred acres — Some that have more lately taken 
Lotts at Bi-unswick Road Ten pounds for each hundred Acres, those 
at Topsham and New Meadows Twenty five pounds for each hundred 
acres — 

"As fast as 3-ou can receive money for the deeds you execute we 
would have you apply it to discharge the debts qf the propriety viz : 
Mr. Pearse the Carpenter and JNIr. Wakefield the Glazier for Bruns- 
wick Meeting house. 

" If the Lotts at Brunswick Road to Maquoit and Topsham are not 
all filled up or granted you may go on to grant them on as good Terms 
as you can for the Proprietors — not lower than Ten pounds in Bruns- 
wick and Twenty five pounds in Topsham." ^ 

[1739.] In June, 1739, Mr. Larrabee sent a representation to the 
proprietors of the difficulties the settlers labored under, in regard to 
paying for their lots in money, and the proprietors agreed that they 
might send the pay for their lots in wood or timber, to Boston, without 
charge.^ 

[1741,] At a meeting of the proprietors held at the " Sun" tav- 

^ Pejepscot Records. ^ Pejepscot Papers. ^Ibid. * Pejepscot Records. 
5 Ibid. 6 Brunswick Records in Pejepscot Collection. 



32 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

ern, Boston, April 22, 1741, it was voted that the following instruc- 
tions be given to their partner, Henry Gibbs, to act upon while he was 
at Brunswick : — 

" [!•] Whereas the Lotts were laid out )nit 20 rods wide from 
Fort George to Maquoit, the inhabitants complain they are too long 
and narrow, therefore for Accommodation of the settlers it is now pro- 
posed that they be 30 rods wide & to be laid out on one Side of the 
Road and to be one hundred acres exclusive of the marsh & to be 
valued at Fourteen pounds p Lott. 

" [2.] Att ever}' 10th Lott a Road of four rods wide to be laid out 
the whole length of said Lott if it fall out convenient. The County 
Road if any be laid out to be laid down on the Town plan et to be 
reckoned as one of said Roads and in case the Lott next said Road be 
more than 30 Rods wide yet to run an equal length with the rest & it 
be left to be aiDpropriated as shall be Judged Most for the Interest of 
the Propriety. 

" [3.] The Lotts on the East side of the Road to Maquoit to be 
Fort}' Rods wide as the Land will allow because the Land is not so 
good & necessary roads to be on that side. 

" [4.] We are willing that a Priviledge be granted to such as will 
undertake to build a Grist Mill at a little stream near the Fort.''^ 

The stream referred to in the preceding paragraph had its source in 
the swamp which formerly' existed where the depot is now. This 
swamp extended as far east as the mall, as far north as I'leasant 
street, and westerly be^-ond Union Street. The brook ran along be- 
tween Union and Maine Streets, passing back of the factory store and 
entering tlie river about where the factor}' is now. After the swamp 
was tilled and drained, of course the brook no longer existed. 

[1750.] At a meeting of the Pejepscot proprietors, held July 9, 
1750, it was voted that an advertisement should be posted upon the 
meeting-house at Brunswick, stating that it was the intention of the 
proprietors to defend the inhabitants of Brunswick and the neighbor- 
ing towns in the propriety, in their possessions, and that any person 
who should be so imprudent as to take up land under any other title, 
would be prosecuted. At the same meeting it was also voted to dis- 
pose of the vacant land at New Meadows, viz., that extending from 
Charles Casida's lot to Wigwam Point, exclusive, for the most that it 
would bring, and out of the proceeds of the sale to pay the expense of 
finishing the meeting-house in Brunswick. The remainder was to be 

1 Brunsiokk Records in Pejepscot Collection. 



PEJEPSCOT PROPRIETORS. SETTLEMENTS UNDER THEM. 33 

kept subject to the order of the proprietors.^ A note at the bottom of 
the above entry in the records sa^'s, " Not accepted by the Town." 

[1751.] On March 19th of this year, 1751, a letter was sent to the 
selectmen of Brunswick, b}' the proprietors, recommending that no 
one should take a title of land from the Plymouth Company, and 
promising them that if any of the;, inhabitants of Brunswick or Tops- 
ham should be molested or disturbed b}' that company, the proprietors 
would stand by them and indemnify them against the Plymouth Com- 
pany's claim. 2 

This letter, however, seems not to have fuU}^ satisfied all the set- 
tlers, as some few did take up land under titles derived from the 
Plymouth Company. Learning this fact, the proprietors, at a meeting 
held April 15, voted, " to unite in defence of their Title to the Lands 
comprehended in said Township, and that an advertisement be forth- 
with printed, Cautioning all persons against making an}^ Encroachment, 
Strip, or Waste, on any Land belonging to this Proprietj-, as they will 
answer it to the utmost perill of the Law." ^ In addition to this vote 
the proprietors, at a meeting held May 15, in order to show to all 
interested the exact bounds of the several lots, voted that the several 
deeds, or sufficient extracts from them, should be at once printed at 
the company's expense.'* 

The people of Topsham not having, at this time, the advantage of 
a local government, were apparently inclined to do about as they 
pleased, without reference to the proprietors, and some lawless acts 
were undoubtedly committed by them. The following letter from 
Belcher Noyes, the proprietors' clerk, to Adam Hunter, of Topsham, 
will show what some of these acts were : — 

" Boston, May 12, 1753. 
" Mr. Adam Hunter: 

' ' I wrote you last fall by Ste Gatchell to which have never had any 
answer from you, the Proposal made us by Capt. Willson is quite 
mean & unworthj- an}^ notice, I am sorry to hear your People have so 
generally combined in the old Trade of destroying the Lumber on 
y^ Proprietors Interest this is very Abusive Treatment & convinces 
us 3'ou have no Regard to the Laws of God and man, for such a small 
frontier Settlem' to live in such an abandoned State in the open viola- 
tion of all Law, will expose j'ou to the vengeance due to such 
Behaviour & it will one day fall heavy on your Heads. 

1 Bmnswick Records in Pejepscot Collection. 
^Ibid. ^Ibid. *Ibid. 



S4 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

" For shame then be persuaded to leave of such actions, Topsham 
is become the Reproach of everybod}'. The Donlaps & Willsons are 
famous in this Trade. I should be glad when you come to Boston 
you might come prepared w'' some scheme to render j^our settlm* capa- 
ble of a better Improvement & encourage the Increase of Inhabitants. 

"I enclose you a plan Dehneatjng y^ Bounds of the Plymouth 
Claim &, our answer to their Remarks on said Plan I pra}' you would 
peruse the same & give me ^our sentiments in so doing you will 
obhge, 

' ' yours to serve 

" B. NOYES." 1 

[1757.] At a meeting of the proprietors, held Ma}' 31, 1757, 
Belcher No3'es was chosen clerk, and in the following June, treasurer 
and collector of taxes. At the meeting in June, a committee was 
chosen to conclude an agreement with the proprietors of the Kennebec 
purchase. It was also voted that the proposals from the Plymouth 
Compau}-, for the accommodation of the disputes between them, 
should be accepted. 

At a meeting of the Pejepscot proprietors, held at the Exchange 
tavern in Boston, on Wednesda}-, June 8, the subject of an agreement 
with the Ph'mouth Compan}- was debated and decided upon. 

[1758.] The deeds of the Pejepscot proprietors to the Pl3"mouth 
proprietors, and of the latter to the former, were made and executed, 
in accordance with the above-mentioned agreement, on February 20, 
1758.2 

[1760.] The people of Topsham, at this time, are still at opposi- 
tion with the proprietors, as appears from a letter of Belcher Noyes, 
their clerk, to E. Freeman, dated July 30, in which he states that 
there are some in Topsham who denv the title of the Pejepscot Coin- 
panj', the ringleatlers being Captain Adam Hunter and Captain 
Thomas Wilson. He further states that there are " py rates " there, 
who have made their li\ing out of the proprietors by destroying tlie 
lumber, and that " none so guilty as tliis said Hunter who has gott an 
estate out of those woods." He says also that Mr. Gibbs had sold 
his right to one John Merrill, of Arundell, who would go down in the 
fall. a 

[17G1.] At a meeting held Oct. 8, 1701, Enoch Freeman, Esq., was 
desired and empowered to have a regular i)lan made of the township 
of Topsham, and to have the lots for settling so delineated that it 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 2 Pejepscot Papers. Records. 3 Pejepscot Papers. 



PEJEPSCOT PROPRIETORS. SETTLEMENTS UNDER THEM. 35 

could be known what land remained undisposed of. He was to make 
the line between the Phmouth and Pejepscot Companies' lands the 
boundary of his survey, and was to have the lands plotted b}' a skilful 
surveyor, into lots of one hundred acres each, so far as the land 
would admit. At the same meeting, he and Belcher Noyes were 
empowered to dispose of the settling lots in Topsham that were not 
already taken up, and to apply the proceeds towards finishing the 
meeting-house, the frame of which was already' raised. At this 
meeting authority was given to Belcher Xoj'es " to execute a Deed of 
the old Stone Fort, with the Buildings and Land adjacent, in the Town 
of Brunswick, in behalf of this Propriety, viz. The one half to Jere- 
miah Moulton ijsq. The other half to Capt. David Dunning ; they 
pacing unto the said Belcher No^'es the sum of one hundred and 
thirt}' three pounds six shillings and eight pence, lawful money, — for 
which sum he is to account with the Proprietors. Also, the privilege 
of the stream at the Falls, and its appurtenances." ^ 

[1762.] At a meeting of the proprietors, June S, 1762, it was 
voted to sell to Stephen Staples one hundred acres of land above the 
Cathance Mill, in Topsham, for five shillings and four pence per acre, 
and to apply the mone}' towards finishing the meeting-house. It was 
likewise voted to sell to William Patten sixty-six acres of land situ- 
ated in a gore of land on Cathance River — it l)eing the balance of 
the land belonging to Cathance Mill — for whatever price could be 
obtained.^ 

In a letter from Belcher Noj-es, dated October, 1762, and written to 
some unknown person, reference is made to the encroachments of the 
Plymouth Compau}^ upon the settlers at Topsham. In this letter he 
says : — 

''The Plymouth Compan}' have at the last session of our General 
Court gott a Tract of Land witliout Inhabitants, incorporated into a 
Township by the Name of Bowdoinham, the Bounds of which are 
enclosed. This takes off a small })art of Topsham and some few 
families on Cathance Point, and by this means the}' have crowded 
themselves on us, contrary to their agreement. This was perfected 
before I knew anything of it. The People of Topsham are uneasy 
that their township is not laid out." 

[1763.] The trouble between the settlers at Topsham and the 
Pejepscot proprietors has not j&i been quieted. Mr. Belcher Noyes 
writes to Mr. Freeman that ' ' Capt. Wilson is at the head of this 
Rebellion — you will find him a very troublesome fellow. "^ In another 

1 Brunswick Records in Pejepscot Collection. ^ Pejepscot Records, 1, p. 210. 
3 Pejepscot Papers. 



36 HISTORY OF BRUXSWICK, TOPSHAM, AXD HARPSWELL. 

letter, dated Juue 22, 17G3. and probabh' to the same person, he says, 
referring to a meeting of the committees of the Plymouth and Pejep- 
scot Companies to settle the dividing line between their respective ter- 
ritories, that the former, '' in order to induce us to a coraplyance with 
their construction of the matter, produced a delusive plan taken by 
their surveyor, whereby the points of land called Summerset Point 
and Pleasant Point were so laid down as to persuade us, if they could, 
that they made the mouth of Cathance river." He says, moreover, 
that the Plymouth Company •• intend to make a point of it and to 
force us to a complyance and l)y the fixing the southerly' line of Bow- 
doinham I take it we are foreclosed and must submit to their terms." 
He concludes by saying that this land '• we have lost absolutely b}' 
our neglect in the survey' of Topsham and getting the same incor- 
porated which has been settled 30 years ago."^ 

There are numerous letters from the proprietors' clerk, all complain- 
ing of the dela}- in completing the plan of Topsham. - 

This surve}' was made bv Stephen Gatchell, whom Xo3-es describes 
as " a poor, miserable, shufling fellow and indebted to everyone." It 
was completed Oct. 28 of this 3ear.3 jt Xook Gatchell fortj^-seA'en 
dajs to perform this work with the aid of three assistants. He 
charged for his work £25 \s. Ad. 

The inhabitants of Topsham, having suffered long enough from the 
rival claims of the Pl^'mouth and Pejepscot Companies, from taxation 
b}' the town of Brunswick, and from the want of power to control 
whatever turbulent element there might be amongst them, decided to 
appl}- for an Act of incorporation as a town, and accordingly a petition 
was this year sent to the General Court, praying for the passage of 
such an Act. 

[1766.] On May 29, 17GG, an agreement was made between the 
Keunebec and Pejepscot proprietors, whereby the southerlv line of the 
township of Bowdoiuham was made the line between the territory of 
the two companies, and as compensation for which the former proprie- 
tors granted to the latter five hundred acres of land "to be hereafter 
agreed upou." They also allowed one hundred and ninety- acres of 
land in the possession of John Fulton, on Cathance Point. On June 
11, it was mutually agreed that in lieu of the five hundred acres to be 
allowed to the Pejepscot proprietors, they should have ". 400 acres as 
laid out on Cobbasecoutee Pond, in Pond Town, so called." This 
agreement, as amended, was duly and legally confirmed by both par- 
ties, June 17, 1766.'* 

^ Pyepscot Papers. ^Ibid. ^Ibid. *Ibid. 



PEJEPSCOT PROPRIETORS. SETTLEMENTS UNDER TIIEM 37 

[1787.] At a meeting of the Pejepscot proprietors, held Aug. 13, 
1787, Josiah Little was elected as their clerk, in place of Belcher 
Noyes, deceased. i 

[1799.] On the 3d of Maj-, of this 3ear, Josiah Little, Esquire, 
was chosen by the Pejepscot proprietors as their agent, to take care of 
their undivided interest in the town of Brunswick ; to prosecute any 
trespassers ; or to dispose of an}' or all of the property as he should 
judge to be most for their interest. ^ 

SETTLEMENTS UNDER THE PROPRIETORS. 

The efforts made b}' the Pejepscot proprietors to settle their lands 
were, for the most part, quite successful, though the rapidity with 
which settlers came in varied very much at different times. Many of 
these earlier settlers, it is said, ran away from England, and upon 
their arrival in this country changed their names. 

Between 1717 and 1722 forty-one persons are known to have 
settled in Brunswick, and there were doubtless others whose names 
have not been preserved. INLau}- of these settlers, however, forfeited 
their lots in consequence of their non-fulfilment of the required con- 
ditions. In 1722 the fourth Indian, or Lovewell's, war commenced, 
and the situation of the settlers here liecame so disagreeable that they 
nearly all abandoned their homes, and it was not until about 1730 that 
the settlement was renewed. 

Those who are known to have remained are John Minot, Andrew 
Dunning and his sons, William Woodside and Ebenezer Stanwood and 
their sons, William Simpson and David Giveen and sons, of Bruns- 
wick ; and Lieutenant Eaton, John Vincent, Thomas Thorn, James 
Ross, John Malcom, James McFarland, William Stinson, James, Isaac, 
and John Hunter, of Topsham. The most of these had garrisons. ^ 

David Giveen, mentioned above, had been living at Mair Point, but 
about 1727 he bought three hundred acres of land at Middle Baj' of 
the proprietors, and moved to the latter place. ^ 

On June 30, 1733, the proprietors granted to Benjamin Larrabee, 
gratis, a lot of land in Brunswick, — one hundred acres, — on certain 
specified conditions of improvement and tenanc}'.^ 

In September of the following 3^ear, Samuel Woodward paid Ben- 
jamin Larrabee, agent for the proprietors, £5 towards the purchase 
of a lot of one hundred acres, situated between Captain Woodside's 
land and Bungamunganeck, the conditions of the sale being that 
Woodward was to build a suitable dwelling-house on the lot, and clear 

1 Pejepscot Records. 2 Zbid. 

^ McKeen, MSS. Lectures. ^Ibid. ^Pejepscot Records, 1, p. 111. 



38 



HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 



and inhabit it b}' the last of the following Ma}' (1735), and to pay 
£13 additional, or forfeit the £5 already paid ; and if there were not one 
hundred acres in the lot specified, it was to be made up elsewhere. ^ 

In the year 1738 the township of Brunswick was incorporated as a 
bod}- politic b}' the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and a consider- 
able increase at once took place in the number of new settlers. On 
June 27, 1739, there were thirty-nine individuals who had recently 
come into possession of lots at New Meadows.- Whether all these 
persons actually lived upon their lots is unknown, but doubtless the 
greater number did. There were also, at this time, in other parts of 
the town, twent3'-nine ^ individuals who were either new settlers or 
the sons of early settlers who had now become of age. 

In June, 1740, the proprieters voted to give Benjamin Larrabee a 
lease of the lands adjacent to Fort George, and also the privilege of 
the salmon fishery, on such terms as might lie agreed upon by the com- 
mittee, to whom all such matters were referred.^ Larrabee was at 
this time the agent of the proprietors, and probably the terms agreed 
upon with the committee were quite liberal. The following list of the 
land deeds issued b}' him, while agent, will prove interesting in this 

connection : — 

» 

ISEEMo OF ALL DEEDS OX RECORD MADE BY BENJAMIN LARA- 
BEE ESQ AS ATTORNEY TO THE PROP«s OF BRUNSWICK AND 
T0PSHAM.5 



Names of the Persons to whom Benj. 
Larabee Esq atty &c. sold. 



4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 

11 

12 
13 
14 
15 
10 
17 
18 



Nathan Adams 

Jolin Adams 

William Malcome 

Robert Spear 

William Spear . . . , 

John Malcome 

John Malcome . . . . 
John Gyles E.sqr . . 

Jacob Eaton 

Henry Gibbs 



Jonathan Saj^ward . . 

John Barrows 

John Adams 

John Barrows 

Sa ml Clarke 

David Given 

AA'illiam Dunning... 
Benjamin Thompson 



Quantity of acres 

bold. 



100 acres 
100 " 
200 " 
200 " 
203 " 
100 " 
100 " 
100 " 

100 Topsham 
95 & 115 poles 

200 

100 
1.35 
100 
2(H) 
100 
200 
100 



The time when 
sold. 



March 

March 

March 

March 

April 

Jany 

Jany 

Sept 

March 

May 

June 

July 

July 

Octo. 
May 
Nov 
]May 

Nov 



9th 1737 

9th 1737 

fith 1737 

29th 1738 

11th 173H 

Kith 1737 

Kith 1737 

fith 1738 

24th 1739 

20th 1740 

19th 1740 

15th 1740 
28th 1741 
](jth 1741 
19th 1742 

8 1742 
21st 1742 

3d 1742 



1'he consid- 
eration. 



£25 

25 

10 

32 

2() 

5 

5 

5 

5 

25 

( Quit claim a3 
( Parker. 

25 

25 

25 

32 

10 

10 

25 



^ Pejepscot Papers. ^Ibid. ^ McKeen, MSS. Lecture. 

* Brunswick Records in Pejepscot Collection. 

^ Extracted from York County Records of Deeds, etc., Jan. 9, 1749, by Daniel Moid- 
ton, Reg. 



PEJEPSCOT PROPRIETORS. SETTLE^IENTS UNDER THKM. 39 



Names of the Persons to whom Benj. 
Larabee Esq atty &c. sold. 



19 James Hervey 

20 James McFarland 

21 James McFailand 

22 James McFarlaud 

23 John Adams 

24 Charles Casedy 

25 Thomas Skolfield 

26 Benj Bunker 

27 PIben Stanwood 

28 Isaac Snow 

29 Jacob Eaton 

30 Jacob Eaton 

31 Saml Clarke Jacobs' Admr. 

32 Patrick Drummond 

33 Benj Bunker 

34 Alex Tyler 

35 Saml Hinkley 

36 Lemuel Gowen 



Quantity of acres 
sold. 



103 

200 

206 

206 

100 

100 

103 

115 

206 

100 

100 

74 & 40 rods more 
or less being 
Lot No 9 at N. 
Meadows. 

400 

100 

63 & 112 rods 
200 
200 
100 



The time when 
sold. 



Octo 

May 

June 

June 

Nov 

May 

May 

Jany 

May 

Nov 

Nov 



24th 1741 

28th 1739 

23d 1742 

23d 1742 

3d 1742 

7th 1742 

26th 1742 

12th 1740 

19th 1742 

3d 1742 

28th 1737 



Nov 3d 1742 



April 

A pril 

Jany 

Octo 

May 

Feby 



14th 1742 

7th 1738 
10th 1740 
20tb 1740 
21 1742 
25 1740 



The consid- 
eration. 



£16 

10 

10 

10 

25 

25 

25 

25 

30 

25 

25 

25 

(56 

I Old tenor 

25 

25 

50 

50 

50 



£828 



On July 25, 1743, William Woodside, who had lived for some 
time at Maquoit, received a deed from the First Church in Boston, 
convej'ed by its deacons, of three hundred and fifty acres of land 
at the westernmost end of Maquoit, "beginning at mouth of Puggy- 
muggy River." The price paid was £50. i Although there was a 
considerable number of settlers in the town at this time, they must 
have been quite scattered; for in 1747, according to the statement 
of Joshua Filbrook, there were but two houses to be seen from Fort 
George. 2 

June 19, 1751, Benjamin Thompson, of Georgetown, bought of 
Rebecca Morely, of Dorchester, Mass., "daughter of Thomas Ste- 
phens, formerl}' of the eastward parts now called Stephens' Carrying 
place, or near a place called the Head of Stephens's River," etc., 
all her interest in her father's lands, "being one sixth part of his 
estate." ^ 

In 1752 there were, according to a map of the Plymouth Company 
of that date, but twenty dwelling-houses in Brunswick. For the 
location of these houses the reader is referred to the accompanying 
map, which is reduced from the original : — 



1 York County Records, 26, p. 256. 

2 Journal of James Curtis in Library of the Maine Historical Society. 

3 York County Records, 29, p. 120. 



PEJEPSCOT PROPPIETORS. SETTLEMENTS UNDER THEM. A I 





REFERENCES TO TE 


[E F( 


3REGOIKG MAP. 




Topsham. 




Harpswell Neck. 






29. 


Widow Adams. 


1. 


Gowan Fulton (1749). 


30. 


McNess. 


2. 
3. 


Mr. Reed. 
Samuel Beveridge. 


31. 


McGregory. 






32. 


Willson. 


4. 


Charles Robinson. 


33. 


Whelan. 


5. 


William Vincent. 


34. 


Dyer. 


G. 


William Thoms. 


7. 


Jacob Eaton. 


35. 


Hays. 






36. 


A negro. 


8. 


Robert Lithgow. 


37. 


Pinkham. 


9. 


William Malcom. 




Do. 


10. 


William Thoms, Jr. 


38. 






39. 


Widow McCraw. 


11. 


Lieut. Hunter. 






12. 


Captain Willson. 


40. 
41. 


Pinkham. 
Webber. 






42. 


Do. 




Brunsioick. 


43. 


Do. 






44. 


Stover. 


13. 


Speer. 


45. 


Toothaker. 


14. 


Meeting-house. 


46. 


Allen. 


15. 


Finney. 


47. 


Warren. 


IG. 


James Dunning. 


48. 


Watts. 


17. 


Woodside. 


49. 


Mill. 


18. 


Mill. 






19. 


Stanwood. 




Brunswick. 


20. 


Mill. 


50. 


Starbord. 


21. 


Smart. 


51. 


Skolfield. 


22. 


V. Woodside. 


62. 


Hall (on Sebascodegan Island) 


23. 


Mill. 


53. 


Snow. 


24. 


Captain Minot. 


54. 


Mill. 


25. 


Beverage. 


55. 


Coombs. 


26. 


J. Orr (1742). 


56. 


Mills. 


27. 


Camp. 


57. 


Deacon Hiukley. 


28. 


Giveen. 


58. 


Captain Thompson. 






59. 


Smith. 



In an estate bill for this year forty-five new names are to be found, 
but probably many of them are those of the children of parties who 
had previously settled in town, while some, undoubtedly, were of 
those who had purchased lots of previous settlers. Some whose 
names appear on this bill ma}' have resided elsewhere. 

The town continued to increase in population, however, and about 
1760 a number of new citizens moved in, among whom were the 
families of Stone, Pennell, Melcher, Harding, Weston, Gross, Curtis, 
and perhaps others.^ 



McKeen, MSS. Lecture. 



42 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

In 1771 Robert Goddard moved into town, and Batcheldor Ring 
settled a little southwest of him, but also in Brunswick. The house 
of the latter was shortly afterwards burned, and he rebuilt a little far- 
ther west, and in the town of Durham. Owing to this fact, Bruns- 
wick lost a small portion of her territor}' when the line between that 
town and Durham was run.^ 

A year or two later several Quakers settled in town, near the west- 
ern line. Some of them had previousl}' been living in Harpswell. 
Among these new-comers were the families of Jones and Hacker.- 

The first settlers on the Topsham side of the river all left their 
homes before the formation of the Pejepscot Compan}'. 

Between 1717 and 1722, however, thirty-three persons took up lots 
in Topsham, though many of them, doubtless, not fulfilling the condi- 
tions required by the proprietors, forfeited their claims. It appears 
from an entr}' made in 1717 by the propi'ietors' clerk, that the second 
island going out of Merrymeeting Ba}?- into the Pejepscot River was 
deeded by Messrs. Miuot and Watts to the Reverend Mr. Baxter of 
Medfield, Mass., and was thereafter to be known as Baxtei-'s Island. ^ 
Three ^ears later the proprietors granted to Mr. Baxter " the Island 
over against Topsham of about twentythree acres," upon condition 
that he would build two houses on it, and settle two families there 
who should be able to provide their own subsistence. 

On July 30, 1720, the proprietors granted to Captain John Gyles the 
" First Lott of Land in the Township of Topsham, in consideration 
that he build a suitable dwelling house thereon and by himself or some 
meet person Inhabit the same for the space of three years," also " Five 
hundred and fifteen acres l3'ing on Cathance Point opposite thereto." 
G^des probably did not compl}- with the conditions, as we find that in 
1741, the old title to land in Topsham derived through Thomas Gyles 
was brought forward, and the proprietors, therefore, on Jul}' 21, of 
this year, "In consideration of five shillings current mone}' of New 
England, to us in hand paid bj' John G^des, Esq., of a place called 
St. Georges, in the County of York aforesaid, and in consideration of 
a quit claim for lands at a place called Topsham, in the Count}' of 
York aforesaid, signed by said John G^'les and his brethren, baring 
date the loth of August, A. l5. 1727," transferred to the Gjdes's 
" a Point of Land containing 60 acres " in Topsham, " bounded south- 
erh' by Lott number one, easterl}* and Northerly by Menymeeting 



1 McKeeii, MSS. Lecture. 2 ma. 

^Brunswick Records in Pejepscot Collection. 



PEJEPSCOT PROPRIETORS. SETTLEMENTS UNDER THEM. 43 

Bay, and westerly by the entrance or mouth of INIudd}- river " ; also, 
another tract of land " lying Westerly from the former, bounded 
southerly by Lott Number one, westerly by Cathance Rivei", Northerl}' 
by land belonging to us, and easterly by Merr^'meeting Ba\- and the 
entrance of Muddj' River . . . containing 515 acres." ^ This latter 
tract of laud appears to be the same as that mentioned in the former 
deed. 

On June 30, 1721, Samuel York, of Ipswich, relinquished all title 
to land in Topsham claimed b}' his father, Samuel York, deceased, b}' 
virtue of an Indian deed, etc., the proprietors granting him thi'ee 
hundred acres in lieu thereof. 

About 1781 quite a number of new settlers moved to Topsham. 
Some fort3'-three persons took up lots this 3ear or a short time previ- 
ous. As man}- of the names of these persons do not appear in subse- 
quent lists of settlers, however, it is probable that they either forfeited 
or sold their lots. Between this date and 1738, some fourteen fam- 
ilies moved into town. The proprietors about this time especially 
encouraged settlements in Topsham, as that place was much behind 
Brunswick in the number of settlers. This was because Topsham was 
much more exposed to the incursions of the Indians, it having but 
few strong garrisons."^ 

[1746.] In 1746 it had only thirty-six settlers, and manj^ of these 
were afterwards killed by the Indians. There are not more than ten 
or a dozen of these whose descendants have lived in Topsham during 
the present century. Some of these settlers removed and settled in 
the neighborhood of Boston.*^ 

[1749.] The population of Topsham at this time was "about 
twenty-five inhabitants." ^ 

Owing to the attacks of the Indians during what is known as the 
Spanish, or Fifth Indian war, the settlement at this place became 
much reduced, so that in 1750 there were but eighteen families 
remaining.^ 

In 1752 the number of polls in the Topsham precinct was twenty- 
eight. The number of dwellings at this time can be seen bj- reference 
to the map on page 40. 

In 1757 the population of Topsham had nearly doubled, tlie number 
of polls being at this time fort^'-nine.^ The whole number taxed in 
town in 1758 was forty-four.''' 

^ Pejepscot Records. 2 Pejej^scot Papers. 

^ Ibid 4 Brunsvnck Records in Pejepscot Collection. 

^ Massachv setts Historical Collection, 3, p. 142. ^Pejepscot Papers. '^ Ibid. 



44 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

On November 11, 17G3, the following named settlers near Cathance 
proposed to bu}- of the proprietors the amount of meadow land artixed 
to their names, and agreed to pa}^ six shillings per acre. The propri- 
etors, however, limited the quantity to five acres each. This amount, 
it is to be presumed, the}' all purchased. The names and amounts 
desired were as follows : — 

Hugh Wilson, six acres. 
James Potter, Jr., eight acres. 
James Mustard, five acres. 
John Mallett, six acres. 
Alexander Potter, six acres. 
William Alexander, eight acres. 
Samuel Wilson, ten acres. 

On June 17, 1766, David Jeffries, of Boston, clerk to the Kenne- 
bec proprietors, and James Bowdoin, of Roxburj, INIass., a grantee of 
the same proprietors, deeded to John and William Potter and Gowen 
Fulton, all of Topsham, all of the land in Bowdoinham claimed by 
them under their previous deeds from the Pejepscot proprietors.^ 

[1768.] At a meeting of the Pejepscot proprietors, Jul}' 23, 1768, 
it was voted to allow John Merrill's claim to land bought of Henry 
Gibbs, in Topsham. The quantity of land which Merrill held was 
four hundred acres, which was forty acres more than the amount of 
his claim, and he was required to account for the overplus at a meet- 
ing held August 5 ; however, the proprietors gave him fift}' acres in 
consideration of £39 due him from them. 

A memorandum in the Pejepscot Records gives the dimensions of 
several log-houses built in Topsham, about 1738, as follows : " thirty 
feet long, eighteen feet wide and eight feet high." 

The earliest transfer of land in Harpswell, after the formation of 
the Pejepscot Company', of which we have found smy record, was in 
1720. On May 20, of this year, Nicholas Cole and Samuel Little- 
field, of Wells, deeded to Samuel Boone, of Kingston, Rhode Island, 
one half of Merriconeag Neck, one half of Great Chebeag Island, 
and one half of Great Island, being the land formerly owned by Nicho- 
las Cole, Senior, and John Pumngton.^ Boone is not, however, known 
to have settled in Harpswell. 

In the year 1727 several new families moved to Harpswell and 
settled upon the Neck. On the twenty-sixth of Ma}' of this year, 
Thomas Westbrook, one of the Pejepscot proprietors, deeded to 

1 Original deed in our possession. 2 Pejepscot Papers- 



PEJEPSCOT PROPRIETORS. SEITLEMENTS UNDER THEM. 45 

Colonel Johnson Harmon, formerly of York, one twenty-fourth part 
of two thousand acres of land on Merriconeag Neck.^ 

In October of the samej'ear, Colonel Harmon leased of the Pejepscot 
proprietors, for seven years, " that farm or tract of land called Merri- 
coneage Neck in Casco Bay, and so running up to the upper carrying 
place including y* whole breadth of y^ b^ neck." The proprietors, 
however, retained the right to settle one or more families on the Neck, 
without opposition from Harmon. ^ 

The authorities of Harvard College, however, though defeated in 
their appeal to the legislature, as stated in the pi'eceding chapter, had 
not given up their claim to the land, and in January', 1732, they insti- 
tuted a suit of ejectment against Harmon, in the Court of Common 
Pleas of the Count}' of York. In October, 1733, a verdict was ren- 
dered in favor of Harmon. The plaintiffs appealed the case to the 
Superior Court, which was held in 1737, and it was eventuall}' decided 
again in favor of Harmon, or rather of the proprietors from whom he 
leased. Having been four times defeated. Harvard College made no 
further attempt to recover this propert}'.^ 

In Dec. 21, 1741, Colonel Harmon deeded all the foregoing land 
(excepting fifty acres which he had previously sold to John Stover) 
to his son, Joseph Harmon, of York, together with his dwelling- 
house, barn, and all other buildings and appurtenances. The price 
paid was £70 in bills of credit.'' 

On May 17, 1731, Moses Gatchell leased of the Pejepscot propri- 
etors, for two 3'ears, the land on Merriconeag Neck, between the 
Carr^'ing-Place and the land then occupied by Colonel Harmon. ^ 

At the same date Gideon Conner, then residing on the Neck, 
leased of the proprietors, for two ^ears, a tract of land having the 
same bounds as Gatcheirs,^ and it is probable that the two men 
leased the land together, but each was held by a separate lease. It 
is possible, however, that Conner was the " Iresh Neighbour " referred 
to in the following letter : — 

'Mereconeag June 25, 1731. 

Hon*^ : Colo'.' sr : I am still in your posession on y* : upor end of 
y^ neck but I have there an Iresh Neighbour which pretends to hold 
pos" : for mr, Porenton by a Leas under his hand as I am sr in 3'ours 
by Colo" Westbrook And I hope b}- ^-our cosent : I am Redy and 
will" to sarve your intrust : and desier 3-our Counsel and asistance from 
time to time : and sr if 3'ou will plese to send me ^ Barrel of Molases 

^ Pejepscot Papers. ^Ihid. ^Ihid. *Ibid. ^ Ibid. ^Ibid. 



46 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

and one Sytbe 3'ou will greatl}' oblige me : and I will indever to pay 
you y* next faul who am yours to Cd 

"Moses Gatchel.''^ 

There had been but two houses at the upper part of Merriconeag 
Neck previous to 1741 , as will be seen by the following testimony : — 

" Hannah Smith Testifj'eth & Saith y' she with her late Husband 
James Smith lived at y^ upper end of Mereconege Neck where her 
late Husband & her Father Moses Gatchel Built a House & lived 
there from June 1731 to 1735 at which Coll Westbrook told us 3' if 
we liked any place on said Neck better we might Remove to it upon 
which my late Husband [Smith] & Father [Gatchel] Removed about 
1^ mile loer down on s*^ neck & Built a House there where we lived 
till 1741, as Tenuants to S*^ Westbrook & Comp^ & Built Houses in 
both Places & further that when her Father Gatchell Removed from 
the upper House on S*^ neck he Lett it to Nath" Barnes who lived there 
2^ years from 1735 & paid my Father Rent for the Same for S*^ West- 
brook & Comp^ the S*^ Barnes Removing away to Topsham left s'' 
House in the Posession of W™ McNess for y* S"^ Westbrook & 
Comp^ — and no persons whatsoever lived on the upper half of 
S*^ Neck but my Father & M}^ Husband «fe owre Famil3S while we 
lived there & there was no sign of anj' other habitation nor improve- 
ment but w'here we first lived," ^ 

The proprietors, notwithstanding their devotion to the interests of 
the settlers, were men who knew how to look out for their own ph^s- 
ical wants and how to enjoy good living. It appears that on the 
8th of August, 1733, the proprietors leased to William Cad}' and 
his associates, for seven years, the " island called Sebasco Deggin," 
with libert}' to use and occupj' it ; and they also agreed to deliver 
to Cady the frame of a house, then in the possession of Colonel 
Harmon, and to furnish Cady with four thousand feet of boards, and 
with nails sufficient for finishing the house, which Cady was to set up 
and finish. The proprietors reserved to themselves the right of 
" improving an}' mine or mineral," which might be discovered on the 
island, and also the right " to settle a fishery there," or to make 
other settlements there, which should not, however, interfere with the 
improvements of Cad}- and his associates. 

Cady agreed to erect and finish, forthwith, at least one dweUing- 
house on the island, and occupy it before the next winter, and that 
before the next summer he would settle, at least, three other famiUes 

1 Pejepscot Papers. * Ibid. 



PEJEPSCOT PROPRIETORS. SETTLEMENTS UNDER THEM. 47 

besides his own on the island, and keep off all intruders from settling 
without leave, in writing, from the proprietors, and from cutting 
wood or grass there. He further agreed to clear the fresh meadows, 
and to clear and break up and bring to tillage and English grass as 
much of the land upon the island as he and his associates could (the 
proprietors finding grass-seed) , and to endeavor to raise a nursery of 
fruit trees and an orchard ; and as an annual rental he agreed to pay 
to Adam Winthrop, or his heirs in Boston, " for the use of him and 
the rest of the Lessors twenty good fat geese., or in failure thereof 
£5 per annum, in bills of credit on this Province."^ Although his 
name is not mentioned in this deed, there is little doubt that William 
Condy was one of Cady's " associates," as a blank form of a deed in 
the Pejepscot papers mentions Condy's name in coiniection with that 
of Cady. The harbor known as " Cundy's" was undoubtedly named 
for William Condy. 

It will be noticed that this lease reserves the right to the proprie- 
tors to allow other settlers on the island. And in 1737 or 1738 some 
twent}' families were settled there. 

An attempt was made to re-settle the island for the purpose of 
building a fishing-town. Mr. Nathaniel Donnel, of York, selected a 
spot which was to be divided into small lots of an acre each, for the 
convenience of dwelling-houses, with a convenient harbor adjacent. 
The project was abandoned on account of the increased hostilit}' of 
the Indians. The harbor referred to was probably Cond^-'s, as the 
land on the western shore of that harbor is well calculated for the site 
of a village.^ 

Dec. 23, 1742, Joseph and Clement Orr, of Pemaquid, turners by 
trade, bought of Henry Gibbs, of Boston, a tract of land at the 
northerly end of Merriconeag Neck, containing one hundred and 
twenty-two acres. ^ The next day they received from the same partj^ 
another tract of sixt^'-nine acres near the former,^ and the " southeast 
prong" of Merriconeag Neck, containing, by estimation, two hundred 
acres. ''^ 

In 1743 Richard Jaques, of North Yarmouth, bought one hundred 
acres of land, on Little Sebascodegin (Orr's) Island. ^ 

He is believed, therefore, to have been the first purchaser of land 
on this island, though tradition has it that a man by the name of 
Fitzgerald was the first occupant of the island. What disposition he 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 2 McKeen, in Ilarpswell Banner. 

3 York County Records, 20, p. 201. 

•^Ibid., 262;., 202. ^Ihid., 28, J7. 99. ^Ibid., 25, p. 112. 



48 HISTORY OF BliUNSWICE, TOPSHAM, AND IIAEPSWELL. 

made of this property is unknown, but the whole ishmd afterwards 
came into the possession of Honorable William Tailer, of Dorchester, 
Mass., and of Honorable Elisha Cook, of Boston, whose heirs sold it 
in 1748 to Joseph Orr.^ Joseph Orr had previousl}' been living on 
Merriconeag Neck, but after he purchased the island he, with his 
brother Clement and sons, moved on to it and erected a garrison- 
house. The island has since gone by his name. 

In his purchase of half of the island from the heirs of William 
Tailer, Orr did not secure the signature to his deed of one of the 
daughters, the wife of Reverend Matthew B^des, of Boston, who 
accordingl}' put in her claim to a share. In consequence of this claim, 
on July 22, 17G0, Orr set oft" and released to her one tenth part of the 
island, and received a quitclaim of the remainder. ^ On October IGth 
of this 3'ear, Joseph Orr deeded the whole of his propert}' on this 
island to his brother Clement as a life estate, and to his heirs after 
him. In case of the death of Clement's heirs it was to revert to the 
heirs of Joseph. ^ 

In 1755 there were on Sebascodegan Island, sixteen persons, and 
on Merriconeag Neck, six persons, who, living north of the Yar- 
mouth line, were taxed in Brunswick. 

The number of settlers in these three towns, during the first half 
of the last century-, is so large as to prevent a mention of their names 
in this connection, and a list of these settlers is therefore given in the 
Appendix. The doings of the proprietors, which are not given in this, 
will be found in their appropriate connection in other chapters. 

^ York County Records, 35, pp. 31, 32. 2 Ibid., p. 232. 

8 Original deed, in possession of S. Furinton. 



rERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1G75-1760. 49 



CHAPTER IV. 

PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1675-1780. 

In the earliest 3-ears of the Pejepscot settlement the whites were 
few in number, and although they oftentimes, doubtless, excited the 
jealous}' and even the personal animosity of the natives, still, on the 
whole, \hey conducted themselves with sufficient caution to prevent 
any outbreak. For a few years previous to 1675 the ill-feeling and 
jealousy on the part of the Indians had been increasing and was par- 
ticularly- directed against Thomas Purchase, who was thought by them 
to have charged unfair prices, and otherwise to have overreached 
them in trade. The custom of the English at this time was, as is 
said by an earl}' writer, "first to make them [the Indians], or suffer 
tlieia to make themselves, drunk witli li(niors. and then to trade with 
them, when they may easily be cheated both in what they ])ring to 
trade, and in the liquor itself, being one half or more nothing but 
spring water, which made one of the Androscoggin Indians once com- 
plain that he had given an hundred pound for water drawn out of 
Mr. P. his well." ^ 

KING PHILIP'S WAE. 1G75-1G78. 

The animosit}' of the natives culminated in an outbreak in 1675. 
The war commenced in the Plymouth Colon}', June 24, 1675. By 
September the fourth or fifth, hostilities commenced at Pejepscot. 
On that day, a party of aljout twenty Indians went to Purchase's 
house and pretended to his wife that they wished to trade. Discover- 
ing, however, that her husband and son were both absent, they gave 
up all furtlier disguise, and proceeded to rob the house. They took 
what weapons, i)Owder, and liquor they could find, rii)ped up the feather- 
beds for the sake of the ticking, killed a calf and several sheep, and 
proceetled to make merry. Purchase's son returned home while this 
was going on, and being discovered by the party, was obliged to 

^ Drake, Hubbard's Indian Wars, p. 256. 



50 IIISIORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPS yVELL. 

flee for his life. He was followed for some distance by an Indian with 
a gun, but succeeded in making good his escape. The party offered 
no violence to any one in the house, but told thein that '■'■ others would 
soon come and treat them worse." Some few days later, a part}' of 
twenty-five settlers, having collected for the purpose, went in a sloop 
and two boats to the New Meadows River, near to the house of Mr. 
Purchase, to gather and secure the growing crops, and also to recon- 
noitre. Here they found a number of Indians pillaging the neighbor- 
ing houses. In attempting to get between the Indians and the woods, 
they came upon three of their spies. One of these, attempting to 
reach the river, they shot. The second was wounded, but escaped 
across a stream to a canoe. The third escaped and gave the alarm. 
The Indians, however, remained concealed until the corn was all gath- 
ered and the boats loaded, when they suddenly gave their war-whoop, 
rushed upon them, wounded several, and carried ofl" the boat-loads of 
corn in triumph. ^ Some time the next 3'ear Purchase's house was 
burned and he was compelled to leave.- 

The war now having fairl}' opened, the settlers were all obliged to 
flee, and the Indians, emboldened by their success, " sought trophies 
for the tomahawk and scalping-knife in every direction, at the door of 
ever}^ plantation" throughout the Province of Maine. 

The Androscoggin Indians were the most active of all the tribes, 
and it was thought, in 167G, that if a treaty could be effected with them 
there would be a general peace with the Eastern tribes. ^ This could 
not be accomplished this year, however, and so the General Court, in 
1677, ordered Majors Waldron and Frost, with one hundred and fifty 
men, sixty of whom were Natick Indians, to the Kennebec, with 
instructions "■ to subdue the Indians in those parts, and deliver the 
English captives detained in their hands." 

The force landed at Mair Point, Feb. 18, 1077. The}' were imme- 
diately hailed b^- an Indian party, among whom were Squando and 
Simon, " the Yankee-killer." After some preliminary questions, 
Waldron inquired of Simon whether they desired peace. The latter 
answered, " Yes, and we sent Mugg to Boston for that purpose; he 
told us you'd be here." Upon being asked if they would release 
their English captives, Squando replied, " I will bring them in the 
afternoon." Nothing further was seen of them, however, until the 



1 Williamson, History of Maine, 1, p. 520 et seq. 
'^ Maine Historical Oolhction, 3, p. 315. 
^ Drake, Book of Indians, 3, p. lOi. 



PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1675-1700. 51 

next da}' at noon, when fourteen canoes were seen up the ba}', jxilling 
for the shore, and soon a house was seen in flames, and the Indians 
appeared and challenged Waldrou's soldiers to tight. INIajor Frost then 
attacked them and killed and wounded several. Another parley- was 
then held. On being asked wh}' they had not brought their captives, 
as they had agreed to do, and why they had fired the house and chal- 
lenged the soldiers, the Indians replied, through their interpreter, that 
' ' the captives were a great wa}' off, and that the snow and cold 
weather had prevented their coming, that the house took fire by acci- 
dent, and that the soldiers fired at the Indians first." Major Waldron, 
finding himself unable to recover the captives or to fight the Indians 
with advantage, sailed for the Sagadahock.^ 

This was the last engagement of this war that occurred in this 
vicinity, though peace was not declared until April 12, 1G78. Al- 
though in the first three months alone of this war, eighty persons 
were slain between the Piscataqua and the Kennebec, it is not known 
that any of the settlers in the Fejepscot tract were killed. 

KING WILLIAM'S WAK. 1688-1099. 

The peac3 concluded with the Indians in 1678 lasted just ten years, 
when, from various causes, the}' became excited and again took the 
war-path. Governor Andros was at first inclined to adopt pacifica- 
tory measures, but at last, finding war inevitable, he took the opposite 
course, and in November, 1688, he made an expedition into the 
P2astern conntr}-, as it was then called, and established garrisons. At 
the time of his visit to Fejepscot, •• the weather was exceedingly cold, 
the snow deep, and the travelling exceedinglj- tedious." AVhile here he 
caused a fort to be erected under the charge of Anthon}- Brockhold, 
one of his counsel,- and garrisoned it with a part of his arm}-.^ This 
fort stood on what is now Maine .Street, a few rods south of Bow 
Street, and about where the store of J. T. Adams & Co. is now. 

The first attack in this vicinity was in the spring of 1690, when the 
fort was taken by the savages. In September, Colonel Benjamin 
Cliurch was sent from Massachusetts with between three hundred and 
four hundred men, to drive them off" from Brunswick and other places 
in this region, and, if possible, recover their captives. He landed his 
force at Maquoit, Sept. 13, and marched them by night towards Fort 
Andros. They surrounded the fort, but at daybreak it was discov- 
ered that the enemy had left shortly before their arrival. The soldiers 

1 Williamson, History of Maine, 1, 2^P 5^5. 546. 

2 McKeen, MSS. Lecture. ^ Williamson, History of Maine, 1, p. 590. 



52 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

found some plunder and a barn of corn. The}' left the same day for 
an Indian fort on the Androscoggin. After capturing the latter and 
releasing several prisoners, they returned to Maquoit, went aboard 
their vessels, and sailed for Winter Harbor. ^ 

Church had no conflict with the Indians at Brunswick as stated by 
Cotton Mather, the contest referred to having occurred at Cape 
Elizabeth.2 

In September, 1G91, Captains King, Sherburne, March, and Wal- 
ton landed, with their several companies of Massaclni setts militia, at 
Maquoit and visited Fort Andros, expecting to find some Indians 
there. The.y found none, however, and accordingly returned imme- 
diately to Maquoit. While re-embarking, they were assaulted by a 
strong force of Indians who had been watching them. In this skirmish 
Captain Sherburne, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was killed.-^ 

The war lasted some eight 3'ears longer, but there was no fnrther 
skirmishing in this vicinity. Probal)ly the settlers had all left. A 
conference between the commissioners from Massachusetts and the 
sagamores of the Penobscot, Kennebec, Androscoggin, and Saco tribes 
was held at Mair Point, and a previous treaty of peace, which had 
been made at Pemaquid, Aug. 11, 1G93, was ratified between them on 
Jan. 7, 1099. This treaty quieted the fears of the settlers and encour- 
aged those who were engaged in the resettlement of Maine. 

QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 1703-1713. 

Peace with the Indians lasted only about four years. In 1703 the 
third Indiait war commenced. Although during this wai" engagements 
and skirmishes were quite frequent in the vicinit}' and to tiie westward 
of Falmouth, there is no evidence that there was an}' contest in this 
vicinit}'. The statement made by the late John McKeen,'' that there 
was an attempt to undermine the fort here, in 1702, by a Frenchman 
named Bobazier and five hundred Indians, is an error. The fort 
referred to was at Casco, the present city of Portland.^ 

In 1704 some companies from JNIassachusetts and New Hampshire 
went East, " Indian hunting," as it was termed, and one Peter Rogers, 
of NewbuiT, stated that he came to Pejepscot in a compan}' of some 
twenty or thirty. That it was in the winter time, and that they trav- 

1 Dexter, " Church' s Expeditions against the Eastern Indians," pp. 50 to 50. 

2 McKeen, Manvscript Lecture. 

3 Williamson, History 0/ Maine, \,p. 028. 

* Pejepscot Papers. McKeen, MSS. Lecture. 

* Penhalloio, p. 20. Willis's History of Portland, p. 315. 



PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1675-1700. 53 

elled with snow-shoes from there to Rocamoco,^ or Jaj Point, now 
Canton. No mention is made of his meeting with either settlers or 
savages. 

LOVEWELL'S WAR. 1722-1725. 

Although during Queen Anne's war there is not known to have 
been any conflict in this vicinity, yet the whole Province was in such a 
disturbed state on account of the Indian troubles that the Pejepscot 
proprietors, in 1715, felt it necessary to offer the following. 

EKCOUKAGEMENT.S TO EnLIST. 

"Wee the Subscribers Proprietors of the Lands in Brunswick & 
Topsham, do offer tiie following encouragements to such as shall Volun- 
tarily enlist themselves as Souldiers to garrison the Fort at Brunswick. 

" 1 That immediately upon their enlistment, the}' shall enter into 
Pay & Subsistence. 

"2. That the Military Service expected from them at present is 
like to be so small as to permit them, besides their wages, to earn 
mone}' by Labour. 

"3. Tliat during the time of the Forts Repair, we will employ 
them all as Labourers, (except the Warders), & pay Two Shillings a 
day for everj- day they work. 

"4. That afterwards we will endeavour to find employment for 
them, by splitting staves, shingles or clapboards or any other Service 
that may prove beneficiall to us & them. 

" .5. That when they have served six months as Souldiers if they 
desire to become Inhabitants, we will endeavour to obtain a General 
Order from His Ex^y the Govern"" to release them, they finding another 
man in their room, & when so dismist they shall have One hundred 
Acres of Land granted to each of them equall with the other Inhabi- 
tants & on the same Terms & conditions with them. 

" f). If the}' don't see cause to settle there, when they have served 
twelve months, we will use our endeavour to obtain His Ex''^ Favour to 
get them discharged, which we hope we shall be able to accomplish. 

" Approved by the Governour 
& Signed by several of the 
Proprietors. 

"Boston, Aug. 3d, 1715." 

The proprietors, at a meeting held the thirtieth of the same month, 
voted to provide a free passage in a sloop to Brunswick and Tops- 
ham to the enlisted soldiers. 

' McKeen, Manuscript Lecture. 



54 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

The fourth Indian, called the Three Years' or Lovewell's War, com- 
menced in this Yicinit\', June 13, 1722, by a part}' of sixty Indians in 
twenty canoes appearing at Merr3-meeting Ba}', on the north side, 
perhaps near Pleasant Point or Fulton's Point. They captured nine 
entire families, but released all except tive men, — Hamilton, Hanson, 
Trescott, Love, and Edgar, — whom the\' detained as hostages for the 
safe return of the four Indians in the hands of the F^nglish at Boston.^ 

In June or July of this year, they made an attack upon the settle- 
ment at Brunswick, which they set fire to and entirely destroyed. 
Several citizens were also taken prisoners. Mr. David Dunning and 
another soldier were on the plains at the time, and when about where 
the First Parish Meeting-House now is, their attention was arrested 
b}' an unusual noise. The}- looked among the bushes and discovered 
a large number of Indians about the house of Thomas Tregoweth, 
and just moving away towards the fort. Mr. Dunning went to his 
home at Maquoit. but the soldier ran towards the fort, giving the 
alarm as he went. He was fired at, but escaped. Some of the citi- 
zens who were captured were cruelly murdered, and the houses were 
rifled and burned. In regard to the fate of Thomas Tregoweth 
nothing is definitely known. ^ 

After their work of destruction was accomplished the Indians re- 
paired to a dwelling on Fish-House HilP for purposes of revehy. 
They were soon dislodged, however, put to flight, and the house par- 
tially destroyed by a chain-shot from the cannon in the fort. This 
fort was not Fort Andros, but a stone fort named Fort George, which 
was built in ITIT) b}' the Pejepscot proprietors, and which stood quite 
near the site of the former. The Indians took their boats and went 
with their captives to Pleasant Point. 

Captain Gyles sent Samuel Eaton, with a letter done up in his hair 
and covered with an eel-skin, to let Colonel John Harmon, who was 
stationed at Arrowsick, know of the attack, and that the Indians 
were on their way to Pleasant Point. "^ Harmon, discovering the 
village to be on fire, concluded that the Indians had made an attack 
upon it, and at once, before the message from the fort had reached 
him, manned two whale-boats, and, accompanied by Major Moody, 
proceeded with muffled oars up the river. It was night when he 
entered Merrymeeting Bay. Perceiving the fires of the Indians 
upon Pleasant Point, he carefully approached and noiselessly landed. 

1 Williamson, History of Maine, 2, p. 114. ~ McKeen, MsS. Lecture. 

3 f)n Water Street, near the present residence of ^liss Narcissa Stone, 
*MvKeen, Mamiscript Lecture. 



PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1675-1760. 55 

Ascending the banks, he found a large number of Indians lying 
before their fires, all sleeping very soundly, being much fatigued by 
the labors of the day and their subsequent revehy. His men imme- 
diately arranged themselves, fired into them, and killed sixteen or 
eighteen, and took some pnsoners, though some, doubtless, escaped. 
A few of the Indians, who were some little distance off, alarmed by 
the report of fire-arms, fired at them, but without doing any harm. 

Harmon, on his return to his boats, found the body of Moses Eaton, 
of Salisbury, Mass., whom the Indians had first tortured by depriv- 
ing him of his tongue and cutting off his arms and legs, and had 
then killed. As no one of the party was shot at the time of the 
attack, Eaton must have been taken captive while separated from his 
comrades. His body was buried near the spot.i 

An account of this affair has been preserved in doggerel rhyme 
Harmon is represented on tlie bank of the river, watching the Indians 
sleeping before their fires. It is introduced here as a specimen of the 
literature of the times : — 

" Oh, the sweet aud pleasant morning 

While we around tliem stood, 
But oh ! tlie dreadful and grievous groaning, 

Englishmen lying iu their blood. 
' C;ome,' said valiant Colonel Harmon, 

'This, their neglect, is our gain; 
Therefore let us fall upon them, — 

Our cause is good we will maintain.' 
Then on them we fired two volleys. 

And, with haste, we made away. 
For fear the Indians would surround us, 

And we should not get away. 
Some did say that we did kill thirty, 

Others say that we did kill more; 
The number to us is uncertain, 

I believe we hardly killed a score." * 

This attack upon the settlement at Brunswick is supposed to have 
been specially in retaliation for that upon Norridgewock, the preced- 
ing year, by Colonel Westbrook.^ 

Early in August, 1724, "Captains Harmon, Moulton, Brown, and 
Beau were now preparing for Norridgewock, with two hundred men 

1 Williamson, History of Maine, 2, p 116 According to McKeen (Pejepscot Papers), 
Moses Eaton was son of Hamuel Eaton, of Brwiswick, who then lived about where the 
Rowdoin Hotel is noiv. 

'^Pejepscot Papers. ^ Maine Historical Collections, 3, p. 311. 



5G HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, 'lOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

ill seventeen whale-boats. After they landed at Triconnick, they met 
with Bomazeen at Brunswick (who had slain an Englishman some 
days before), whom they shot in the river, as he attempted to make an 
escape. They afterwards killed his daughter, and took his wife cap- 
tive ; vi\\o gave an account of tlie state of the enem}', which encour- 
aged them to march on ^ briskl}'." 

No further fighting is known to have occurred in this vicinity until 
1725. On April 13th of that jear two Indians captured a man 
belonging to the garrison at Maquoit, named James Cochran, about 
eighteen years of age. lie was on the marshes in pursuit of fowl when 
he was surprised by the two Indians. He was pinioned, taken to the 
carrying-place, put in a canoe, and carried up to the Ten-Mile Falls. 
There the Indians made their arrangements for the night. A fire was 
made and supper prepared. Cochran expected all this time that he 
would be killed when the savages met some of their companions, and 
determined, in consequence, to make his escape, if possible. The sec- 
ond night his bonds were removed, and he was placed between the 
two Indians to sleep. Each of the savages slept with his hatchet 
under his head and his gun by his side. Cochran feigned sleep, while 
in reality he watched ever}- moveni' nt. As soon as he found his 
captors asleep he rose up. This movement awakened one of them, 
who, seeing their prisoner apparently suffering from cold and endeavor- 
ing to warm himself, went to sleep again. When all was again quiet, 
Cochran took the hatchet from under the head of the one who had 
waked, and killed him instantly. He killed the other as he was get- 
ting up. He then scalped them both, took their guns and hatchets, 
and went down the river in great haste, fearing lest he should meet 
their companions. In fording a river on the way, he lost a gun and 
one of the scalps. When he arrived opposite the fort, he shouted, and 
a boat was sent across for him. He narrated his adventure to Cap- 
tain Gyles, and some men were sent up the river, wha found the bodies 
of the dead Indians, and also their canoe which they brought back.- 
He was both rewarded for his braver}' and promoted in his rank. 

At this time. Captain John Gyles was in command of the fort, which 
was crowded with the inhabitants who had gone to it for safety. This 
war was closed b}' the ratification of a tteaty between the Indians and 
commissioners on behalf of the government, August 6, 1726. 

ij e., to Norridgewock. Penhallow' s Indian Wars, p. 102. Query: Bomazeen 
Island is east of Gur7iet Bridge. Max/ not Bomazeen have been killed there and the 
name applied to the ishmd in consequence ? — Eds. 

' McKcen, MSS. Lecture. Penhallow' s Indian Wars, p. 109. 



PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1G75-I7f)0. 57 



SPANISH OR FIFTH INDIAN WAR. 1745-1749. 

The fifth war with the Indians grew out of the war between Great 
Britain, France, and Spain, which commenced about 1739, although 
the formal declaration of it was not made until June. 1744. In anti- 
cipation of this war, and in expectation that the Indians wonld take 
part in it, the forts along the coast were put in order and garrisoned. 

In 1740 the commanding officer of Fort George was furnished with 
a quantity' of goods, of suital)le kinds, snfflcient to supply the Indians 
who commonly resorted there. This was done to attach them to the 
interests of the government. ^ So much reliance was placed upon this 
method of dealing with the Indians, that in 1742 the government 
refused to strengthen it at all,- and in 1743 onh' six men were sent to 
this fort. In 1744 block houses were built in Brunswick and Tops- 
ham, "all of massive timber," and a regiment, consisting of 1,290 
men, was organized and placed under the command of Colonel Sam- 
uel Waldo, of Falmouth. The proportion of Brunswick and Topsham 
men in this regiment was fifty. Another regiment was also organized, 
from the towns west of Falmouth, under the command of Colonel 
William Pepperell, of Kittery. These soldiers were all, however, dis- 
charged December 2d, except one hundred men from the latter regi- 
ment, who were formed into eight guards and stationed between Ber- 
wick and St. George. Fourteen men scouted from New Marl)lehead 
to Brunswick, and ten from Topsham to Richmond fort. There was a 
block house with a company of soldiers at Maquoit, under command 
of Captain AVilliara Woodside. There were also storehouses and 
other buildings there. ^ 

In 1745 a call was made for men to serve in the expedition to 
Louisburg. This expedition was very popular in this vicinity, and 
many persons enlisted, including some of the principal and most 
promising young men in each of the towns. From twent^'-five to 
thirty- men went from Brunswick, as many more from Ilarpswell, and 
a number from Topsham. It is said that in Brunswick a day of fast- 
ing and pra^'er was held before any soldiers enlisted, so unwilling 
were the people to allow their own capability of defence against the 
Indians to be weakened. The Ilarpswell forces were commanded by 
Richard Jaques, the same who shot Sebastian Rale at Norridgewock. 

During the continuance of the Louisburg campaign, the settlers 
were contiuuall}- alarmed for their own safet}', and were calling upon 
the government to send a military force hither from the West. The 

^Massachusetts Records, 1740, p. 481. '^Ibid., 1742, p. 41G. ^McKeen. 



58 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

glad tidings that Louisbnrg was reduced was received with great jo}', 
and tlie return of the volunteers, who nearly all came back, was hailed 
with the utmost enthusiasm. ^ 

The first outbreak of the Indians in this war occurred at Saint 
George and Damariscotta, Jul}' 19, 1745/2 

July 30 of this 3'ear, a man and a boy, at Topsham, were surprised 
by the Indians, who knocked them down and beat them with clubs. 
The man was killed and the boy was scalped and left for dead.-^ About 
this same time, a mounted man and his horse were shot at New 
Meadows.^ 

This was not, however, the first blood shed in this vicinity, as three 
3"ears previously Alexander McFarland was killed by the Indians 
while crossing the Androscoggin River. This was, however, an iso- 
lated case and may have been due to personal animosity. About the 
time of the Topsham and New Meadows massacres. Captain Mochus 
was scouting 5 with his company between Brunswick and Falmouth, 
and Captain John Gatchell was scouting north of Brunswick. The 
following is a copy of the Journal of the latter : — 

" 1747/8 Journal of a March up the Kennebeck Eiver by Capt. John 
March Gatchell of Buuxswick. 

" 7 Mett this da}- at Brunswick took allowance of Provision & 
ammunition but no Rum marcht 6 mile & lodged at Topsham. 

"'8 Marcht across Merrymeeting Bay 8 Mile & then up Kennebeck 
River 4 mile to Richmond Fort & bought some Rum to carry with us 
then la}' down & slept. 

" 9 Took M"" Call to pilott us to a pond Marcht N. N. AVest ab' 12 
Mile & came to a pond about 4 mile long hardly a mile wide the Pond 
lays N. E. & S. W. a River came & went out both at one end of y^ 
pond, went up the River that came into y" pond a mile & campt, sent 
out 2 men about a mile round then sett out our Sentrys & lay down & 
slei)t. 

" 10 Marcht np said River 3 mile abt N. W., went one mile N. E. 
then one mile N by E & came to a small pond about a mile & half 
long & half a mile wide — Went still by y® River 2 mile N W. then 
went N. 2 mile & came to a pair of Falls that had an Indian Ware 
made w'^ stones to catch fish — went up the River G mile about N & 

1 Pejepscot Papers. McKeen, MSS. Lecture. 

2 Williamson, History of Maine, 2, pp. 215 to 23G. 

8 Brake, French and Indian Wars, p. 80. If this lad was Thomas Thorn, he after- 
wards recovered. — Eds. 

* Smith's Journal, p. 40. ^ Massachusetts Records, 1745, p. 40. 



PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS. Ifi75-17fi0. 59 

came to a large Pond, went 2 mile on the Pond & campt on an Island 
Sent out 3 men 2 mile round, sett out our Sentrj'S & then la}' down & 
slept. ^ 

"11 Marcht across y" pond 3 mile X. b}- E. this pond is about 10 or 
1 2 mile long & about 2 or 3 mile wide & has near 20 Islands in it — it 
lays N. E. & S W. Went four mile N. bv E. & came to a pond 
about 3 mile long & half a mile wide & trackt some Moose Went N 
2 mile & came to a meadow, Went 4 mile N & came to a long meadow 
then marcht about 4 mile N by W & campt Sent out 2 men that 
went 2 mile round, sett out our Sentry's then lay Down & slept. 

"12 Went up a high hill & sent a man up a tree that he see a 
pond about five mile off, it bore from us E. N. .E. went 3 mile N & 
came to a pond & a Small River that run N. E. We went N E 2 
mile on said River & came to a large pond, it appeared to be 4 mile 
to y'' South End of y* pond, we went N. up y* pond 6 mile & came to 
a narrow place & a small Island in y* narrows N N E up to y' head of 
the pond ab' 5 mile then went into y* woods N. a mile & camp', sent 
out 3 men about 2 mile round then lay down & slept — it snowed — 

"13 Rise This INIorning, it being Sabbath day & the Trees very 
full of Snow we Marcht none only sent some men out on Discover^s 
they went about 4 mile to a high mountain & went up & see a pond 
that appeared to be very large it lay east from our Camp, & they see 
another pond y* lay North from y' large pond, it appeared to be about 
4 or 5 mile long they returned to y' Camp and at night we sett out our 
Sentry, then lay down & slept. 

"14 Marcht this morning ab' 2 mile & came to that large pond 
that we see a Sabbath day, this pond appeared to be aljout 15 mile 
long & about 4 mile wide & lay N" & S", it has about 28 Islands in it 
went about 12 mile South down y'' pond then went into the woods S. 
W. & came to a Small River that vented out of that long pond that 
we went up on Saturday', Went down y* small Hiver about three 
mile South & came to a pair of Falls that had 3 Indian Wares made 
w^ stones went still down y*" River it run to y^ eastward 4 mile & campt, 
sett out our Sentr3's lay down & slept. 

"15 Went down }•* River 5 mile & crost y* River on y*" Ice the 
River run Easterl}' went down the River 6 mile & came to another 
large pond 2 ab' 10 mile long & 2 mile wide it la.y N. E. & 8 W', we 
crost y* pond at y* S W* end then March* S W 8 mile & came to Ken- 



1 These ponds appear to be the Winthrop chain. 
^Snow's Pond in Sidney. 



60 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

nebeck River, went down 3'^ River a mile & Campt sett out our Sen- 
trys, and la_y down & slept. ^ 

"16 It snowed but we went down the River in y® Storm 8 mile «&: 
came to where y'' Tide flows, ^ went still down 3'* River 20 mile & came 
to Richmond Fort lay Down & slept. 

"17 Mareht down said River to Merrvmeeting Ba3' «fe some of the 
Men gott home. 

" 18 this da3' the Remainder of our Men gott home. 

signed 
" Jo^'ATHAN Philbrook, C?erA\"3 

April 23, 1747, Smith writes in his journal, "A scout of men are 
now out from North Yarmouth, another going out from Purpooduc. 
We are in the most distressed circumstances, Swarms of Indians 
being about the Frontier, and no soldiers save Captain Jordan's com- 
pan3' of fifty men, thirty of whom have been for some time at Tops- 
ham guarding the government timber." 

Ma3' 0, of this 3'ear, the Indians shot Mr. Seth Hinkle3', near the 
garrison of Joseph Smith and Tobias Ham, at New Meadows. The}' 
were tanners, and Hinkley had been there to get a strap for a cow- 
bell.^ The following letter, from Isaac Hinkle}', gives a rather more 
detailed account : — ^ 

" Brunsavick, May ye G, 1747. 
" LovEiNG Brother and Sister. 

" I hope that these few lines will find 3-ou in good health as we 
that are alive through the tender mercys of God. 

"God has taken awa3' b3' his providence our brother Seth b3'- the 
Indians Ma3' y^ 5 da3'. tha3' kiled him about 8 o'clock in the four- 
noon and scalped him and stript of all his does save onl3- his briches 
and stockens. tha3' carid awa3' his gon. thare was three men gest 
back behind a hill in a swamp near a gainst him when he was kiled 
and thay heard the gons when the Indians fiard at him and one of 
them said thay have shot sombodv and presentl3' after heard a Larm 
at Smiths and then tha3' ran out to Smiths and when tha}' came thare 
tha3' said that Seth was kiled and tha3' went whare tha3- heard the 
gons and found him Liing in the path tha3' shot about 33 fete at him. 
The night before the Indians ambush Mr. Ham. 11 of us went to see 
if we culd find them but we culd not find them, one our and ahalf 
after tha3' ware sen to go over merremeting hixx into Cathance river. 

^ Below Watennlle. ^Augusta. ^ Pejepscot Papers. * McKeen, MSS. Lectwe. 
6 Copied from the original in jwssession of II. W. Bryant, Esq., Portland. 



PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1G75-1700. 61 

" The Lord has maid a breach upon us and by taking awa}' our brother 
from us the Lord has be reved father and mother of thare son and us 
of our brother. 3-eat thaey and we must say with Job the Lord gai^-e 
and the Lord hath taken away Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

'• Sister reliance is brought abaed and has lost liur child but she is 
like to do weal but she has bin near to the gates of death but through 
the tender mearcies of God she is like to do well. 

" So I remain your loving brother 

" Isaac Hinkley. 

"To Mr. Samuel Scammon Saco." ^ 

Four days subsequently the Indians fired upon a canoe, containing 
four persons, as it was coming up through the narrows below Cow 
Island. The boat contained Mr. and Mrs. Moffitt, William Potter, 
and William Thorn, a soldier in Topsham. under Captain William 
Burns. Moffitt and Potter were killed. Thorn had his arm shot off. 
Mrs. JNIoffitt succeeded, with some assistance from Thorn, in paddling 
the canoe to the Brunswick side of the river, and thus enabled them 
both to escape.^ Thorn asked for aid fi-om the General Court, and on 
May 31, 1748, twelve pounds were allowed him. 

August 19th a man was wounded somewhere in Brunswick, and a boy 
taken prisoner. In the early part of September four men were killed 
and scalped in a corn-field, in Topsham, onh* about twenty rods from 
the garrison, by twelve Indians. Probably one of these was Richard 
Grain, said to have been killed August 27th. One of the men had 
seven bullets shot through his body.^ In the same magazine from 
which the above extracts were taken occurs the following account : — 

" Boston, Nov. 16. 
"We are informed hy Capt Woodside, that on the fifth Instant 
towards Evening, a Lad about 16 Years old, going out of Brunswick 
Fort at the Eastward, saw eleven Men dressed with Coats and Hats 
coming towards him, which he took for Englishmen, till the}- came up 
to him, when he found them to be Indians, one of which seized him 
as his Prisoner, which the Lads Father observing from the Fort, dis- 
charged his Gun (loaded with Swan-Shot) at the Indian and wounded 
him, upon which he immediately quitted the Lad, who ran towards the 
Fort, but Avas unfortunately shot down by the other Indians. The 

1 Scammon married Mehitable Hinkley. 

■^ Williamson, Smith, McKeen, et ah. Massachusetts Rcco7'ds. Vol. 73, pjy. 1G3, 1(54. 
^ Historical Magazine, Vols. 9 ayid 10. Extracts from New York Gazette, dated Sept. 
U, 1747. 



62 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

People of the Garrison got the Lad into the Fort alive, but he died of 
his Wounds soon after : He said the Indian that took him was mor- 
tally wounded l\y liis Father's Shot, one of which struek him (the Boy) 
in the Ball of his Hand." 

In 1748 the Indians made their appearance rather earlier than usual, 
— on the last of April. A company of soldiers kept open comnuuii- 
cation l)etween Fort George and Maquoit. They were, however, fre- 
quently annojed bj' the Indians, who la}- in ambush. On their first 
appearance this spring, a number of them hid in the bushes on the 
west side of Mair Brook and fired upon Captain Burns as he was cross- 
ing the brook with a file of men. They killed him and a Mr. Bragg, 
and captured a Mr. Werburn, whom they took to Canada. A day or 
two afterwards a bo}' of Doctor Spear's was watering a horse at a well 
near the house, when he was fired at, and he and the horse were both 
killed. 1 

May od of this same year, Captain Burnell and one other were killed 
at Brunswick, and on another occasion Lieutenant Mackburn was 
killed at the place called " Spawell." ~ 

Although during the winter of 1 748 there were some prospects of a 
peace, and the Indians were comparatively quiet, yet troops were kept 
in service for the defence of the Eastern inhabitants, and twelve men 
were left to garrison Fort George. A treaty of peace was concluded 
October IG, 1749. 

Although the war was now declared at an end, ^-et the Indians had 
been too much excited to remain perfectl}' quiet, and fi'esh outbreaks 
and massacres occasionall}' occurred. 

Earl}' in tlie year 1750 a woman on the old " Skipper Malcora " 
place in Topsham had died. She was to have been buried one after- 
noon in jMarch, and a new grave was dug. At the time appointed 
the house was filled with neighl)ors. The burial services had closed, 
and the procession formed for the march to the grave, when a snow- 
squall came up and prevented the burial, which was deferred until the 
next da}-. The storm was the severest that had been known for many 
years, and lasted four days. No intei-ment could take place until the 
fifth day. Some three years afterwards it was ascertained that a 
large party of Indians, who had been making an unsuccessful foray 
upon the settlements around Yarmouth, were making their way north, 
toward the Chaudiere River, when they learned, from a prisoner Avhom 
they had captured at Flying Point, that a funeral was to take place on 

^Smith's Journal, p. 133. - Spmvell was near Mair Brook. Pejepscot Papers. 



PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1675-1760. 63 

the afternoon of the next day, at the graveyard near the upper part 
of Merrymeeting Bay. The}' resolved to ambush the procession and 
massacre the whole settlement at one blow. They waited for the fu- 
neral procession the whole afternoon and the first night. The storm 
saved the settlers, but nearly destroyed the Indians, who suffered 
severely. '^ 

In Julv, 1751, the Indians came upon a part}' of seven settlers who 
were getting in their hay at New Meadows. These men were at work 
on the side of the hill north of the railroad at Harding's Station, on the 
farai now occupied liy Mr. Chapin Weston. The Indians, discovering 
that the party were some way from their guns, ran and cut off their 
retreat. This party of farmers consisted of Edmund, Isaac, and 
Gideon Ilinkley ; Deacon Samuel Whitney and his son Samuel, who 
was only a boy ; Hezekiah Purington and Samuel Lumbers. Isaac 
Hinkley was killed while attempting to escape. He fell in the gully 
at the lower part of the field, south of the railroad track, and his 
body was not found until the next spring. The rest were all taken 
prisoners and carried to Canada, where they suffered many hard- 
ships. 

They were afterwards exchanged and returned home. The govern- 
ment provided for their famihes during their captivity.'^ 

The following memorial to the General Court, of one of the captives, 
will be read with interest in this connection : — 

"To THE HoN^^*^ Spencer Phips, Esq Lt. Gov" & Commander in Chief 
FOR THE Time being. The Hon^'-'= His Majestys Councill & House 
of Kepresentatives in Gener.vl Court December 4, 1751. 

The Memokial of Samuel Whitney of Brunswick 

Humbly Sheweth 

" That your Memorialist & his Son Samuel, with five more of the 
Inhabitants, While at work together mowing their Hay, on Wednes- 
day y*^ 24 day of July last about two o'clock in the afternoon were sur- 
rounded & sui-prised by nineteen Indians & one Frenchman, who were 
all armed, & in an hostile manner did seize upon & by Force of Arms, 
obliged them to submitt their Lives into their hands, and one of our 
said number, viz. Isaac Hinckley in attempting to make his escape 
was killed in a barbarous Manner & Scalped. After we were secured 

1 The foregoing tradition is from the diary of the late James McKeen, M. D., of Tops 
ham. 

2 Pejepscot Papers. 



64 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AXD IIARPSWELL. 

hy saifl Indians, they destroyed and wounded between 20 & 30 head 
of Cattle belonging to y*^ Inhabitants, some of which were the prop- 
erty of 3-onr Memorialist. The said party of Indians were nine of them 
of Norridgewalk Tribe, one of whom was well known, the other were 
Canada Indians. That the Norridgewalk Indians appeared more for- 
ward for killing all the Captives but were prevented by the other 
Indians. 

"■ Your memorialist was by them Carried to Canada & there sold for 
126 Livres — And the said Indians when the}' came to Canada were 
new cloathed & had New Guns given them with plenty of Provisions 
as an encouragement for this exploit. That the Gov"" of the Penobscot 
Tribe was present when youv memorialist was sent for to sing a Chorus, 
as is their custom of using their captives. & manifested equal Joy w"^ 
the other Indians, that took them. And the Norridgewalk Tribe had 
removed from Norridgewalk & were now sett down on Canada River 
near Quebec, supposed to be drawn there by the Influence of the 
French. These things your memorialist caunott omitt observing to 
y"' Honours, and his Redemption was purchased by one ]Mr. Peter Lit- 
tlefield formerly' taken a captive & now resident among them, to whom 
3^our memorialist stands indebted for said 126 Livres being the price 
of his Liberty, which when he had so far obtained, he applied to y® 
Go'V'ern'' of Canada for a Pass, who readil}' granted it, that his Return 
to Boston was b}' way of Louisbourgh, when said Pass was taken 
from him liy the lord Intendant, on some Pretence which lie could not 
obtain of him again. 

^ Your memorialists son yet remaining in Captivit}' among the In- 
dians with three more that were taken at y'' same time, and he has a 
wife and 8 children under ditlicult circumstances by reason of this mis- 
fortune. 

"Your memorialist having thus represented his unhappy sufferings 
to this Ilon^'* Court humbly recommends his Case to the Compassion 
of this Hon*"'* Court hoping the}' will in their great Goodness provide 
for y* Redemption of his Son & enable him to answer his obligation to 
said Mr. Littlefield, who was so kind to pay for his Ransom. Your 
memorialist being in no Capacity to answer that Charge as thereby he 
is reduced to great poverty otherwise grant him that Relief as in their 
Wisdom & Goodness shall seem best — 

" Your memorialist as in duty bound shall ever pray &c 

"Samuel WnirNEY." 
On the back of this paper is the following indorsement : — 



PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1675-1760. 65 



> returned. 

y ) 



" 1751. Captives Taken. 

" Hez. Purington 
Sam '11 Whitne}' 
Edm'^ Hinkley 
Gideon Hinkley 
Samuel Lombard 
Samuel Whitne}' Jun"" returned. 
Isaac Hinkley killed. 
"July 24th 17r)l."i 

There is a tradition that the friends of young Hinkley, supposing 
that he was carried off by the Indians, did not search for liim. Early 
in the spring of the following ^-ear, it was noticed that a dog, which 
had belonged to Hinkle3% went ever}- dny to tlie gulh' where he fell. 
The dog was followed and the remains were thus discovered, but they 
had been so long exposed to the weather and to the ravages of wild 
beasts that the}- were in such a condition as to be unrecognizable by 
dress or features, and it was onl}' by a peculiar string found in one of 
the shoes that the remains were identified. 

FRENCH, OR SIXTH INDIAN WAR. 1754-17G0. 

When the last of the series of Indian wars commenced, in 1754, 
the government of Massachusetts deemed it unnecessarj- to retain Fort 
George any longer, but voted the sum of £470 towards building a fort 
at the Ten-Mile Falls instead, and for other military purposes. '^ Tliis 
action, so far as the fort was concerned, was premature. 

Early this j'ear, Adam Hunter, of Topsham, received a commission 
as captain, with authority to raise an independent company. The fol- 
lowing is a copy of the commission : — 

" PltOVISCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY. 

"William Shirley Esq., C.*ptain-genekal and Governor-in-chief 
[l. s.] in & OVER HIS Majesty's Province of y" Massachusetts Bay 
IN New England &c. 

" To Adam Hunter, Gentleman, Greeting: 

"By virtue of y* power & authority, in & by his Majesty's Royal 
Commission to me granted to be Captain General, &c., over this his 
Majesty's Province of y* Massachusetts Ba}- aforesaid ; I do (by these 

^Pejepscot Papers. "^Massachusetts Records, \1M, p 325. 

5 



Q6 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

presents) reposing especial trust and confidence in 3'onr loyalty, cour- 
age, and good conduct, constitute & appoint you to be a Captain of 
an Independent company of fifteen volunteers forthwitli to be raised 
in y"" town of Topshani & parts adjacent in y*" County of York ; for 
marching upon any sudden alarm to y* relief & protection of any 
neiglibouring English Fort or settlement (mentioned in y* instructions 
herewith s[ent]) which shall be attacked or molested by Indians ; &. 
for cutting off their retreat. 

" You are therefore carefully & diligently to discharge y* dut}* of a 
captain in leading, ordering & exercising said Compan}^ in Arms, both 
inferiour officers and soldiers, & to keep them in good order & disci- 
pUne ; hereby commanding them to obey 3'ou as their captain — & 
3^ourself to observe & follow such orders & instructions, as 3'ou shall 
from time to time receive from me, or y^ corainaader in chief for y^ 
time being, or other your supcriour officers for his Majesty's service, 
according to militar}' rules & discipline, pursuant to y^ trust reposed 
in 3'ou. 

" Given under ni}' hand & seal at arms at Boston, the fourth day of 
March, in ^^ twenty seventh year of ^^ Reigii of his Majesty King 
George y*' Second, Annoq : Domini, 1754." 

[Signed] W. Shirley. 

By His Excelleucj^'s 
Coiuinaud. 

[Signed] J. AVii.lard Serr'i/.^ 

Hostilities commenced in this vicinity, Maj' 9, 1756. On that da}' 
a party of Indians assembled on the high lands of Topsham, con- 
certed their plans, and agreed to meet there on their return. They 
divided into two parties. One party was to go to Flj'ing Point, and 
the c||;her to Maquoit, Middle Ba}', and New Meadows. The second 
party skulked about Maquoit for a while and then went to Middle 
Ba}', where they looked into the house of John Giveen, who, with his 
wife, had gone to meeting at Harpswell. In the afternoon, while the 
Indians la}' concealed in the bushes at Smith's Brook, three men — 
Abijah Young, and John and Richard Starbird, who were on their 
return from meeting at New Meadows — passed by. These men 
belonged, probably, to Captain Samuel Goodwin's company, which 
scouted between Fort George and Maquoit.^ They were well armed. 
The Indians darted from their concealment and fired at them. In 



1 Copied from the original, Sept. 23, 1833, by I.ithgow Hunter, of Topsham. 

2 Pejepscot Papers. 



PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1675-1760. 67 

tlieir surprise and fright, the men dropped their guns and ran. Young 
was wounded and carried otf a prisoner. 

The other part}' of Indians ai)peared Sunday-, at daj'light, at the 
house of Thomas Means, at Flying Point, in what is now Freeport. 
This w'as a fortified house aud the doors were securely fastened. The 
Indians, however, battered it open bj- means of a log and thus effected 
an entrance. Thomas Martin, the father of Captain Matthew, was 
asleep in his chamber, and being so suddenly aroused was unable to 
find his gun, and consequently remained in concealment. One of the 
children concealed herself in the ash-hole. This daughter, Alice, after- 
wards married Mr. Clement Skolfield, eldest son of Thomas, and 
w^as the mother of Captain George Skolfield. Mr. Means, his wife, 
child, and wife's sister. Miss M0II3' Finne}', were taken out of the 
house. Mr. Means was held by the arms between two stalwart In- 
dians, while a third one shot him through the breast and scalped him. 
While this was being done, Mrs. Means, with a child in her arms, ran 
into the house, closed the door, and placed a chest against it. The 
Indians, on their return to the house, finding the door refastened, 
pointed a gun through a hole and fired at her. The ball passed 
through her breast, killing the infant in her arms. They succeeded in 
getting into the house again, and while they were in the entry, Mar- 
tin, who had found his gun, fired down through liis chamber-floor and 
wounded one of them. This frightened them off and the}' left the 
place, taking with them the wounded Indian and Miss Finney, who 
was heard crying loudly for rescue. She was carried off in her night- 
clothes. When they got to the hill in Topsham they were met by the 
second party, who had Young a prisoner. The latter advised Miss 
Finue}' to seize the first blanket she could. She succeeded in getting 
and retaining one. The subsequent adventures of this lad}', though 
interesting, are not so exciting as what has been related. 

The Indians took their prisoners through the wilderness to Quebec. 
Here Miss Finney was sold to a farmer and put to work in the field. 
The farmer, not satisfied with her work there, afterwards put her in 
his kitchen. While here, she attracted the attentions of a French- 
man. Her master, in consequence, being displeased, used to lock her 
in her chamber when she was not at work. Not many months after 
this. Captain McClellan, of Falmouth, was at Quebec with a cartel of 
exchange. Having been formerly acquainted with Miss Finney, he 
sought after and finally found her. A time and mode of escape were 
agreed upon. At the time fixed he went to her window and threw 
her a rope. She let herself down, escaped to his vessel, and after a 



68 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

fair voyage arrived at Portland. Slie afterwards married the man who 
had been so instrumental to her release. ^ Young obtained his liberty 
in about a 3'ear, but died in Halifax of the small-pox. ^ 

In 1756 a garrison was built in Topsham and the defence of it was 
given to Captain Lithgow.^ On May 18, 1757, a party of seventeen 
Indians wa3'laid Captain Lithgow and a party of eight men, at Tops- 
ham, and had a short but sharp engagement with them. Two of 
Lithgow's part}' were wounded and two of the Indians were killed.'* 
Disheartened at the result, the savages withdrew, taking with them 
the dead bodies of their companions. The}' afterwards, however, as 
the}' went up the river, took their revenge by killing two white men.^ 

Shortly after this event John INIalcom and Daniel Eaton were going 
to Maquoit for salt hay, or were returning witli some, when they were 
waylaid by some Indians. Malcom escaped, but Eaton received a 
bullet in his wrist, was captured, and was carried to Canada, where 
he remained about a year. He was the son of Moses Eaton who was 
killed at Pleasant Point in 1722.*' According to another account, he 
was the son of Samuel Eaton, of Salisbury, Mass ^ Eaton was cap- 
tured by the famous Indian chief, Sabattis, who sold him for four dollars. 
The only food they had to eat, on their way to Canada, was a par- 
tridge which Sabattis shot, and of which he gave Eaton all the better 
part, reserving for himself only the head and entrails, which he ate 
with apparent relish. Years after (about 1800), Sabattis passed 
through Brunswick, and while there entered the store of John Perry, 
which was on the site of the store now occupied by Barton Jordan. 
Quite a crowd of villagers collected to see the old chief, and Dean 
Swift, then a lad of eight years, was sent to inform Daniel Eaton, 
who was then an old man, that Sabattis was in the store. Eaton, who 
was at work piling shingles for Colonel AYilliam Stanwood in what is 
now the yard of the estate of the late A. C. Robbins, Esquire, cam^ to 
the store, and was at once recognized by Sabattis, who seemed to be 
really glad to see him. At the request of some of those in tlie store, 
Eaton drew up his sleeve to show the buckshot in his arm, wliich were 
fired by Sabattis at the time of Eaton's capture. Sabattis looked at 
the arm with reluctance, saying, " That long time ago ; war time too." 

^McKeen, MSS. Lecture. Mctssachuselis Historical Collections, 4 Ser. Vol. 5, p. 415. 

2 Williamson, History of Maine, 2, p. 320. 

3 Seivull, Ancient Dominions of Maine, p 306. 

4 Williamson, History of Maine, 2, p. 325. 

^ Seioall, Ancient Dominions of Maine, p. 308. 

^Pejepscot Papers. "> McKeen, MSS. Lectvre. 



PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1675-17(50. 69 

After a short but friendly cliat with Eaton, Sabattis shook hands and 
left the store and went on his wa}'.! 

Although a treaty of peace was not made until the spring of 1760, 
3'et the war had virtuall}- ceased at this time, and accordingly the fort 
was dismantled, and on Dec. 19, 1758, was leased by the proprietors, 
to whom it had reverted. 

These Indian wars occupied a period of nearly eighty-five years, 
and during nearly all this time the settlers were accustomed, at every 
alarm, to congregate in the fort at Brunswick or the block house at 
Maquoit, though towards the close many were in garrisons in other 
parts of the town and in Topsham. At times these defences were so 
crowded that temporary booths and camps were made outside of, but 
near to them. There were but few garrisons in Harps well, as from 
its local situation it was not subject to assaults by the Indians.^ 

There were a few other cases of massacres and violence on the part 
of the Indians, besides those which have been related, but accounts of 
them are, for the most part, entirelj' traditional and indefinite, both as 
to dates and localities, and often as to the individuals concerned in 
them. 

An account of the maimers and customs of life at this period 
belongs to another chapter, but one tradition is here given to show the 
expedients to which those in the fort, during the raids of the Indians, 
were often obliged to resort. It is said that at one time, when the 
inhabitants were obliged to seek refuge in Fort George, the}' had no 
neighbors nearer than at Bath, then called "• The Reach." This place 
was distant fifteen miles h\ water, which was the only safe way of 
communicating between the two posts. In Fort George was a dog 
which had been taught to carrj' letters and which would take one to 
Bath in about two hours' time. On arriving there he would howl until 
he gained admission to the fort at that place, and would receive an 
answer, which he would as speedily fetch back to Brunswick. At last 
he was killed by an Indian. The garrisons were now deprived of this 
means of communication. An active and zealous youth undertook, 
however, to take the place of the four-footed messenger. " I," said 
he, " will carry your messages by water." For two successive sum- 
mers this brave j'outh went between the two posts, swimming a great 
part of the way. He went chiefly in the night-time, resting by day in 
the rushes that grew around the shores of Merrymeeting Bay. At 

1 Reminiscences of Dean Swift. 

2 Memoranda of Rev. Samuel Eaton, in Pejepscot Papers. 



70 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HABPSWELL 

length he was captured b^' the Indians and carried to Canada. From 
the latter country he soon, however, made his escape, and returned to 
Fort George, where he soon " resumed his swimming mail route." 
He was afterwards captured a second time by the famous Indian chief, 
Sabattis. What further became of him is unknown.^ 

'^Putnam, Description of Brunswick, Me., by a gentleman from South Carolina, 
p. 32. 



PART II. 



TOPOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE. 




Map of Bruns>Arick and Topsham Villages in 1802. 



REFERENCES TO THE FOREGOING MAP. 



1. 


Mrs Hinkley. 


43. 


James Thompson. 


2. 


James Purintou. 


44. 


Saw mill. 


S. 


Humphrey Thompson. 


45. 


Grist mill. 


4. 


Capt. Nathl. Melcher. 


46. 


Saw mill. 


5. 


Dr. Beuj. J. Porter. (Resi- 


47. 


Saw mill. 




dence.) 


48. 


Waldron. 


6. 


Luther Kimball. (Cabinet- 


49. 


Ruins of Fort George. 




maker's shop ) 


50. 


Jere Moulton. 


7. 


School-house. 


51. 


Cutting Noyes. 


8. 


Blacksmith's shop. 


52. 


Store. 


9. 


James Stone. 


53. 


Daniel & Jotham Stone. 


10. 


James Stone. (Store.) 




(Store.) 


11. 


Dr. Porter. 


54. 


Amos Lunt. 


12. 


Hugh Wilson. 


55 


John Brown. 


13.. 


John Hern. 


56. 


Bisbee's shop. 


14. 


Eben Ferx'in. 


57. 


Grist mill. 


15. 


John Haley. 


58. 


2 saw mills and grist mill. 


16. 


Joseph Haley. 


59. 


Mr. Bisbee. 


17. 


Lawrence Humphreys. 


60. 


Thos PooL 


18. 


Saw mill. 


61. 


John Dunlap's mansion 


19. 


Shoemaker's shop. 


62 


Truewortliy Kilgore. 


20. 


Gideon Walker. 


63. 


Store. 


21. 


Joseph Swett. 


64. 


Capt. Richard Tappan. 


22. 


Stephen Bradford. 


05. 


Store-house. 


23. 


Jairus Fuller. 


66. 


Major Swift ' 


24. 


Obed Buruham. (Pump and 


67. 


William Owen. 




block-maker's shop.) 


68 


Law office. 


25. 


James Blanchard (Store.) 


69. 


P 0. Alden. 


26. 


Ezra Smith. 


70. 


John Dunning. 


27. 


Larrabee & Emery (Dwell- 


71. 


John Swartkin & Caleb 




ing-) 




Cushing's store. 


28 


Humphrey Purinton. 


72 


School-house. 


29. 


Store. 


73. 


Robert D. Dunning. 


30. 


Store. 


74. 


Charles Ryan. 


31. 


Isaac Johnson. 


75. 


Store 


32. 


Larrabee & Emery. (Hat- 


76. 


Samuel Stanwood. 




ters.) 


77 


President's House (being 


33. 


Porter & King. (Store ) 




built). 


34. 


Henry Wilson. (Store.) 


78. 


Massachusetts Hall. 


35. 


James Cushman. (Store.) 


79. 


Inn. 


36. 


Francis Tucker. (Inn.) 


80. 


Col. Estabrook's bakei'y. 


37. 


Blacksmith's shop. 


81. 


Timothy Weymouth. 


38. 


David Flagg. 


82. 


Barn 


39. 


Shoemaker's shop. 


83. 


Cabinet shop. 


40. 


Hodge mill. 


84. 


Shimuel Owen 


41. 


Granny Hole mill. 


85 


Col. Thomas Estabrook. 


42. 


Grist mill and fulling mill. 


86. 


Rev. Ebenezer Coffin. 



87. Mr. Heath. 

88. Mr. Brooks. 

89. Aaron Melcher. 

90. Dr. Charles Coffin. 

91. Ebenezer Nichols. 

92. John Perry's store. 

93. Samuel Emerson. 

94. Store and office. 

95. John Perry. 

96. Store. 

97. Col Stauwood. v^ 



98. Store. 

99 Daniel Coombs. 

100. James Carey. 

101. Caleb Cashing. 

102. Eli Cox. (Pottery.) 

103. Eli Cox. 

104. Noah Tobey. 

105. James Wilson. 

106 Mr. Carr (Tailor.) 

107. Court House. 



CHAPTER I. 

BOUNDARIES AND NOTABLE FEATURES. 

The territoiy now covered b}" the towns of Topsham, Brunswick, 
and Harpswell, forming an extensive portion of the old Pejepscot pur- 
chase, is situated between Casco and Merrj'meeting Ba3's, and on both 
sides of the Androscoggin River. The raih'oad station at Brunswick is 
distant from Portland twentj'-nine miles, from Bath, nine miles, from 
Augusta, thirt3--three miles, and from Lewiston, eighteen miles. Its 
latitude is 43° 54' 37" N., and its longitude 69° 57' 2G" W. from 
Greenwich. 

Topsham, the most northerly of the three towns, is bounded on the 
north bj' Bowdoin and Bowdoinham ; on the east bj' Merrymeeting 
Bay ; on the south b}' Brunswick ; on the west by Brunswick and Dur- 
ham ; and on the northwest b}" Lisbon. Its area is about 22,600 acres, 

Brunswick is bounded on the north by Topsham, from which it is 
separated by the Androscoggin River ; on the east by the New Mead- 
ows River, which divides it from Bath and West Bath ; on the south 
by Casco Bay and the town of Harpswell ; on the southwest b}- Free- 
port ; and on the northwest by Durham. It has an area of about 
28,200 acres. 

Harpswell is bounded on the north by Brunswick ; on the east by 
the New Meadows River ; and on the south and west b}' Casco Bay. 
It consists of a peninsula called Harpswell, or Merriconeag, Neck, 
which extends southwest from Brunswick into Casco Bay, and of the 
following islands : Sebascodegan, or Great Island, Orr's, Bailey's, and 
Haskell's Islands, with Whaleboat Island, Birch Island, and several 
smaller ones. The area of the Neck is 4,570 acres, and that of Great 
Island 5,790 acres, according to the measurement made in 1731, by 
Phinehas Jones, a surveyor. ^ The whole town probably contains 
above 12,000 acres. 

Through the Pejepscot region, and separating Brunswick from Tops- 

1 McKeen, in Harpswell Banner, October, 1832. 



7(j inSIOBY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

ham. runs the Androscoggix River, noted for its numerous falls and 
altnndant power. The other rivers are the Cathance and Muddy, in 
Topsham, and the New Meadows, which separates Brunswick and 
Harpswell from Bath, West Bath, and Phippsburg. 

The Cathance rises in the lower part of the town of Litchfield, 
flows in a southeasterly- direction through the town of Bowdoin, and 
continues on this eoui-se until it reaohes about the centre of Topsham, 
where it takes an easterl}- course for a short distance, then runs nearl}^ 
north by northeast until it reaches the village of Bowdoinham, when 
it takes a bend and flows to the southeast until it reaches Merrymeet- 
ing Bay. A few miles south of Bowdoinham, this river has an arm 
which extends northwesterly for about a mile, where it drains two 
small branches. Its whole length is about twenty-seven miles. 

Muddy River rises in the southeastern part of Topsham, about mid- 
wa}- between the old Bowdoinham road and the Foreside road, and 
flows in a northeasterly direction until it reaches Merrymeetiug Ba}'. 
Its length is not far from four and a half miles. 

New Meadows River rises in the town of Bath, about half a mile 
from Merrymeetiug Bay, and flows south into Casco Bay. It was 
anciently called Stevens's River. 

The only pond of considei'able size in this whole region is Cathance 
Pond, sometimes called Bradley's Pond, in Topsham. It is little 
more than an expansion of Cathance River, and is a few acres only in 
extent. 

Merrymeeting Bay is formed b}' the confluence of the waters of the 
Androscoggin, Mudil^', Cathance, Abagadusset, and Kennebec Rivers. 
It is about six miles in length and three in breadth, at its widest part. 
In a deed from Sir Ferdinando Gorges to Sir Richard Kdgecomb in 
1G37, this sheet of water was called the "■ Lake of New Somersett." ' 
In other ancient deeds it was called " Swan Pond."- 

It is doubtful if there is in New England a tract of land of the same 
extent, possessing a more diversified scenery than does the territory 
nist described. Each differing phase of the landscape may be sur- 
passed in many other places, but the tout ensemb e is rarel}- equalled. 
There is but one place where this extended view can be obtained, and 
comparativel}' few have ever enjoj-ed it. On the north of the village 
of Topsham, and about a mile distant from the bridge, is an abrupt 
elevation of land called Mount Ararat. In the innocence of childhood 
we long supposed this to be the veritable mount whereon the ark 

' Pi-jepscot Papers. 2 T^icj!. 



BOUNDARIES AND NOTABLE EE A TUBES. 77 

rested. Upon the summit of this hill once stood a very respectable 
observator}', rising higlier than the surrounding trees. From the top 
of this observatory^ or from the summit of one of the tallest trees, 
could be seen in one direction the Cathance River, winding like a sil- 
ver thread through the evergreen foliage; in another direction, the 
bright waters of Merrymeeting Hay ; farther still gleamed the broad 
line of the New Meadows River and the wide expanse of Casco Bay, 
the latter dotted with islands and swept by the white sails of vessels 
of every size. At the west, about sixt}' miles distant, the White 
Hills of New Hampshire are distinctly visible on clear days, while 
a glass reveals the obscrvator3' and church spires at Portland. 

The scenery of the three towns is widel}' different. Topsham, on 
the north or left bank of the Androscoggin, is for the most part hilly ; 
while Brunswick, on the opposite bank of the river, consists (with the 
exception of the western and extreme eastern portions) of low, sand}- 
plains. Harpswell is made up of islands, and the long, high peninsula 
of Merriconeag. 

In the western part of the town of Brunswick a rocky cle^•ation is 
to be observed, extending quite from the Androscoggin to Casco Bav. 
Manj^ citizens are fiiuiilinr with tlie picturesque scenery at Rock}- Hill, 
some four miles up the river road, where this ridge begins. At the 
deep cut, some three miles west of the village, the railroad passes 
through a depression of this ridge, but at Oak Hill it again rises to full 
height. 

A few miles farther, another depression is succeeded by Brimstone 
Hill, in Freeport, which completes the line quite to Harraseekit Land- 
ing, on Casco Bay. From Oak Hill and the higher points of the par- 
allel ridge west of it, the sea is usually visible. From all elevated 
points, for miles around, appear also the spires of the A'illages of 
Brunswick and Topsham, the highest among them being the twin 
towers of King's Chapel. On the approach from up river, Powder- 
House Hill (at an earlier date known as Sunset Hill) hides much of 
the villages from view. A bend of the river, with a broad expansion 
at this point, gives all the effect of a lake, with the accessories of 
high, rocky banks, green hills, low, grassy shores, and sandy beaches. 

At the upper railroad bridge, where the banks of the river approach 
each other and the compressed waters go rolling on between the firm 
bounds of rock, the scene begins to change. Here is the beginning 
of the notalile Brunsavick Falls, the finest water-power on the Atlan- 
tic coast. This magnificent fall of water, thougli lacking in the gran- 
deur which attaches to the more famous falls of some other rivers, has 



78 HISTORY OF BBU^^SWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HABPSWELL. 

yet a beaut}' of its own, which should by no means be overlooked. 
Its numerous cascades aftbrd not only varied and picturesque views, 
Ijut furnish a motive-power probably unsurpassed in New England 
within so small a space. The natural bed of the fall consists of coarse 
graphic granite and gneiss. The rock upon the middle fall projects 
above the water at several points, serving as natural abutments to the 
several sections of the dam. Shad Island, the former site of mills, 
divides the lower fall about midway. There are three pitches : the 
first has a vertical descent of about eleven feet, the middle of four- 
teen feet, and the lower of about fifteen feet. The total height of 
the fall is about forty-one feet above high tide, which flows to the foot 
of the fall, causing a variation in the height of the water of about 
three feet. The whole horizontal distance of the descent is 1,980 feet. 

LOCALITIES, 

In the Androscoggin Eiver, from Lisbon to Merrymeeting Bay, 
there are twehe islands, besides numerous rocks at the Brunswick 
Falls, which have acquired distinctive names. 

Bekch Island — proltably so called on account of the growth of 
beech-trees found upon it — is the first island above the upper railroad 
bridge, 

Mkrrill's Island is a short distance above the former. It was 
named after John Merrill, Esquire, who purchased it in 1768. 

Goose Rock is the rock upon which the middle pier of the upper 
railroad bridge rests. It is not a bowlder, as is generally- supposed, 
but is part of a ledge extending to the shore. ^ Why the rock bears 
its present name is not known ; but it is quite probable that it was so 
called from a supposed similarity to a swimming goose. It has, how^- 
ever, been suggested that it may have been a resort for fowlers, when 
after wild geese. 

Goat Island is a short distance above the Factory, or second dam. 
The origin of its name is unknown ; but it is conjectured that one of 
the earl}- settlers pastured his goats upon it. 

Devil's Rock is the name given to a large rock}- island about mid- 
way- of the second, or Factory dam. The traditional origin of the 
name is as follows : In the early settlement of the place, a man and 
his wife occupied a lone house a little way back from the river, on the 
Topsham side. This man was ver}- superstitious, and probably ad- 
dicted to the habit of taking both frequent and deep potations. One 

^Survey by C. J. Xoyes, Esq. 



BOUNDARIES AND NOTABLE FEATURES. I'd 

dsiy during an ice freshet, as he was sitting at his window watching 
the ice go by, he imagined he saw Satan, in propria x)ersona^ floating- 
down the stream on a log, and that he could hear the clanking of his 
chains as he climbed the rock. He informed his wife of this imaginary 
occurrence, and after the waters had sufiicientl}' subsided, the pair vis- 
ited the rock and found the footprints left there by his supposed Satanic 
Majesty. These holes in the rock — one of which does bear quite a 
resemblance to a huge footprint — are still to be seen. 

Fishing Rock Island, Salmon Island, Shad Island. — All these 
names have been, at different periods, applied to the island at the 
lower falls, between the long dam and the gulf dam. Tradition gives 
the origin of the latter name as follows : The law formerly prohibited 
the catching of shad between sunset on Saturdaj' and sunrise on Mon- 
da3\ Fish-wardens were annually chosen b}'^ some towns to see that 
this law was enforced. One Sundaj' some men went out and caught 
several of these fish, and hid them on this island, not daring to be 
seen carrying them home. Mr. Johnson Wilson and some friends 
started out after them in boats, pretending to be the fish- wardens, 
and went ashore on the island, found the fish, and, for sport, carried 
them away. The joke was discovered, and some complaint made 
against Mr. Wilson for breaking the Sabbath. Afterwards, when he 
built a mill, — the first one on the island, — ^ those who had blamed him 
for taking the fish called his mill the '' Shad Mill," and from that the 
island subsequent!}^ became known as Shad Island. 

Freshet Rock is the name by which the rock between Shad Island 
• and the Topsham shore is known. It is thus called from its being an 
index to the height of nater in the river. It is never entirel}' covered 
hy water except in freshets. 

Granny Hole Mill, Stream, and Bridge. — The channel which 
carries the water from the river above the lower falls, around the 
island in Topsham, was originally only a ravine; but about 1760 it 
was excavated so as to aflbrd a continuous fiow of water. Tradition 
gives the following account of the origin of its name : On one occa- 
sion, in midwinter, Mr. Thomas Wilson, grandfather of Mr. James 
Wilson, of Topsham, went over the ice to a fulling-mill near the fort 
in Brunswick, to obtain a web of cloth. He staged until after dark ; 
and while coming home he heard a woman's voice in the direction of a 
mill which stood just south of where the flour mill in Topsham now 
stands. Going in the direction from which the sound came, he found 
a womau named Betty Watts, who had broken through the ice, and 
was clinging to the edge of it, screaming for help. Having his web of 



80 HISTORY OF BBUNSWICE, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

cloth with liim, he held on to one end and threw the roll to tlie 
woman, who eanght hold of it and was drawn out. In memory of 
this incident, the mill was called the " Grannv-IIole Mill," and the 
name was afterwards applied to the whole ravine. The " Grann}'- 
liole Bridge " is mentioned a nnmber of times in the town records of 
Topsham . 

The Goi.dkn Pipe — This was a natnral drain or ontlet for what is 
now a stagnant pond in front of Flagg's brick-yard, in Topsham. It 
crossed Summer Street just west of Mr. Cyras Flagg's residence, and 
so kept on till it entered the Granny-IIole Stream. In times of 
freshet, the water from the river tlowed across the sand-bed through 
the Golden Pipe into the Granny-Hole Stream, which afforded an 
opportunity for lumbermen to ran logs that wa}' and save them from 
being carried down river and out to sea. The benefit thus derived 
from this channel doubtless gave rise to its name. "NVhen Summer 
Street was laid out, a portion of the drain was filled up and the street 
raised high enough to prevent the water from crossing it except in 
unusually high freshets. This drain is referred to in the town 
records under the name given above. 

Great Island is the name given in the Topsham town records to 
the island formed by the Granny-Hole Stream and the main river. It 
has also been called Thompson's Island, because it w'as at one time 
owned b}- Brigadier Thompson. It is usually called siraplj' " The 
Island." ^ 

Middle Rock is the name of the rock upon which one of the piers 
of the Androscoggin Bridge (formerly- the toll-bridge) rests. * 

Mason's Kock. — There are two traditions accounting for the name 
of the large rock below the falls, known as Mason's Rock. One is, 
that a Mr. Mason was once saved from drowning by getting upon this 
rock. The other is that, while upon the rock, he was killed bv the 
Indians. There are no means of determining which of the two tradi- 
tions is most reliable. "Samuel Mason" occupied lot number ten 
(within the present limits of Brunswick village) in 1717. He occu- 
pied it less than three years, and what became of him is now unknown. 

Feuuy Point is the point of land at the Topsham end of the iron 
railroad bridge. It is so called from the fact that, previous to the 
erection of the toll-bridge, a feny was maintained between this point 
and the " Landing" in Brunswick. 

TEmiAMUGUS Cove is tlie name applied in honor of an Indian chief, 
Terramugus, to the cove between Ferry Point and the Grannj'-Hole 
Mill. It is probable, however, that the river formerly covered the 



BOUNDARIES AND NOTABLE FE A TUBES. ^1 

low land whore the town landing used to be, back of the residenee of 
Mr. Sanniol Jameson, and that the name was applied to that particu- 
lar part of the cove. 

Old Sunday. — About midwa}' between Mason's Rock and Ferr}- 
Point, but nearer the Topsham shore, is a large stone, now seldom 
exposed to view, which was placed there bj- Brigadier Thompson to 
form the anchorage for a boom. Tradition accounts for its name from 
its being placed there b}' the Brigadier on Sunda}'. 

Cow IsL.vxD is the name ai)p]ied to the island just below the pres- 
ent iron railroad bridge. The name was given early in the last cen- 
tury, and was doubtless suggested by the fact of its affording good 
and safe pasturage for cows. It was owned, prior to 1797, b3' John 
Sandford.i 

The Narrows, where the river is compressed into narrow limits bj' 
two high rocky points, are about two miles below the Falls. The 
point on the lirnnswick side w'as formerly occupied b}- Ilnmphrey's 
steam-mill and ship-yard. 

Baxter's Island, Freyek's or Friar's Island, Mustard's Island. 
— These are different names for the island near the Topsham end of the 
Bay Bridge. The island was deeded in 1717 to the Reverend Joseph 
Baxter of Medfiekl, Mass., who came here as a missionary to the 
Indians. The name " Fre^'er's Island" is laid down on some of the 
maps of a recent date, but the origin of the name is unknown. It is 
called "Mustard's Island" from its present owner, Mr. John Mus- 
tard, of Topsham. 

Hunter's Island is the large island at the foot of the Narrows. 
In Stevens's deed from the Indians, in lG7f>, it is called "Stave 
Island." It may have l)orne other names, but we have not been aV)lc to 
ascertain them. 

Pleasant Point lies between the Androscoggin and Muddy Rivers, 
extending into Merrymeeting Ba}'. Although this name is appropri- 
ate, and has the prestige of antiquity, yet it wouW appear still more 
appropriate to perpetuate the name of its original owner, the first set- 
tler in Topsham, b}' calling it Gyles's Point. 

Cathance Point is the point of land in Bowdoinham formed by the 
bend of the Cathance River near its outlet into Merr3-meeting Bay. 

Fulton's Point and Patten's I^oint are names which have been 
successively applied to a point on the eastern side of Cathance Point, 
by form 3r residents of the vicinity, — lames Fulton having been one 

1 Deed to Brigadier 1 hompson. 



82 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

of its earliest occupants, and John Patten, its owner at a later 
period. 

Center Point, formerly called MotHtt's, and still earlier Somerset 
Point, is the point of land between the Abagadusset and Cathance 
Rivers. In a deed from Sir Ferdinando Gorges to Sir Richard Edge- 
comb, dated 1637, this point was called '' Somerset Point." ^ The 
name has often been spelled '■'Samoset," and the explanation has been 
given that it was named in honor of the Indian chief of that name ; 
but it is evident that the latter name is a corruption of the former. 
In the last centur}', the point was occupied b}' a faniil}' named " Mof- 
fitt," for whom it was named ; and in like manner its present name 
was given because of its occupation for many years by a famil}' named 
Center. It is in the town of Bowdoinham. 

Abagadusset Point is the striking name which attaches to the last 
projection which engages our attention on the north side of the bay. 
It lies between the Kennebec and Abagadusset Rivers, and is a part 
of the town of Bowdoinham. The meaning and derivation of the 
name have already been given in Chapter I of Part Fii'st. 

Oak Hill is about four miles north of Topsham village. The 
origin of the name is obvious. 

In Brunswick the following localities are more or less familiar : — 

Fisii-IIousE IIiLL, upon which stands the residence of Miss Nar- 
cissa Stone, receivetl its name from the fact that there was once a fish- 
house ui)on it, where salmon and sturgeon wei-e cured and packed for 
shipment. 

Eaton Brook — the first brook west of the village — bears this 
name from Daniel Eaton, who lived near it in the last century. 

IIak wood's Brook was named for George Harwood, one of the 
earl}' settlers, who built a house and attempted to clear a farm on what 
was afterward the " Captain Adams Place," which included the very 
noticeable hill, with the large house at the top, on the west bank of the 
Androscoggin, about a mi!e above the village. 

Sandy Gully — as its name indicates — is a sandy ravine on the 
River road, where it crosses llarwood's Brook. 

Rocky Hill is about four miles from the village on the road lending 
up the river. It is the beginning of the broad, rock}- ridge to which 
reference has been made. The scenery of the locality is the boldest 
of any in the three towns. 

The. Pinnacle is the name of a hill, probably the highest in the 
three towns, situated on the north side of the Durham road, at the 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 



BOUNDABIES AND NOTABLE FEATURES. 83 

extreme western border of Brunswick. It is well covered with trees, 
except a space on the east and south, the latter side being marked b}' 
a precipitous ledge of light-colored gi'anite. 

Bald Rock is a massive projection of ledge on a western slope of the 
ridge of which Oak Hill is a spur on the eastern side, nearly opposite. 

Oak Hill is a spur of the granitic ridge which extends from the 
Androscoggin River to Casco Baj'. It is on the Portland road, about 
four miles west of the village. 

Gbowstown, a neighborhood about two miles west of the colleges, 
derives its name from the numerous families named Grows who for- 
mei'ly resided in the vicinity. 

BuNGANUCK Landing is the western side of Maquoit Bay, near 
Freeport. The origin of the name is given elsewhere in the volume. 

Wharton's Point, at Maquoit, was named for Thomas Wharton, 
who owned the lot in 1717. It was afterwards sold to William Wood- 
side. 

Mair Point, Make Point, Mere Point.- — These are the varied 
spellings of the name applied from a veiy earl}' date to the peninsula 
which extends into Casco Bay and Maquoit Bay. The derivation, and 
consequently' the spelling, of the name has been the subject of some 
discussion, and there still exist§ a difference of opinion concerning it. 
In the earliest deeds and other documents which we have seen, the 
name is spelled JNIair ; and for this reason we have so spelled the name 
whenever reference is made to it. We incline to the opinion that some 
time previous to the Pejepscot purchase, a man named Marr (or INIare) 
lived on the point, and that "Mair" is a corruption. Williamson ' 
states that John Mare was an earl}' settler on Mare Point. Some are 
of the opinion that at a very earl}' period the point was occupied by 
French settlers, who gave it the name of Mer Point, which in English 
would be Sea Point. There is no proof, however, that the locality 
was ever occupied by the French. 

New Wharf ie the name of a wharf at Middle Bay, built in 1837. 
It was then spoken of as '•The New Wharf," and never having received 
any other name, it is still called New Wharf, though now old and 
dilapidated. 

Pennellville is a neighborhood near Middle Bay, which includes 
a number of families of the name of Pennell. Much ship-building 
has been done in this vicinit3^ 

Mair Brook rises a short distance west of the Twelve-Rod load, 

'^History of Maine, l,p. 5G4, note. 



84 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

and crossing that road about half a mile below the colleges, thence 
runs in an easterlj- direction and empties into Ilarpswell Harbor, 
between Prince's Point and Harpswell Neck. The origin of the name 
is unknown, but it is doubtless the same as that of Mair Point. 

Thompson's Bkook, in the eastern part of the town, was named 
after Cornelius Thompson, an early settler, through whose lot the 
brook ran. 

Cook's Corner, two miles east of Brunswick village, on the road to 
Bath, was named for Stephen Cook, who resided there in 1764 and 
probabl}' earlier. 

Prince's Point extends into Ilarpswell Harbor, between the Neck 
and Great Island. It received this appellation after a family named 
Prince, who have lived on the point many j'ears. 

Ham's Hill, near New Meadows River, on the upper road to Bath, 
was named for Tobias Ham, who settled upon it previous to 1742. 

Bull Rock is a rock in New Meadows River, upon which rests one 
of the piers of the bridge below the railroad. 

The following are localities in Harpswell : — 

Harpsavell Neck is what was formerl}' and is now, often, called 
Merriconeag. 

The " Great Island " is the English and Sebascodegan the Indian 
name for the largest of the islands included in the township of Harps- 
well. Richard Wharton, in 1683, speaks of it as " Sebacoa, aJhis 
Chebascoa diggin." ' 

Orr's Island is the name now applied to what, in 1758, was known 
as Little Sebascodegan.'^ It received its later name from one of its 
first English occupants, Joseph Orr, who owned nearly the whole 
island. Orr's Island and Bailey's Island were, also, prior to 1683, 
called " The Twins." ^ 

Bailey's Island, situated sonth of the Neck, is the present name 
of what was called Will's Island in the Act of Incorporation of 
Harpswell. Captain James Sinnett, now upwards of eighty years of 
age, who has resided upon the island all his life, gives the following 
account of the origin of these names. The first settler upon the 
island was a man named Black, who, with his wife and a bo^', moved 
there from Kitterj'. They were of mixed breed, having in their veins 
the blood of the Anglo-Saxon, Indian, and African races. Black and 
his wife died and were the first persons ever buried upon the island. 
Their son. Will Black, lived to old age and became generallj^ known 

^Pcjcpscot Papei-K. '^See Act of Incorporation of Ilarpsicell. ^Ibid. 



BOUNDARIES AND NOTABLE FEATURES. 85 

bj the nain3 of Uncle Will. The island consequent!}' took its first 
name from him. Afterwards, Deacon Timothy Baile}', of Hanover, 
Mass., purchased the island and moved tliere with his family-. The 
Blacks were squatters, and, having no legal claim to the land, they 
moved to Orr's Island, and settled on the lot now owned b_y Mr. Ralph 
Johnson. Thereafter Will's Island was called Bailey's Island. 

North Yarmouth Islaxo is situated south of, and in close prox- 
imitj- to Sebascodegan, or Great Island. The explanation of its 
bearing the name of a distant town is probably as follows : — 

The town of North Yarmouth formerly embraced the peninsula of 
Mair Point and Harpswell Neck, with Sebascodegan and the lesser 
islands within the limits indicated b}' these points. When the town of 
Harpswell was formed, all the larger islands intended to be set off 
from Yarmouth for the new town of Harpswell were named in the Act 
of Incorporation, with the exception of the one noAv under considera- 
tion. The omission was probably' unintentional; yet this island — 
nearly the most remote of all — still remained the legal territory of 
North Yarmouth. This anomaly among the islands led to its acquire- 
ment of the name of the town to which it belonged. At a later period 
it was annexed to Harpswell. 

Damariscove Island, now called " Haskell's Island," lies opposite 
Potts's Point. In the Act of Incorporation of Harpswell it was called 
Damariscove Island, but assumed its present name after its purchase 
by a Mr. Haskell. 

Flag Islax^d is said to derive its name from the fact that large 
quantities of flags grew upon it. 

Whale-Boat Island is, perhaps, so called from its fancied resem- 
blance in shape to a whale-boat. It lies west of the lower part of the 
Neck. 

Goose Islands — two of them — lie west of the middle of the 
Neck. At the southeast of the lower one are a pair of small islands 
called " The Goslings." 

Shelter Island, in Middle Baj', probably received its name from 
its affording a place of refuge for the settlers on Mair Point and 
vicinity in times of Indian hostility. Tradition sa^'s that this island 
was for many years the resort of smugglers, who obtained their goods 
in the British provinces, and stored tham on this island if so fortu- 
nate as to escape the customs officei's along the coast. The name was 
probably given by the smugglers. 

Birch Island, between Mair Point and the Neck, was doubtless so 
named for its abundant growth of birch-trees. 



86 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

White's Island, near Mair Point, was named for Nicholas White, 
who occupied it as early as the year 1675. 

PoTTs's Point, at the lower extremity of the Neck, was named for 
Richard Potts, its first occupant, who settled there previous to 1672. 

The Prongs are the three points at the lower end of the Neck, 
wliich bears a reseml)lance to the form of a fork. 

Lookout Point, on the western shore of the Neck, is so called 
because it affords an extended view of the ba}'. The scenery at this 
locality is very picturesque. 

Condy's Point is the southeastern extremity of Grea't Island, and, 
with the adjacent harbor, takes its name from William Condy, who 
settled there in 1733. 

Boyle's Point is the northeastern extremity of Orr's Island. It 
was probablj' named for the Reverend Matthew Byles, who had one 
hundred acres of this island set off to him by Joseph Orr, in lieu of 
his i)revious claim as heir to Honorable William Tailer. 

The following are the names of the smaller islands of Ilarpswell. 
which are mostlj' uninhabited. There are a few others, without estab- 
lished name by which they might be recognized, and of which we 
therefore have made no special record. 

Rogue Island is southeast of Condy's Point. 

Jenny's Island is south of North Yarmouth Island. 

Long Ledge is south of Jenny's Island. 

Pole Island, .Sjiall Islani>, and Snow Island are situated in 
the eastern part of Quahaug Bay. 

Elii Island is east of the lower part of Orr's Island. 

Raw Island is east of the north part of Bailee's Island. 

Cedar Ledges, five in a row, — seven or more in all, — are east of 
Raw Island. 

Pond Island is east of the middle of Bailey's Island. 

Ragged Island is east of the lower part of Bailej's Island. Its 
municipal connection has been disputed. 

Jaques's Island, south of Bailej^'s Island, receives its name from 
Lieutenant Jaques, who resided on the Neck opposite, and who was one 
of the otllcers in the final expedition against the Indians at Norridge- 
wock. 

Turnip Island is west of Jaques's Island. 

Great Mark Island is south of Haskell's Island. 

Little Mark Island is south of Great Mark Island. 

Eagle Island is west of Haskell's Island. 

Little Birch Island is southwest of west prong of Ilarpswell Neck. 



BOUNDARIES AND NOTABLE FEATURES. 87 

Horse Island is east of Little Birch Islaiifl. 

Barne's Island is between the west prong of the Neck and Great 
Whale-Boat Island. 

Little Whale-Boat Island is northwest and near Great Whale- 
Boat Island. 

Irony Island is east of the Goslings. 

Braining's Ledge is between the Goose Islands. 

Lookout Island is adjacent to Point Lookont. 

Little Birch Island is northeast of Birch Island. 

ScRAGG Island is east of AVhite's Island. 

Little Irony Island is south l\y southwest of Scragg Island. 

Crow^ Island is southwest of New Wharf, at head of Middle Bay. 

Clarke's Island is east of New Wharf. 

Bomazeen Island is between Brunswick and Great Island. 

Other localities in Ilarpswell are : — 

High Head, on the east side of the northern part of the Neck, and 
Jaques's Harbor, at the southern extremit_y of Bailey's Island. 

Harpswell Harbor is on the east of the Neck, between it and 
Great Island and Orr's Island. 

Condy's Harbor is on the east side of the point of the same name, 
south of Great Island. 

QuAHAUG Bay extends into Great Islnnd from the south and nearly 
divides the island. 

Ash Cove is west of Potts's Point, between the eastern and middle 
prongs of the Neck. 

MiLL-PoND Basin is between the western and middle prongs of the 
Neck. It furnishes a tide power of great value, from its accessibilit}' 
by sea, the depth of water admitting the passage of vessels of sev- 
eral hundred tons, quite to the dam. Upon it there is now a large 
grain mill. 

Long Reach is an extensive cove in the western side of Great 
Island, opening northward. 

Long Cove nearl}' divides the northern half of Orr's Island. 

Lowell's Cove is on the southeast side of Orr's Island. 

Mackerel Cove is on the southern part of Bailey's Island. 

Will Gut is the passage between Orr's and Bailey's Islands. 

The Gurnet is the name of the point in Brunswick opposite 1o Great 
Island, Harpswell. Between the point and island is the Gurnet Bridge. 

In the English Channel there are several headlands bearing the 
name, having taken it, probabh', because of the number of gurnet fish 
found in the neighborhood, and it is probable that the name was given 




88 IIISrOHY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

to the point in Brunswick from a fancied resemblance to one of the 
English headlands referred to. 

FAUNA. 

From the varied character of the region about Brunswick Falls, 
comprising sea-shore and forest, sand^^ plains, granite hills, and rich 
intervales, this narrow territory, prior to its occupation bv the Knii;lisli, 
must have drawn a numerous representation of almost the entire fauna 
of the State. Among the mammalia formerly found here were bears, 
wild-cats, loup cerviers, wolves, moose, beaver, and otter. Cathanie 
Fond is said to have been once a great resort for the latter, whi'e 
traces of beaver-dams are found on almost every stream. Of the car- 
nivora, wolves were the most common. The town many times voted 
bounties for the destruction of these animals, which prowled about the 
premises of the settlers in search of food, and sometimes even fol- 
lowed the settlers themselves. 

About the year 178G, JNIrs. Thomas, wife of Lewis Thomas, walked 
from Ilarpswell to Brunswick, bearing her bab}- in her arms, and in 
addition carrying half a quintal of tish. While coming through the 
woods near Middle Bay, she was followed by w'olves. With remark- 
able presence of mind, she threw down a single tish, which the pursu- 
ing pack stopped to devour, while she pressed forward as rapidly as 
possible. The animals soon resumed the pursuit, and she threw down 
another fish, and again they st(^pped to make a quarrelsome meal. 
This operation was repeated at intervals until she reached her home. 
Ephraim Thomas was the name of the man who, when a babe, made 
this dtmgerous journey. He died in Greene, INIaine, in 1841), at sixty- 
three years of age. 

In 171)2 Samuel Stanwood, who then lived on the site of the present 
residence of Mrs. Joseph McKeen, had a saw mill at jNIaquoit at whicli 
he worUeil during the day, carrying his dinner with him. C)ne day, 
desiring to accomplish all he could and not feeling very hungry, he did 
not stoi) to eat the dinner which he had brought with him, but took 
it back with him when he started for home at night. When he reached 
Mair Brook, a wolf came out of the thicket, looked at him a moment, 
then went back and uttered his hideous ^ells, which soon brought 
four or live others of his species to the scene. Stanwood, finding 
he was pursued, threw out a handful of meat, and while the wolves 
were fighting over it he hastened forward, soon, however, to be over- 
taken by the animals, to whom he again threw fragments of food. 
This operation was repeated until, when nearly to his home, the last 



BOUNDARIES AND NOTABLE FEATURES. 89 

fragment of food was gone and the wolves were in hot pursuit of him. 
He screamed to his wife to open the door. Fortunately- she heard 
him and flung open the door, just in time to secure his escape from 
the wild beasts at his heels. 

Mr. Dean Swift says that wlien he was a boy and living with his 
parents in tiie house which is now the residence of Mrs. Rodney Foi- 
saith, on Maine vStreet, he has man}' a night heard the wolves howling 
a short distance east of the house, in the woods which then extended 
to Federal Street. 

Reverend Samuel Veazie, in 17G7, purchased the farm adjoining 
the old IIari)svvell Island Meeling-IIouse, and cleared a place for the 
erection of his dwelling. Back of his house tliere was a dense growth 
of wood, and in this the wolves sometimes collected in large numbers 
during the winter season, making the night hideous with their howls. 
The wolves would remain on the island until just previous to the 
breaking up of the ice, when the^' would leave it for the mainland. 
It is stated that they never failed to make the removal before the 
breaking up of the ice, seeming in this matter to show an intelligence 
akin to reason. ^ 

Bears, never so troublesome as the wolves, have hardly been heard 
of within the limits of our three towns for many years. Some time 
in the last century Johnson Stover pastured hogs at Goose Island, and 
one da}', hearing an unusual squealing, he found a bear holding one of 
the pigs in his paws, and occasionally nipping it with his teeth. 

Alcot Stover once, while lying on his bed, saw one looking in at the 
window, but before he could get his gun his wife accidentally fright- 
ened it away. 

About 177;') a woman, known as Granny Young, went to Bomazeen 
Island after berries. After tilling her dishes, she started for home, 
having only a sta\'e for a paddle. Hearing a noise in the water behind 
her she turned, and saw that a large bear was swimming after the 
boat. She plied her awkward paddle as vigorously as possible, but 
the bear overtook the boat and attempted to upset it. She fought him 
with the stave, striking him upon the head and nose until he was 
stunned ; then she held his head under water until he was dead, when 
she towed him ashore. 

The latest appearance of bears in Ilarpswell, of which we have the 
date fixed, was in 1800, when three were killed on the farm now owned 
by W. S. Purinton. 

'^ Mrs. Price, ninety-two years old; formerly a resident of the island. 



90 msTonr of Brunswick, topsham, and fiarpswell. 

The common red deer must have been quite numerous in tliis region 
at the time of settlement. Even now thej are occasionally met with. 
As late as 1858 two were seen in Brunswick, — one, a full-grown 
animal, at New IMeadows ; the other, a fawn, on the old Freeport road. 
On Oct. 20, r8r)9, three were shot on Topsham Plains. Some sixteen 
years ago caribou were seen at the western border of Brunswick by 
several persons, and in two instances some pursuit was made. 

Raccoons are still caught every year in one quarter or another of 
the town. A live one was found in the Factor}- yard in Brunswick 
in 1844. 

The wild-cat, though heard of occasionally in neighboring towns, 
has not been reported within our limits for many years. The " luci- 
fee " (louj) cervier) , or Canada lynx, is believed still to haunt, occasion- 
ally, the extensive woods at the west of the town. 

Foxes are alternate!}' numerous, then rare, and seem to be some- 
what migratory, according as mice, grouse, and hare are plenty. 

The rabbit exists in favorable situations through the towns, but is 
not common enough to do much damage to the crops. A few young 
trees are each spring found with the bark gnawed from the trunk near 
the ground, but this has usually been laid to the mice. 

Both the common and the star-nosed moles are occasionally met 
with, but are not sufficiently numerous to be regarded in any degree a 
pest, as in some localities southward. Gray, red, and striped squirrels 
are frequent, but not troublesome. The flying squirrel is not often 
seen, but still haunts the old woods. The weazel is infrequent ; and 
its cousin, the mink, puts in an appearance in the vicinity of brooks 
with just sufficient frequency to incite the boys to unprofitable attempts 
at trapping. The muskrat seems equally, but sparingly diffused 
The skunk still taints the air with his mephitic odor each season, in 
many localities. "VYoodchucks are rare, but here and there a farmer 
complains of their ravages among his early bean-plants. 

BIRDS. 

Probably a list of the birds occurring in this vicinity, a century or 
two ago, would not differ from one of to-day, except in a few instances. 
It is certain, however, that certain species were vastly more numerous. 
The golden eagle is said to have been found upon our coast in the 
earlier days of its settlement ; but the bird is not now known here, 
even as a visitant. On the other hand, there is not, that we are aware, 
any evidence that the eider duck was found upon our shores a century 
since, while it is now quite regularly a winter sojourner. Yet the 



BOUNDARIES AND NOTABLE FEATURES. 91 

seasons liave not been growing colder, neither can we think them to 
have grown greatl}' warmer, though another hird associated with a 
higher temperature has become a Juibitne of this vicinity, as well as 
of other localities in the State. It has been said that the Baltimore 
oriole was an unknown bird until within a few years, 3-et it may be that 
the change of the country by hiunan occupancy, rather than any change 
of climate, is the cause of its immigration. The scarlet tanager, 
also regarded as an inhabitant of mild climates, is occasional!}' seen 
here as early as May. 

Among winter visitants are the grosbeaks, — the pine and the rose- 
breasted, — the pine finch, the Arctic or snowy owl, the Canada jay, 
and perhaps one or two others. The common birds are, no doubt, 
the same here as in most other portions of the State. The cuckoo is 
said to have been unknown in Aroostook until within three or four 
years, but here it has been observed for a generation, at least. It is, 
liowever, repoi'ted to have become more numerous in this vicinity of 
late. This, if a fact, may be owing to an increase of its insect food, for 
it is believed b}- some to feed largely on the caterpillar. Another bird, 
one of the woodpeckers, known as the sapsucker, has become rather 
rare of late years, from the relentless war waged upon it by the guardians 
of young fruit orchards. The crow, the pest of cornfields, in scornful 
disregard of public opinion, persists in making itself very much -at 
home among the farms. Hawks in the usual variet}', though reduced 
in numbers, are found in all the more rural quarters of the towns. 

The several sorts of owls common in the State are met with here, 
their number in any locality seeming to depend more on the frequenc}' 
of hollow trees, which afford them congenial shelter, than on any 
other condition. The blue jay, eminent for its disagreeable voice, its 
striking appearance, and remarkable foresight, is a frequent inhabi- 
tant. Ruffed grouse (here commonly called partridges) are frequent, 
but not numerous. Wood-.-ocks, from their retired habits, are an 
almost unknown bird to our people, 3'et are really much more plentiful 
than grouse The plovers, sandpipers, snipes, and quails are not usu- 
ally numerous. Wild pigeons are frequent, but not to the hundredth 
part of their former numbers. 

Of the birds that seek the neighborhood of human habitations we 
iiave the usual variet}-, the common dove, three or more kinds of swal- 
lows, and the martin. The last has diminished in number, the others 
appear to have increased. The robin is, perhaps, more numerous 
than any other single variety. Others of this family are the wood- 
thrush, whose vocal expression is the long, pensive, but nmsical 



92 HISTORY OF BBUySWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARFSWELL. 

whistle ami trill hoard in almost every wood in early sii miner ; and 
Wilson's thrush, which is less eonnnon. Another songster, the 
l)r<t\vn thrnsh, or the hi'own nn>eker, is found, it is said, in only one 
loi'ality of our tov\ns, ami this is in the western i)art of Brunswick. 

The song" sparrow, that iVeciuents cool ravines, and sings all through 
the season, ami the white-throated sparrow, are familiar to the ears of 
our inhabitants, if not well known to the eye. The chickadee, or 
black-cap titmouse, and the kingbird, are also quite common. Some- 
thing like the last in appearance and voice is the kinglisher, present 
on most of our larger streams during the snmmer. 

About the marshes on these streams the great blue heron is some- 
times seen, but it is more frequent about the salt marshes and sea- 
shore. Around the sea-shore the coot is more numerous than any 
other of the large birds. Our water-fowl generally are not different 
from those found in other sections of the State. On our fresh-water 
ponds, as well as on the salt-water, are found in spring and autumn the 
wild goose, the black duck, teal, sheldrake, and merganser, while the 
wood-duck and the pintail or whistler, make their habitat all over our 
territory ; yet they are not abundant. There is a tradition that at 
the period of settlement, wild fowl sometimes congregated in certain 
localities in our vicinity in such numbers, and made so much noise in the 
night, that the settlers were unable to sleeji until they ha<l driven the 
intruders away. It is said that to aeeoniplish this they sometimes 
found it necessary to tling firebrands among tliem. ^lerrymeeting 
Bay was formerly a great resort for wild geese. The middle portion 
of the bay was, at low water, a sand-bed covered with a species of 
reed, on the roots of which the geese were supposed to subsist from 
about the lirst of September until the extreme cold weather sent them 
southward. The loon is met with at the proper season ; the gulls and 
fish-hawks are quite common, and the white-headed eagle is frequently 
seen. 

Of iNSKCTS, the chief food of our feathered friends, but often the 
bane of our orchards and growing crops, we probably have the same 
variety that is to be found in the rest of the State. Our list of rep- 
TiLKS and AsrniiBiAXs is not extensive. Turtles are not often met with, 
except the variety found in muddy ponds. Our serpents are the striped 
snake, the little brown snake, the green snake, the black snake, the 
milk snake, and the water snake. The water snakes are believed to 
have poison fangs ; in regard to the brown and milk snakes we have no 
knowledge ; the others mentioned are not deemed venomoui;. 



BOUNDARIES AND NOTABLE FEATURES. 93 

The bull-frog, pickerel-frog, find green frog inhabit all our fresh 
waters, and the leopard-frog is to he found in the meadows, and the 
delicate, pale brown wood-frog is of frequent occurrence in our forests. 
The common toad is found in all cultivated lands, and tree toads in all 
our localities. There are few persons who have not listened to the 
multitudinous cry of the latter during hot summer nights. 

We have no lizards ; the creature sometimes called so is the sala- 
mander. There are several species, varying much in size and color. 
They are found only in moist places, while some are amphibious. 

Of CRUSTACEANS, oiir principal species are the king crab (or horse- 
shoe), the common crab, and the common salt-water lobster, the last 
abnndant and of well-known value. 

Our chief mollusks are the fresh-water clam (unio) and the vari- 
ous snails ; the common clam, abundant in our salt-water flats, and 
familiar as an article of diet; the hen, or sea clam, found only at 
luinsually low tides ; and the quahaug, infrequent, excei)t in Quahaug 
Ba}', in (ireat Island. 

Of the MARINE MAMMALS, the scal is quite frequent in our bays, and 
sometimes ascends the rivers for short distances. In 18G8, one was 
seen near the Toll Bridge, and I)eing pursued in boats, was captured 
near Cow Island. It weighed two hundred pounds. 'J'he porpoise is 
quite common, frefjuently disturbing the schools of various (ish upon 
which the fisherman counts for his gain. Whales are rarely seen, but 
not unknown. The blackfish, or round headed dolphin, is common 
off shore in its season. It was probably this species about which the 
Andr-'scoggin Free Press gave the following account : — 

"On Monda}', Oct. 6, 1828, a shoal of dolphins, called by the 
sailors ' blackfish,' seventy or eight}- in number, made their appear- 
ance near Orr's Island. The inhabitants, to the number of twenty- 
one men, in nine boats, armed with muskets and axes, went out to 
attack, and, if possible, catch them. After four or five hours of 
hard fighting they had been able to despatch but six or seven, but 
they had learned that the dolphins could be driven with as much 
facilit}' as a flock of sheep. It was finally decided to attempt to drive' 
them into a narrow cove which penetrated to the distance of a mile 
into the interior of Orr's Island, and which there terminated in a cir- 
cular basin. In this design the}' were successful. All of the boats 
pressed closely upon tlieir retreat and cut off all possibility of escape. 

"Captain John Curtis, being in advance of the little fleet, caused 
his l>oat to be rowed alongside one of the largest dolphins, himself 
standiuij,' with one foot braced on the bows of the boat and the other 



94 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

on the back of his antagonist. He had taken this position to make 
the attempt of splitthig open the head of the fish ; bnt. the boat 
veering in its conrse, he must either fall into the water or jump upon 
the back of his intended victim. He did the latter, and in tlie next 
moment the company saw their gallant captain riding oft' astride upon 
the back of the dolphin. A full quarter of a mile was the hero thus 
borne over the water by this novel mode of navigation, when he safel}' 
alighted upon a vehicle of a more artificial construction. 

" Captain Curtis did not, however, like Arion, entertain his dol- 
phin witli harmonious strains of godlike music. 80 far from this, in 
fact, he was constanth' inflicting blows with his axe deeply into the 
monster's blubber. 

" As the tide ebbed awaj-, the dolphins began to drag themselves 
lieavily through the mud, and it became advisable to find some more 
expeditious way of destroying them. Before sunset the whole number 
were despatched. About one hundred and thirt}' barrels of oil were 
obtained from the fish, realizing about $2,000. 

''This singular fish is not the common dolphin, but the round- 
headed dolphin, being much larger. Those captured at Harpswell 
varied much in size. The largest was twenty-three feet long and 
eighteen feet in circumference. There were some that measured not 
more than six or seven feet in length. These were probably pups, as 
some of the females yielded large quantities of milk, resembling very 
nuich cow's milk." 

The I'lsiiES, inhabiting the salt water of our bays and ofl^" our 
shQi'es, are the cod, haddock, hake, pollock, cusk, mackerel, blue-fish, 
herring, menhaden or porgy, sun-fish, sword-fish, rock-cod, sculpin, 
ling, flounder, cunner, frost-fish, and tora-cod. Our fresh waters 
contain brook-trout, pickerel, perch, chub, sucker, bream or kiver, 
bull-head, and others of lesser note. Among the fish that frequent 
both the fresh and salt water are the smelt, alewife, salmon, and 
sturgeon. In early times the last two were very abundant in the 
Androscoggin, but their number has greatl3' diminished. Since the 
construction of fishAvays in the dams a few years ago, there has, 
however been a manifest increase in the lunnber of salmon, and it is 
to be hoped that by careful diversion from the waters of all matters 
deleterious to fishes, the river may again become abundantly stocked. 



BOUNDARIES AND NOTABLE FEATURES. 95 

GEOLOGICAL FEATURES. i 

The universal underlying rock of this region, extending to unknown 
depths, is gneiss. This is easily distinguished from granite, which 
consists of the same minerals, — mica, quartz, and feldspar, — by its 
appearance of stratification. 

The layers or strata of gneiss are curiouslj' bent and twisted, as if, 
while in a soft and plastic condition, at some early period of the earth's 
history, they had been crumpled like pieces of cloth by some gigantic 
force. This folding of the strata is well exhibited in a railroad cut on 
the Topsham shore, near the Lewiston bridge. In general, however, 
they dip to the southeast. 

Intersecting these layers, in immense veins or dikes, is found the 
granite. The granite dikes have clearly been formed by the lilling of 
vast chasms in the earth's crust, probably at a high temperature. 

Witlistanding better the wear of time than the gneiss, these dikes 
now form prominent features of our landscape at Powder-House Hill 
and the hills of Topsham, and have been the cause of the rapids 
which furnish our villages with their magnificent water-power. 

The granite dikes are here an extensive source of building material, 
and, farther north, of the feldspar ground for the glazing of pottery 
and the quartz crushed for sand-paper. In these dikes, too, are found 
the crystals that have rendered the vicinity so famous for its mineral 
wealth. 

On rowder-House Hill and other places, and probably throughout 
the village of Brunswick, were it accessible, the surface of these hard 
and almost imperisljablc rocks is found deeply scored and furrowed in 
lines parallel with one another, and having the direction of northwest 
and southeast. These it is well known, and has been abundantly 
proved, have been formed by the action of an immense glacier which 
once extended over the whole northern part of the United States, 

Over four thousand feet in thickness, covering all but our highest 
mountains, as Washington and Katahdin, this stream of solid ice 
moved slowly southward with crushing force, grooving the surface, 
grinding down the hills, and transporting the huge bowlders that were, 
later, stranded in our fields. Bj' this same agency were formed the 
deep fjords or inlets of our coasts and the islands that stud Casco Bay. 

Following the period of ice came a period of thaw. At the same 

1 This descriplion is by Professor Curmichael of Bowdoin College, and though written 
with especial reference to Brunswick and Topsham, is undoubtedly equally uppdicable to 
Harpswell. 



90 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARP>>WELL. 

time the coast of INIaine, which once had been liighev than now above 
the ocean level, sank below its snrface, and an arm of the sea flowed 
over the highest bnilding sites of Brunswick. Then were deposited 
the beds of brick clay which immediateh' cover the solid rock and 
crop out at the brow of the *•' Hill." 

In sinking wells in different parts of the village, not nnfrequently 
mussel-beds {3fi/teJus edidis) are met with in this day. Their perfec- 
tion and disposition prove that here they have lived and died. 

Other shells, as Leda tnoirata. which is not found to da}' south of 
Spitzbergen, attest to the coldness of the salt waters which then cov- 
ered the lowlands. 

Two bison teeth, a fragment of a walrus tusk, a large and curious 
tooth resembling that of the walrus, found in a clay bed of the same 
period at Gardiner by the late Mrs. Allen, and deposited in the 
Museum of Bowdoin College b}' Mrs. M. Allen Elton, prove at this 
early day. long before Adam walked the earth, strange beasts occupied 
the morasses and liriny waters of the Kennebec and Androscoggin 
valleys. 

At a later period, immense streams of water from the still melting 
ice flowed southward through the Androscoggin, forming the high ter- 
races of which six, one above the other, may be seen on the Bruns- 
wick, and two upon the Topsham shore. 

Then was deposited the expanse of sand forming tlie arid plain sur- 
rounding the village of Brunswick. Ilapp}- the agriculturist on whose 
land the Leda claj' breaks through the barren terrace sand ! 

Ice, then, is the sculptor to whom we owe all the physical features of 
our vicinity. It carved out our hills, valleys, and river-beds ; brought 
bowlders and gravel from afar, and supplied the water which formed 
the terraces upon which the town of Brunswick has been Iniilt. 

MINERALS. 

This region is remarkably rich in the number of its minerals. The 
attention of the Pejepscot proprietors was earl}' attracted to this fact, 
and with prudent forethought they passed the following vote, Jan. 
15, 1718: — 

'' Voted, that if it shall so happen that there be any Mine or Min- 
eral found out within any Proprietor's or Inhabitant's Lott ; that the 
Said Mine or Minerall shall be held in common to the Proprietors : The 
Person in whose Lott it shall fall to have the same Quantity of good 
land elsewhere." ^ 

• Pejepscot Records. 



BOUNDARIES AXD NOTABLE FEATURES. 97 

The following list of the minerals of this region, and the localities 
where the}' are chiefly to be found, is furnished mainlj' hy Professor 
Carraichael : — 

Feldspar is found in large and handsome crystals in Cobb's quarry. 
In Topsham, crystals a foot in diameter have been found in Sprague's 
quarr3^ Fine crystals of Amazonian spar from an old feldspar quarry 
are found on the banks of the Cathance River. 

Mica, Biolite, Phlozopite, in crystals, are found at the railroad cut 
near the upper bridge, and at the Tarbox quarry, Topsham. Near the 
Old Feldspar quany slabs have been found a foot wide. Green mica 
is found at New Meadows. The green mica extensivel}' exchanged by 
the late Professor Cleaveland was found in a bowlder near the river. 

Lepidolite is found at Topsham. 

Quartz. — At Sprague's quarry large cr3'stals, and at the Old Feld- 
spar quarry crj'stals a foot in diameter are found. Decahedral quartz 
and smok}' quartz are found in various quarries. 

Beryl. — At Cobb's quarr^', small but perfect crystals, with interest- 
ing pyramidal faces, are found in the railroad cut near the upper bridge. 
At Fisher's quarry, Topsham, crystals of a hundred pounds' weight 
have been found. 

The Emerald is said to have been found in a cut near the upper 
fishway, in Topsham. 

Garnet. — Small but fine crystals are found in Cobb's quarr}'. A 
fine, perfect specimen, nearly as large as a man's fist, in the Museum 
of Bowdoin College, was found in Sprague's quarr}'. At Fisher's 
quarry are fine, large specimens. Large quantities of cr3"stals, of 
medium color and large size, have been taken from a quarry near the 
road, beyond the Old Feldspar quarry. The most ordinary form is 
the ikositetrahedron modified by the octahedron and dodecahedron. 

Magnetite is found in many localities. Crj'stals over two inches 
in diameter have been taken from Sprague's quarry. 

Tourmaline. — Large masses are found at Rock}' Hill. Fine, large, 
perfect hemimorphic crystals are found at Tarbox's quarry, Topsham. 
Brown tourmaline is found at New Meadows, near the railroad bridge. 

CoLUMBiTE. — Large and perfect crystals have been found at Fisher's 
quarry. One specimen weighed upwards of two pounds. It is found 
also at the railroad cut near the upper bridge. 

Galenite and Iron Pyrites are found (good specimens) near 
Cathance River. 

Apatite is found near Cathance River, and crystals are also found 
at New Meadows, near the railroad bridge. 
7 



98 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

TiTANiTE is found at Cobb's quarrv, and small but fine cr^'stals 
are found near Miss Narcissa Stone's house. 

Chlorite is found at Cobb's qnarr^'. 

BisMUTiiENiTE is found at Fisher's quarry and at Tarbox's quarry, 
associated with coluuibite. 

AiMriiiBiTE is found at Sprague's quarry. 

Spiialenite is found at Cathance River. 

Moi^YBDENiTE is found in the bed of the river near the Topsham 
paper mill, at New Meadows, and at the Old Feldspar quarry. 

GoHNiTE is found in a quarrj" near the road, beyond the Old Feld- 
spar quarry. 

The following minerals have also all been found in some one or 
more of the three towns, though the exact localit}' we are unable to 
designate : Copper Pyrites, Malachite, Calcite, Hematite, Cup- 
rite, Epidite, and Molybdite. 

TuNGSTiTE is supposed to have been found, but it is not known with 

certainty. 

SOIL AST) CKOPS. 

The soil of Topsham is, for the most part, a light, sandy loam, 
with some clay at the northwestern and northeastern parts. In the 
main, it is tolerably productive. The best farms are on what is called 
the Foreside, and on Cathance stream. 

The soil of Brunswick varies from the sand}' loam of the plains to a 
gravell}' loam at the westward. Rich loams and heavy elays are 
found in a few localities. Peat has been found in the low ground east 
of Miss Narcissa Stone's house and has been used hy her. The best 
farms were formerly ^ (and probably are now) at Middle Bay and 
Maquoit. The land is said, however, to have been much more fertile 
in former times than at present.'^ 

Harpswell can hardly be considered an agricultural town, though 
portions of it are very productive. Some excellent fiirms are to be 
found upon the Neck and upon some of tlie larger islands. The soil 
of the Neck is largel}' granitic rather than a gravelly loam, with small 
tracts of clay loam. On Great Island the soil varies from a hard, 
tenacious clay to a sandy loam, wliile in some localities are found a 
fine sand, and in others slat}' and granitic soils. Most of the farms 
are equal to those on the Neck, being excellent hay and grazing land, 
while the higher parts are suitable for corn and wheat. Orchards do 
not fiourish well. 

1 McKecn, MSS. Lecture. ^ Maine Historical Society Collection, 3, p. 318. 



BOUNDARIES AND NOTABLE FEATURES. 99 

Potatoes, barley, wheat, oats, and beans are the crops chiefly culti- 
vated hereabouts. The mode of cultivation has improved very much 
of late 3-ears from what it was in Kevolutionar}' times, when people 
'' hanked up their corn very high, and i)!aced their potatoes very deep 
in the ground, and raised but little of either." 

FLORA. 

The flora of this region is, in general, like that of other similar 
localities in the central and coast region of Maine. The description 
here given is confined solely to the trees found here. At the time of 
the first settlement the wood growth was very diflferent from what it is 
now. At that time there is said to have been an oak grove where the 
depot now stands in Brunswick, and the plains were covered with a 
growth of beech, instead of jiine as at present. Then the prevailing 
growths were of hard wood. Among the forest trees now commonly 
met with are the alder, beech, birch, cedar, fir, junii)er (or hackma- 
tack), hemlock, four varieties of maple, two of oak, four of pine, and 
poplar, spruce, and willow. Those which are less commonly found 
are the ash, cheny, elm, horse-chestnut, larch, and arbor-vita.>. 

CLIMATIC AND METEOROLOGICAL. 

The climate of this region is somewhat different near the sea-coast 
from that a few miles farther inland. In Harpswell, and around the 
bays of Brunswick, the temperature is as uniform as it usually is on 
the coast of Maine. Topsham, from its greater elevation, is cooler 
than Brunswick in the summer and, probably owing to its southern 
slope, is slightly' warmer in the winter. The following meteorological 
statement is from the Annual Report for 18G7, of the Smithsonian 
Institution : — 

" Between the yeai's lfi07 and 1859 inclusive, meteorological records 
were made with great regularit}' by the late Professor Parker Cleave- 
land, of Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Maine, and after his death 
were consigned to this institution for reduction and publication. The 
observations, though not intended by their author to be of a strictly 
scientific character, were yet found sufficiently valuable to warrant 
the expenditure of considerable labor in preparing them for the press. 

" The observations were made at 7 a. m., 1 p. m., and 6 p. m., and 
relate to indications of the thermometer and barometer, direction of the 
wind, state of the weather, amount of rain and snow, character of 
clouds, occurrence of thunder-storms, fogs, frost and hail, earthquakes, 
auroras, etc. The observations present, during a period of 52 3'ears, 



100 HISTORY OF BRUNbWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 



a mean temperature of 44° 4' Fahrenheit, which reduced to the leA'el 
of the sea becomes 44° 6'. 

"The lowest mean temperature for an}' year occurred in 1859 and 
was 40° 31', and the highest was in 1840, 51° 60', giving a range of 
11° 29', which is considerably larger than at places farther south in 
the United States. 

"According to the average of 52 years, the warmest day falls on the 
22d of July, or 31 days after the summer solstice, and has a mean 
temperature of 67° 7'. 

"The coldest day, on an average, is the 18th of Januar}-, or 28 da3's 
after the winter solstice, having a temperature of 19° 9' Fahrenheit. 

"On an average, the 20th of April and the 24th of October have 
the same temperature as the mean of the entire year. The lowest 
record for the whole time is 30° below zero^ and the highest 102° 
above. 

" The northwest wind on an average reduces the temperature 4° 6'. 
rhe north lowers it 3° 1', and the northeast 3° 8'. The southwest wind, 
on the contrary, elevates the temperature above its normal value, 2° 6'. 
In summer the effect of rain and fog is to lower the temperature 6° 5'. 
In winter, snow, sleet, or rain increases the temperature 4° 3'. From 
54,097 observations, the following is the proportional number of winds 
in 1.000: — 



SOUTH. 


NORTH. 


WEST. 


EAST. 


s. w. 


N. E. 


N. W. 


S. E. 


29 


40 


51 


29 


311 


143 


320 


77 



" From this it results that the most frequent are the northwest and 
southwest, the former in winter and the latter in summer. 

" The least number of days in which rain fell was in Februarj-, the 
greatest in May. The greatest number of da^-s in which snow fell was 
in January. The earliest snow occurred on the 26th of September, 
1808, and the latest on the 8th of June, 1816. On an average, snow 
falls in Brunswick on some day in May once in tive years, and in 
October once every other year. The average number of rainy days is 
64, the average number of snowy days is 30. 

"The average amount of rain and snow is 44.68 inches. The 
greatest amount of rain durmg any one da}' was 8^ inches, Novem- 
ber 4, 1845. The greatest fall of snow was on the 10th of March, 
1819, and measured 30 inches. 

" The oreatest number of rainfalls occur while the wind is from the 



BOUNDARIES AND NOTABLE FEATURES- 101 

northeast, and the least number while it is from the west. The north- 
east wind in winter is almost constantly accompanied b}* rain or snow, 
while in summer the southeast surpasses it as a vehicle of rain, — a 
result evidently due to the position of the place of observation with 
respect to the ocean. The number of storms of thunder and lightning 
recorded during 51 ^-ears is 472, or about 9 a year. The greatest 
number occurred in July and August, the least in Januar}' and Feb- 
ruar}'. The total number of fogs is 1,135, or 22 in a year, the most 
dense of which occur in summer, the least dense in winter. 

" Jul}' is the only month in which no frost is recorded. The ear- 
liest frost observed was August 3d and the latest .June 19th. On an 
average, the spring frost ceases after the first week in June, and the 
autumn frost commences after the first week in September. 

"There were 34 hail-storms, — the greatest number in January, 
the least in August. The records notice the occurrence of 7 earth- 
quakes and 86 auroras, the greatest number of the latter in September 
and October. 

" The aurora also exhibits a maximum and a minimum. The maxi- 
mum occurred in 1808, 1818, 1830, 1838, 1848, 1857, giving differences 
of 10, 12, 8, 10, and 9 3'ears. This indicates an average period of 
about 10 years. 

"Unfortunately', the temperature of the barometer is not given, and 
therefore a reduction on account of the expansion of the mercury is 
not possible, and consequently the onl}^ use which has been made of 
the record has been to exhibit the monthl}' extreme values, together 
with their annual variations. The barometric maxima reach their 
greatest value in December, and their least value in June. The min- 
ima occur in August. The monthlv range is the greatest at the period 
of greatest cold, in January, and the least range at the period of 
greatest heat, in Jul}'." 

The coldest season ever experienced here was probably in the winter 
of 1780-81. It was, however, nearl}', if not quite, as cold in 1751. 
As early as January 14 of that 3'ear (1751), Parson Smith gives an 
account of an excursion he took with his wife and others from Fal- 
mouth to Brunswick on the ice, " passing over Harrasicket Bay a-going, 
and venturing on their return to come directl}' from Brunswick across 
the Bay without Maquoit Island to New Casco,^ and over thence to 
the Beach home." ^ In 1780 Casco Ba}' was frozen over as far into the 



1 Near lohere the United States Marine Hospital now stands at Falmouth Foreside. 

2 Smith's Journal. 



102 HISTORY OF BltUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

sea as the island called the White Bull, and was travelled upon from 
Harpsivell to Portland. 

The mildest winter was that of 1838. On Januar}' 8, of this winter, 
David Johnson ploughed all day on Goat Island, Harps well. 

Destructive gales and thunder-storms have not been of exceptional 
frequency in this vicinity. The earliest one of any severit}', of which 
mention has been found, occurred June 21), 1809, when there was a 
violent thunder-storm. The Gun House was struck by lightning, 
which struck also in twelve other places in that vicinity'. On June 7, 
1814, about 8 a. m., there was heard a report in the air resembling 
that of a gun, and gradually dying away. There was no storm at the 
time ; it was doubtless the bursting of a meteor. April 1, 1^15, vari- 
ous sized balls of snow were found in the woods. The}' were from 
less than one inch to fifteen inches in diameter, of an oval or globular 
shape, loose and uniform in texture, and very irregularly distributed. 
The tracks could be seen where the}' had been rolled over the surface 
of the snow by the wind. On May 7 and 21, 1816, there were severe 
thunder-storms. On the latter date the storm was accompanied with 
hail, the form of which was ver}' remarkable. The hail-stones were in 
hexangular pyramids, sometimes half an inch in length. In some the 
base was almost transparent. On August 6, 1834, there was a severe 
thunder-shower, during which the vanes on Professor Cleaveland's and 
Captain Given's barns were struck by lightning. August 20, 1835, 
there was a severe bail-storm, and hail-stones which measured three 
inches in diameter were picked up at Mustard's tavern. September 3, 
1845, there was a violent thunder-shower, during which Common's 
Hall was struck by lightning. May 6, 1850, there was also a violent 
storm. The lightning struck Captain Minot's buildings at Mair Point, 
and in several other places. February 18, 1853, probably the severest 
storm of all occurred. The lightning struck in over twenty different 
localities ; among others. Deacon Perkins's house on the island in Tops- 
ham. October 30, 1866, the steeple of the First Parish Meeting-House 
in Brunswick was blown off. 

In 1869, on September 7, a terrible gale began at seven o'clock 
p. M., and lasted for several hours. In the Lemont woods fourteen 
trees were blown down in one spot, and over two hundred trees were 
blown down in David Marriner's woods. A large number were also 
prostrated in Topsham. The depot woodshed in Brunswick, and 
two chimneys on the Medical College, were also blown over, A 
great deal of damage was done, of which the above constituted but a 
small portion. August 16, 1867, there was another severe storm, 



BOUNDABIES AND NOTABLE FEATURES. 103 

during which seven and one half inches of rain fell. Seventy-five 
feet of an embankment on the Androscoggin railroad in Topsham 
was washed out. It was twenty-five feet deep. Jul}" 15, 1868, a 
severe thunder-storm occurred, during which two houses and a barn 
in Brunswick, and an old wooden warehouse in Topsham, were struck 
by lightning. June 23, 1874, the Jordan House in Brunswick was 
struck by lightning. 

Accounts have been preserved of some ten shocks of earthquake 
which have occurred here since the first settlement of Brunswick. 
The first and severest was the one which was felt throughout New 
England, and is called the " Great Earthquake." It happened on 
Tuesda}', Nov. 18, 1755, at about a quarter past four o'clock a. m. 
The undulation of the earth's surface in this vicinit}^ was so violent 
as to rock houses, and throw down chimneys, log fences, and crockery 
from the shelves. The chimne}' of Reverend Mr. Dunlap's house fell 
in, and some of his children narrowl}' escaped injury. The inhabi- 
tants generally were gi'eatl}" alarmed, and viewed the occurrence as an 
omen of evil. Reverend Mr. Dunlap preached a sermon with especial 
reference to this event. ^ The other earthquakes were much less 
severe, though some of them were sufficient to cause a degree of 
trepidation amongst the timid. They occurred Nov. 22, 1755; June 
12, 1805, at 7.30 a. m. ; June 26, 1808, at 2.51 p. m. ; Nov. 28, 1814, 
at 7 p. M. ; the oscillations moved from north to south, lasted fifty 
seconds, and were followed b}^ an explosion ; May 23, 1817, at 3 p. m., 
— lasted one minute ; March 7, 1823, at 10 a. m. ; July 25, 1828, at 
6 A. M. ; Aug. 26, 1829, at 9 p. m. and at 9.15 p. m. ; and Oct. 17, 
1860. 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 



104 HISIORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



CHAPTER II. 

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 

The town of Brunswick first received its name legally, in the year 
1717, when it was incorporated as a township. This name was prob- 
ably given to the town in honor of the house of Brunswick, to which 
family the then king of Great Britain belonged. The reason for this 
presumption is. that this town, being earlier settled and incorporated 
than any of the other nine or ten towns of the same name in the 
United States, could not have been named after either of them, and 
as there were, so far as known, no Germans among the earlier settlers 
here, it was hardly likely to have been named for the German city. 

UNDER COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. 

[1717.] The A'ote of the General Court, constituting Brunswick a 
township, was passed on the third of Ma}', 1717, and provided " That 
y* Land Plotted for a Town from Pejepscot Falls to Maquoit in Casco 
Ba}- be Constituted A Township to be laid out the Quantity- of Six 
miles Square as the Land will allow & to be Called by the name of 
Brunswick to be forth- with Settled in a Defensible Manner." ^ 

This action of the General Court gave the settlers municipal rights 
similar to those of plantations of the present day. Thus, for instance, 
they held public meetings, raised money for their common welfare, 
and chose their own town officers. Records were kept by an officer 
stA'led the town clerk, who was the first time appointed by the propri- 
etors, and afterwards elected b}- the people. 

On the second of Ma}', of this year, Lieutenant Joseph Heath was 
chosen by the proprietors "'■ To be their Clark for the Town of Bruns- 
wick until the town is Qualified to make their own election and Sworn 
to the faithful Discharge of that Trust." ^ 

The first meeting of the inhabitants was held November 3, 1717. 
The first election of town officers was in March, 1719, when Captain 
John Gyles, Thomas "Wharton, James Starrat, John Cochran, and 

' Massachusetts Records, 1717. 

"^Brunswick Records m Pejepscot Collection. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 105 

Joseph Heath were chosen selectmen for the ensuing year. Joseph 
Heath was also chosen clerk and town treasurer, and Peter Haines, 
constable. 

At a regular meeting of the inhabitants, held Maj' 8, it was voted to 
purchase a hos h'urus for the common benefit. It was also at this 
meeting voted, " That whereas Some of the Inhabitants of this Town 
have already Brought on Cattle & others expect to have some come 
before Winter, Therefore our first rate to our Minister shall be raised 
on Lotts & poles onley." ^ 

Other meetings were held at different periods, at which action was 
taken relating chiefly to the support of a minister. The doings of 
those meetings will be found in the chapter upon Ecclesiastical Histor}'. 

[1735.] In the year 1735 the inhabitants of Brunswick had become 
so numerous and felt so great need of a more perfect system in the 
management of their common concerns, that they made application 
to the government of Massachusetts for an Act of Incorporation as a 
town. The petition was as follows : — 

" To His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq. Captain General and 
Governour in Chief. Tlie Honourable His Majesties Councill, and the 
Honourable House of Representatives of his Majesties Province of the 
Massachusetts-Bay In New England In General Court assembled May 
1735. 

"The Petition of us the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Town of 
Brunswick in the Count}' of York Humbly Sheweth — That j-our Peti- 
tioners being arrived to a competent number to transact Town affairs 
& in Expectation of having others very soon added to us, having now 
a commodious Meeting -House chiefly erected at the charge of the 
Proprietors, and having also obtained a pious & othodox Minister to 
settle with us, we now find it necessary to be vested with Power to lay 
a Tax or assesment in order to raise money for his maintenance — 
Therefore your petitioners Humbly pra^^ your Excelency and Honours 
that you will pleas to Erect us into a Township & vest us with the 
Power & authorities belonging to other Towns excepting onl}' the 
Power of Granting & Disposing of Land, which we acknowledge to be 
in the Proprietors who placed us here — and your Petitioners as in 
Duty bound Shall ever pray &c." ^ 

This petition was signed by John Rutherford, Anthony Vincent, 
James Dunning, David Dunning, Richard Flahertj', — an Irish school- 
teacher, — James McFarland, James Carter, William Gibson, Andrew 

' Brunswick Records, in Pejepscot Collection, ^Pejepscoc Papers. 



106 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Dunning, Ebenezer Stanwood, Samuel Stanwood, David Giveen, 
James Henry, William Spear, John Giveen, Robert Giveen, Thomas 
Neal, Thomas Washburn, Samuel Lindsey, Reverend Robert Ruther- 
ford, Benjamin Larrabee, Samuel Clarke, Nehemiah Giffen, — a 
stranger, — Robert Spear, Sr., Robert Spear, Jr., Robert Dunlap, 
William Woodside, Jonathan Dunlap, John Linsay. 

The legislature, June 20th of this same year, granted the request of 
the petitioners and enacted a bill in accordance therewith. This bill 
for some reason, however, failed to receive the signature of the gov- 
ernor, and did not therefore take effect.^ 

[1737.] On the 25th of May, 1737, another petition for incorpora- 
tion was presented to the General Court, by Benjamin Larrabee. in 
behalf of the inhabitants of Brunswick, which set forth the reasons 
urged in the former i)etition and stated the fact of a bill having been 
enacted, wliich had failed to be valid on account of its wanting the 
governor's signature. The praj-er of this petition was granted in the 
House of Representatives on the 24th of June, and concurred in by 
the Senate three days later. A bill was accordingly prepared, and at 
the next session of the General Court, January 26. 1738-9, the follow- 
ing Act was passed, and received the sanction of the governor : — 

"ACT OF INCORPORATION OF BRUNSWICK. 

ANNO KEGNI REGIS GEORGIJ SECUNDI DUODECIMO. 

AN ACT 
For Erecting a Township ia the County of York by the Name of Brunswick. 

" Whereas there is a Competent Number of Inhabitants already set- 
tled upon a Tract of Land lying within the County of York hitherto 
called and known by the name of Brunswick containing the Quantity 
of about six miles squai-e and lying convenient for a Township ; and 
whereas said Inhabitants have humbly petitioned this Court, that in 
order to provide a Suitable Maintenance for the Minister Settled 
among them, the}' may be Erected into a Township, and vested with 
the Powers and Authorities belonging to other Towns. Therefore 
for encouragement of the said settlement 

"5e it Enacted l)y his Excellency the Governor, Councill and Repre- 
sentatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the 
Same. That the said Tract of Land described in a Plat now returned 
to this Court as follows : — • 

"Beginning at the mouth of a brook or Rivulet called Bungamunga- 

1 Fejepscot Papers. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 107 

nock, running into Maquoit Bay where it touches upon North Yar- 
mouth line, and from the mouth of said Brook to run upon a course 
north northwest, half westerly five miles into the wilderness leaving a 
wedge or strip of Land between said line and North Yarmouth, ^ and 
from thence upon a course northeast four miles to the Second Falls of 
Amascoggin alias Androscoggen River from thence down said River 
by Fort George, and down Merry Meeting Ba}' so far as »Stevens car- 
rjnng Place including several small Islets lying in said River above 
Said Carrying Place, and over said Carrying Place to the head of the 
Creek or River that runs up to the other side of the said Carrying 
Place, thence down said creek or River to the mouth thereof, includ- 
ing an Island therein, and from the mouth of said River to run by the 
Waterside southwesterly to the Southwest point of a place called the 
New Meadows, thence to strike across the cove upon course north 
northwest, till it meets and intersects the upper end of INIerryconeag 
Neck four rods above the Narrows of said Neck, commonly called the 
carrying place, thence to run along the Shore to a Neck of Land 
called Mair point, about a mile and a quarter down said Neck, thence 
to cross over said Mair point and Maquoit Ba}', upon a course north- 
west till it comes to the place first above mentioned, be and henceforth 
shall be a Township to be called Brunswick and the Inhabitants 
thereof shall have and enjoy all such immunities, privileges and pow- 
ers as Generall}' other Towns in this Province have and do by Law 
enjoy : — 

" This Bill having been read three Several times in the House of 
Representatives Pass'd to be Enacted. 

" [Signed] J. Quincy, Speaker. 

"This Bill, having been read three several times in Council, Pass'd 

to be Enacted. 

'• [Signed] Simon Frost, DepHy Sec'ry. 

"By his Excellency the Governour. 

I consent to the Enacting this Bill. 

" [Signed] J. Belcher. 

" Jan^. 26, 1738, Copy Exam''- 

" [Signed] Simon Frost, BepHy Sec'ry.''^ 

Brunswick thus became the eleventh corporate town in Maine. At 
the same time that the foregoing was passed, the General Court also 

1 Known as the " Gore." 



108 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AlSfD HARPSWELL. 

passed an Act authorizing and empowering Benjamin Larrabee, P^squire, 
" to warn the Inhabitants of said Town, qualifyed by Law to vote in 
Town affairs, to assemble and meet together in some Sutable Place on 
the first Monday of March next, to choose a Moderator, Town Clerk, 
and other Town Officers for the year then next ensuing." The date 
of the incoiporation of the town, it will be noticed, is given as Jan. 
26, 1738. This is according to the old method of reckoning time. 
The date, according to the new style, M'ould be Feb. 4, 1739.^ 

[1739.] There were six town meetings in 1739. The first meet- 
ing of this year, and the first under the Act of Incorporation, was 
held March 28th. At this meeting the following officers were cho- 
sen : — 

Samuel Hinkley, Moderator and Town Clerk ; Captain Benjamin 
Larrabee, Samuel Hinkle}', John Getchell, James Dunning, and 
David Dunning, Selectmen ; John Malkeon, John Barrows, Con- 
stables ; Thomas Washburn, William Vincent, Samuel Whitney, and 
James How^e, Tything-Men ; Captain William Woodside, Wimond 
Bradbury, John Whitney, and Joseph Berry, Surveyors of High- 
ways ; Robert Spear and Cornelius Thompson, Fence-Viewers ; 
James Thompson, Town Treasurer ; John MacGregor and John 
McFarlin, Hog Constables ; Israel Mitchell and William Spear, Field- 
Drivers. 

One hundred and fift3'-three pounds and fifteen shillings were voted 
for town expenses for the year. At this meeting John Getchell, Robert 
Spear, Samuel Clark, James Thompson, Benjamin Parker, and Thomas 
Skolfield were chosen a committee to lay out highwaj's for the conven- 
ience of the town. 

Some proposition looking to the extermination of, or protection from 
wolves was doubtless made, as the town this j^ear voted, " That the 
wolves should be left till further consideration." 

In Juh' it was voted, " That the Minister Shuld Preach att y* South- 
east end of S** Town (att a place cal*^ Newmedows) according to what 
Rates and taxes they shall Pay towards the Support of the Ministry it 
being agreed upon by the whole Town." 

Against this action of the town, however, a protest was entered by 
Benjamin Whitney, Jean Brown, and William Woodside. 

A meeting held December 25th elected Captain Benjamin Larrabee a 
representative " to go to answer the presentment commenced against 
this town at the general Sessions of the Peace." It does not, however, 

^ Town Records, Vol. 1; also Pejepscot Papers. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 109 

appear from the records what was the nature of the action against the 
town or by whom it was brought. Possibl}' it may have been in con- 
sequence of their being no provision made that year for a school, as 
the law was then obligator}' upon all towns to make such provision. 

On Ma}' 30, of this year, the inhabitants of Mair Point petitioned 
the General Court, since one half of that point was within the bounds 
of the township of North Yarmouth and was twenty-five miles distant 
from the meeting-house in that town, b}' land, and ten miles distant 
by sea, with two dangerous ba3's to be crossed, and since the north- 
ed}' portion of the point was but two miles distant from Brunswick, 
that they might be set off from North Yarmouth and annexed to the 
town of Bninswick. An Act was passed, granting this privilege, 
which took eflfect, October 2d following. 

[1740.] The total appropriation for defraying the expenses of the 
town in 1740 was £248 IGs. Od. Of this amount £150 was for- the 
salary of Reverend Mr. Rutherford, and £80 for support of a school- 
master, leaving but £18 for contingent expenses. It was also voted 
this year to raise £200 as a settlement for Mr. Rutherford, " if he lives 
and dies minister of Brunswick," and a little more than one fourth of 
this amount was to be raised that year. The town voted not to send 
any re[)resentative this year to the General Court, and also voted to 
allow hogs to run at large, provided they were properly yoked and 
ringed. 

Harpswell Neck was this year set oflT from North Yarmouth and 
annexed to Brunswick as an " adjacent," ^ but was soon after set back 
again. 

[1742.] There were five meetings of the town this year. At the 
annual meeting in March, £246 was raised for current expenses, £150 
of whicli was for the support and £66 for the settlement of the min- 
ister. 

At a meeting held May 15th, Mr. Henry Gibbs, a freeholder and 
resident in town, was admitted as "an inhabitant thereof," and he 
was, at the same meeting, elected to represent the town at the General 
Court. This action was evidently not the will of a majority of the 
voters of the town, as another meeting for the choice of a represent- 
ative was held on the 29th of June, and " it being put to vote 
whether to send one or not it was passed in the negative." 

Several matters pertaining to the vacant lands came up for discus- 
sion this year, and at a subsequent meeting it was voted, "• That all 

1 Massachusetts Records, 1740, p. 351 ; also 303. 



110 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

the vacant Land one the east side of the Maine Rode tliat buts one 
Brunswick falls Runing from s*^ falls a Loung the Shore till it coins 
to the south corner of the Cove near s*^ falls thence running a south 
Corse to the Rode that Leades to the Landing place ; to la}" common 
for convenency of Landing botes and cornews [boats and canoes] and 
for the Uce of the Inhabetence of the Town of Brunswick forever." 

It was also, at the same meeting, voted "that all that corner of 
vacant laud from the southwest corner of Fort George, thence running 
a west course till it comes to the river, thence down said river till it 
comes to the main road, thence along said road to the place of begin- 
ning." be left in common for the privilege of a grist mill ancf " for 
the Uce of the Inhabatence of the Town of Brunswick forever." 

The selectmen this year petitioned the General Court for an abate- 
ment of the tax assessed upon the town. The reasons for this request 
are best given in the petition itself, which is as follows : — 

" To HIS Excellency Jounathan Belcuer Esq". Capt. Generall axd Gov- 

ERXOUR IN CUIEF, ThE HONOURABLE HIS MAJESTIES COUXCILL AND THE 

Honourable House of Representatives of hks Majesties Province 
OF the Massachusetts Bay in New England in Generall Court 
assembled May, 1741. 

"THE PETITION OP US THE SUBSCRIBERS SELECTMEN OF THK 
TOWN OF BRUNSWICK IN THE COUNTY OF YORK. 

Humbly Sheweth. 
"That the Great and Generall Court were pleased to lay a tax of 
Thirty pounds (New tenner) upon the town of Brunswick which they 
are very unable to pay, and the Constables of S'' Town has Collected 
but a veiy small part b}- reason of their great poverty, for the Greater 
part of the Settlers have not been able, (as 3'et) to pa}' for their lots 
of land of one Hundred Acres Each which they have taken of the Pro- 
prietors tho at a Reasonable price, for the best lots do not exceed five 
shillings per acre, & other lots not above half so much, & tho some 
have lived upon S'^ lots, more than ten j-ears, & some near twenty, 
j'et by Reason of our Great Poverty & being often allarmed with the 
Rumour of Warr, & being often disturbed by the Insulting Indians, 
and many times are oblidged to Garrison our houses, which is very 
expensive, and always obliged to be well provided with arms & ami- 
nition, or Retire to other places of Safety with our familys & Cattle, 
& so oblidged to neglect our Husbandry whereb}- our familys have 
greatly sufered & have been Impoverished, and many families not 
being able to raize their own Provisions, are beholden to other parts 
of the Province for them, & in these times of rumour of Warr do the 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. Ill 

duty of Souldiers, in Defending ourselves & neiglibours, we being a 
frontier town, & so of service to the Province, tlie fort being Remote 
from the greatest part of the Inhabitants which Cant be avoided, for 
the benefit of Husbandr}', which Fort is a Great terror to the Indians 
and keeps them in some aw, j-et the}' oftentimes Insult»us in our private 
houses & when they are in any want of victuals, thej' kill our Cattle, 
which keeps us under fears & Discouragements, therefore your Peti- 
tioners Humbly pra}' that this Honourable Court would take the 
premisses into \o\xv wise Consideration and abate the tax laid upon 
the town of Brunswick for the jear 1740, and Excuse S"^ Town from 
paying Province taxes, for some time to come which will greatly 
incourage the Inhabitants to settle the remote parts of the Province 
where they can at present, (but with Great Difficult}') get a living, & 
Defend themselves & neighbours in these Exposed parts, tho the 
Greater part of the Inhabitants are not able to pay for the lots of 
land they are settled upon. The Honourable Courts compassion will 
greatly Incourage the Eastern Settlements, & by the smiles of Heaven, 
in a few j'ears, may become a usefuU part of the Province and by 
their Industry enabled cheerfully to pa}' such rates & taxes as shall 
be laid upon them for the future, and as in Duty bound your Peti- 
tioners shall ever pray.^ 

" Sam'-'- Hinckley. ] 
KoBERT Speek. Vo'eZec^men." 
Dayid Duning. j 

[1742.] The town in 1742, for the first time, sent a representative 
to "the Great and General Court," and David Dunning was elected 
to fill the office. 

[1743.] Two boards of selectmen were chosen in 1743. At the 
annual meeting held iu March, Isaac Snow, Samuel Hinkley, and 
Wymond Bradbury were chosen selectmen. Tliere was some informal- 
ity, however, about this meeting, A protest was made against it as 
illegal, by Captain William Woodside, James Dunning, Robert Finney, 
Robert Spear, David Dunning, David Giveen, and Samuel Clark, and 
the General Court ordered another meeting to be held on the 30th of 
August. This latter meetii!g " being purged of all illegal voters," an 
election of town officers was had, and Captain John Minot, Eben Stan- 
wood, and James Dunning were chosen selectmen and David Dunning, 
representative. At this meeting Wymond Bradbury was authorized 
to provide a pair of stocks for the town. 

1 Pejepscot Papers, original document. 



112 HISTORY OF BBUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HAEPSWKLL. 

The decision of the General Court in regard to the illegalit}' of the 
first meeting was based on the fact that the meeting was not legall}^ 
warned, and that the assessors were not under oath when the}' took 
the vahiation of the town.' 

[1744.] The Court of General Sessions for the County of York, 
having decided that the special meeting of the town, held by order of 
the General Court in August, 1743, was likewise illegal, a new elec- 
tion was ordered and had, January' 17, 1744, at which a new board of 
town officers was chosen to serve out the unexpired portion of the 
fiscal year. Thomas Skolfield, Ebenezer Stanwood, and James Dun- 
ning were elected selectmen. 

At the annual meeting in March, a new board of selectmen was 
chosen for the ensuing 3'ear. No representative to the General Court 
was chosen. A committee was chosen at this meeting, to examine all 
the accounts of the town since its incorporation, and to settle all its 
affairs, and it was voted to raise no money for town purposes until the 
committee had reported. The committee were Deacon Samuel Hink- 
le}', Captain William Woodside, James Thompson, and Robert Finne}*, 
and ihey were authorized to call in to their assistance, if necessar}', 
Mr. Samuel Dinne (Denny?), of Georgetown. This committee, in 
December, brought in a full and detailed report of all moneys which 
had been received b}' the town treasurer, and of what had been dis- 
bursed by him, together with a statement of what was due the town 
from all sources ; with recommendations for the paj-ment of various 
suius claimed from the town for services rendered, etc. Among these 
items was one of six pounds due Deacon Samuel Hinkle}' " for ten 
days going after a minister to supply the town," and another of 
£3 10s. for a "constable's staff." The report of the committee was 
accepted. 

At a special meeting of the town in May, a committee was chosen 
to secure " a schoolmaster upon as reasonable terms as possible." 
At this meeting Deacon Samuel Hinkley was chosen '-a commissioner 
to appear at the Great and General Court held at Boston, to prefer a 
petition or petitions in behalf of the town." He was to receive his 
instructions from a committee consisting of the selectmen, and David 
Dunning, Ebenezer Stanwood, and Robert Finney. His compensation 
was to be 12s. per day and £5 for expenses. For what object a 
petition was to be presented does not appear from the records. It 
was, however, in all probability, in reference to an unfortunate ditfer- 

' Massachusetts Records, 1743, p. 99. 



MUNICIPA L HISTOh Y OF BR UNS WICK. 1 1 3 

ence that had arisen between the town and the proprietors. The lat- 
ter were exempt from taxation, and refused to assist in making the 
count}' roads which passed through their kinds. ^ The result was that 
the passions of the people were excited in relation to the matter, and 
the town, believing that unoccupied land might be taken and sold for 
public purposes, very injudicioush* granted one hundred acres of land 
each to Deacon Samuel Hiukley, Timoth}^ Tibbets, Cjpron Cornish, 
and Aaron Hinkley, it being stipulated in each grant, "Provided, 
that he make improvement on said land in defiance of the proprietors, 
Henry Gibbs & Companj-, and begin said settlement in three years 
from date hereof by building, fencing and improvmg, except he or 
they (his heirs) be put off by an enem3\" This trouble between the 
town and the [)roprietors was after some years amicably adjusted. 

The taxation bore so heavily upon the people at this time that the 
town voted not to exempt even the ' ' listed soldiers of the inhabe- 
tence " from payment. 

[1745.] The town this year voted to pa}' an annual salary- of fifteen 
shillings to the town treasurer, as a compensation for his services. 

The committee appointed in 1744 to receive the town money from 
the constables, and to settle all the accounts of the town, having made 
no report of their doings subsequent to the report of December of 
that year, the selectmen were directed to call them to an account, and 
to ascertain what money had been received and disbursed by them 
and what remained due to the town, and to report at the next town 
meeting. 

[1746.] The selectmen were unable to make any settlement of 
the financial affairs of the town with the committee who had been 
appointed as receivers, and accordingly in February, 1746, " Robert 
Finney was elected a Commissioner to the next Court of General Ses- 
sions in order to get the Report of the Committee chosen to end all 
debates and adjust all accounts appertaining to the town since it has 
been erected into a town." Finney was to be allowed twelve shillings 
per day for his services. The purpose for which he was appointed, as 
stated in the vote of election given above, ma}- have been to obtain a 
writ of mandamus against the town committee to compel them to do 
their dut}', or it may have been to have a decision upon the merits of 
the question made by the Court. 

At this same meeting, David Dunning was elected a commissioner 
to ap^)ear at the General Court in Boston, to prefer a petition in 

1 Pejepscol Papers. 



114 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

behalf of the town. He was to receive his instructions from a com- 
mittee consisting of Robert Spear, David Giveen, and Robert Finney, 
and was to recei\e £5 for his services and to be allowed £4 for his 
expenses. In the absence of an^' evidence in the matter, it is to be 
presumed that the object of the petition was the same as of the one 
presented the next year, and that, for some reason, this petition was 
never presented, or if presented was not acted upon. 

The town also voted at this meeting to raise no mone}" for current 
expenses, until that already- assessed had been paid in b}' the consta- 
bles to the receivers appointed by the town. 

[1747.] At the annual meeting in March, 1747, the town voted 
" to appl}' to the General Court for protection " against the Indians, 
and David Dunning was chosen to prepare a petition in behalf of the 
town, under instructions from Ebenezer Stanwood, John Getchel, 
and Thomas Skolfleld. He was to receive £9 for his services. This 
petition was, in all probability, favorably considered by the General 
Court, as the whole region from Wells to Topsham was at this time 
infested with savages.^ At all events, it was either considered and 
acted upon, or else previous action on the matter had alread}' been 
taken, for in May following. Captain Jordan was stationed at Topsham 
with thirt}" men.^ 

[1748.] The town, at its annual meeting in March, 1748, voted to 
send a petition, signed by the selectmen in behalf of the town, to the 
General Court, requesting to have Western men sent there for soldiers, 
instead of calling upon the inhabitants of Brunswick and its vicinity. 

The financial affairs of the town were still in an unsettled condition, 
and consequently a committee was chosen at a special town meeting 
held in May, "to shew-^ the Receiver and Treasurer that refuse to 
pa}' in the town's mone}' according to vote of the town, and said com- 
mittee is instructed to make up accounts with all or any person who 
haA'C any legal demands on the town." 

The town, moreover, at this meeting chose Deacon Samuel Hink- 
ley. Lieutenant Ebenezer Stanwood, and Robert Finney a connnittee 
to appear in behalf of the town at the quarter sessions for the county 
of York, to be held in Octol)er following, " to recover the town's legal 
debts and prosecute an^- person in whose hands the town's money may 
be found not paid out in the town's legal debts." 

In October of this 3'ear the selectmen assessed £50 on the citizens 
as a town fund, and to pay a premium for wolves' heads. 

1 Williamson, History of Maine, 2, p. 252. '-2 Smith's Journal, p. 129. 

2 i- e., to instruct. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 115 

[1749.] The town, at a special meeting in January. 1749, ap- 
pointed Ensign William Vincent to inspect the fishery at Brunswick 
and to regulate the same according to instructions from the selectmen. 

A proposition was also made at this time to petition the General 
Court for the annexation to Brunswick of the precinct of Topsham. 
The question was laid on the table for consideration at a future meet- 
ing. 

[1750.] At the annual meeting in March, 1750, the town A'oted a 
present of £40, old tenor, to Reverend Mr. Dunlap, and voted to 
take up a contribution four times a year for the support of the Widow 
Mitchell. In May the town voted to raise £40, laiufid money, for 
Reverend Mr. Dunlap. £2G 13s. 4d. of this amount was to pay his 
salary and the balance to be a gratuity. It was also voted to raise 
£21 6.S. Od., lawful money, of which £13 6s. 8d. was for Mr. Dunlap's 
settlement, £5 6s. Sd. to make good the town stock of ammunition, 
and £2 13s. 4d. for other town expenses. The town declined this 
j-ear to raise any money for a schoolmaster. 

[1751.] At a town meeting in February, 1751, a committee was 
appointed to have the care and control of the common lands of the town, 
with authority to assess damages upon trespassers and to prosecute all 
such claims should recourse to law become necessary. It was also 
voted to add £13 6s. 8d. lawful money, to the salarj' of Reverend Mr. 
Dunlap, "providing he will take his pay in such specie as the town 
can pay him in at the market price, otherwise Mr. Dunlap must adhere 
to his first agreement with the town." 

A bount}' of £1 was offered by the town for each wolf killed by 
traps or pits within the limits of the town. It was also voted to raise 
£40, lawful money, in such specie as the town can produce in lumber, 
at the market price, and also to raise £8 in cash, to pa}' the minister's 
salary, £3 6s. 8d. for " Grann}' Mitchell," and £4 13s. 4cL for town 
expenses. 

[1752.] At the annual town meeting £4 was voted to Robert 
Smart " for building a pair of stocks and whipping-post at our meeting 
house." 

This 3'ear the town records begin to be double dated, in conse- 
quence of an Act of Parliament adopting the new style of reckoning 
time. As the difference between the old and new methods of reckon- 
ing time is now so generall}^ understood, it is unnecessary here to 
enter into anj' explanation of the matter. The records appear to be 
double dated from the first, but this is probably due to the interpola- 
tion of the second dates by some later town clerk. The preA ions 



1 1 6 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

dates in this book have all been old st^'le, but what follow will all be 
according to the new stjie. 

[1753.] At the annual town meeting in March, 1753, a A'ote was 
passed to petition the General Court for power to tax the lands in 
town belonging to non-resident proprietors, unless they should speedily 
grant some satisfactory assistance to the inhabitants to enable them 
" to finish the Meeting house, settle the Minister and defi'a}' other 
publick charges." This vote was reconsidered at the October meeting, 
and it was then voted to dela}' action upon it until the following spring. 
At this October meeting Captain David Dunning was appointed a 
commissioner, in behalf of the town, to join the other towns in the 
count}' in signing a petition to have the county divided. 

The town also voted to raise £10, in lawful money, for a supply of 
ammunition and £20, old tenor, for the relief of Widow Mitchell. 

The ratable polls in Brunswick at this time were about eighty.^ 

[1754.] The town, in 1 754, voted to raise £55 for current expenses, 
" to be paid in lumber landed in Boston on or before September 1st." 

At the annual meeting in March, the question of taxing the lands 
of non-resident proprietors again came up, but the town then voted 
not to petition the General Court, at that time, for power to assess 
these lands, on account of the anticipation of a war. In September, 
however, the town voted that their representative should prefer such 
a petition to the General Court, and suitable instructions were accord- 
ingly' given, October 1st, to John Minot, J]sqnire, l)y a committee con- 
sisting of Samuel Hinklej', David Dunning, James Thompson, and 
Samuel Stanwood, who were appointed for that purpose. 

Those instructions were, in brief, that he should, with the assistance 
of an able lawyer, draw up a petition to tlie General Court, in which 
it should be stated that the town had undergone much difficulty and 
its settlement been retarded b}' reason " of the wars and incursions of 
the enem^' " ; that the town had not equal privileges with otlier towns, 
which could sell or grant vacant lands for pulilic uses, whereas those 
who were settled upon lands derived from proprietors could not do so. 
For this reason, the petition was to state further that tlie town pra^-ed 
" for power to rate the non-resident Proprietors' land for the sum of 
£200 for the following uses." 

1. For finishing the meeting-house. 

2. For the settlement of their minister. 

3. For establishing a school in the town. 

^ Memorandum on cover of Urunstcick Records, m Pejepscot Collection. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 117 

4. To help clear and keep good the county road through the proprie- 
tors' lands ; which, '* if it should be insisted upon to make it a complete 
road would take the bigger part of said mone^'." 

The representative was also instructed that in case the proprietors 
would give security for the payment of £100 for the above-mentioned 
uses, he was authorized to withdraw his petition. ^ 

[1755.] In 1755 the town passed the following votes : — 

To pay John Orr £1, lawful mone}', " for collecting the Province 
rate at Topsham for 1752," and to pa}' William Spear an annual salary 
of Gs. " for sweeping the meeting-house, locking doors, and taking 
care of the key." 

The town decided not to petition the General Court for the annexa- 
tion of Topsham this year. 

The vote of the town in 1744, in regard to taxing soldiers, seems not 
to have been fully enforced, as instructions were this year given to the 
former constables of the town to proceed according to law to collect 
the taxes which had been assessed upon the officers and soldiers 
belonging to Fort George. Against this action of the town John Orr, 
John Smart, James Ellet, Samuel Clark, and Thomas Skoltield 
entered their dissent and protest. 

The selectmen this year sent the following petition to the General 
Court, applying for military relief: — 

''PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY. 

" To HIS Excellency William Shiulky Esq. Captain General and Com- 
mander IN Chief of said Province, The Hon^^-e His Majestys Coun- 
ciLL, and House of Representatives in General Court Assembled 
August II^h 1756. 

THE MEMORIAL OF THE SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN OP 
BRUNSWICK 

Humbly Sheweth, 

" That in Consequence of a Memorial presented to this Court at 

their Sessions in May last representing the exposed circumstances of 

said Town b}- reason of the Enemy, this Hon** Court was pleased to 

order 14 men out of Capt. Samuel Goodwin's Company to scout on the 

back of the Inhabitants from Fort George to Maquoit untill the further 

Order of this Court ; the Benefitt of which they enjoyed but a very 

short time, not more than two weeks, when the aforesaid Order was 

superceeded on the Petition of Thomas Hancock Esq and others and 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 



118 HISTORY OF BliUJVSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

on the 7th Jul}- it was ordered bj' this Court that said 14 men be 
returned to said Compan}- again by which means the Inhabitants at 
this Critical Season of their Husbandry are greatly exposed to the 
Incursions of the Indian enemy. As the former Memorial was in 
behalf of a Gainison situate near the meeting house on the main road 
from Maquoit necessary for the entertainment of Expresses, or any 
other Travellers in time of Warr kept b}- Mf Robert Speer who is 
greatly advanced in age, and very decrepid, the support of which 
Garrison would be a kind of Barrier to the Inhabitants, and a great 
Securit}' to the House of Publick Worship, these & many other rea- 
sons that might be urged in favour of said Garrison, induced your 
Memorialists then to apply to this Hou'^ Court for such Relief as 
should in their Wisdom seem meet. 

"And we now again humbly apply ourselves to this Hon*^ Court in 
behalf of said Town, and the afore"^ Garrison that the}* would be 
pleased to give such further Direction for their Relief as that they may 
be enabled to , pursue their Husbandry without that Danger to which 
they might otherwise be exposed. 

" And 3'our Memorialists as in Duty bound Shall ever pray &c.i 

" Thomas Skolfield, ] Selectmen of 
Sam'l Stanwood, ) Brunswick.'''' 

[1757.] In February, 1757, John Getchell and Captain David 
Dunning were appointed commissioners " to represent to the Colonel 
of this Regiment the difficult circumstances of this town, and to try 
for an abatement of the men he has sent for." This regiment was 
Colonel Ezekiel Cushing's at Falmouth. ^ 

The first set of weights and measures for sealing purposes was pur- 
chased this year. 

The number of polls in Brunswick at this time was ninety-two, and 
in the adjacent region it was eighty-one, of which number thirty-two 
were in that portion of Harpswell included within the boiuidar}- lines 
of North Yarmouth and Brunswick, and fort\'-nine were in Topsham.^ 

[1758.] This year the selectmen were instructed by the town " to 
acquaint the Honorable Board for levelling the province tax, concern- 
ing the adjacents that are taken of us." Harpswell was this year 
incorporated as a distinct town. 

[1760.] In compliance with an order of the General Court, a com- 
mittee was chosen by the town, in 1760, to communicate to the session 

^ Pejepscot Papers. '^ Massachusetts Records, Vol.21. ^ Pejepjscot Papers. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 119 

of the legislature to be held in Boston, on the first Tuesday of May, 
1761, their desire that Brunswick might be comprehended in the new 
county of which it was desired that Falmouth might be the shire town. 
The various petitions sent in had the desired effect, and on June 
19th, of this year, the county of York was divided into three counties, 
the most western one retaining the name of York, and the other two 
being named Cumberland and Lincoln, of which the latter was the 
most eastern. The dividing line between these two last commenced 
at the mouth of the New Meadows River, extended up that river 
to Stevens's Carrying-Place at its head, thence to and upon Merry- 
meeting Ba}-, and up the Androscoggin thirty miles. Owing to this 
division, Topsham came into Lincoln Count}'. 

It was voted this 3'ear that hereafter the eastern and western por- 
tions of the town ^ repair their own roads, and that the eastern end of 
the great pitch pine plains be the partition between each end of the 
town." Three shillings per day was allowed for men, and two shillings 
for each 3'oke of oxen employed upon the roads. £26 13s. id. was 
raised this year for the schoolmaster, and £45 for a town stock of 
ammunition. 

[1761.] John Minot was reqnested by the town this year to urge 
upon the General Court the propriety of taxing the lands of non-resi- 
dents, but he was unable to accomplish anything, because, as he says 
in a letter to " Gentlemen and neiglibors," dated May 22, " upon the 
Carpet there was nothing but the Bloody Sword drawn forth b}- our 
bitter enemy s & no man living then could give any judgment where or 
how things would end."^ 

The petition of the selectmen in 1760, desiring the General Court 
to include Brunswick in the new county to be established, was consid- 
ered in council, June 16, and dismissed, it appearing that the whole 
town was already' in the county of C'umberland.^ 

[1762.] A petition from a number of the residents at New 
Meadows, for separation from the western part of Brunswick, was 
this year presented to the General Court, and the following letter was 
sent to the proprietors : — 

" Boston, May y" U'\ 1762 
" Gentlemen 

" I with a number of the Inhabitance of Brunswick Have Pettitioned 
the Court to have that Part of said town Called New Meadows, made 

^ Pejepscot Papers. ^Ibid. 



120 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

into a seperate Distrect — for we find \)\ Longe expereance that it is 
Iinposable for us to Injo}' the preaching of the Gosple while togather 
— We likewise want to be Joynecl to the Lower Count}' as we can then 
attend Court with Greater ease and less Charge — as we have had our 
Lands from you, gentlemen, and as I Have endevored to serve the 
Intrest of your Company so far as it was in my power ; and am read}'' 
still to do so — and tho' it was but Lettel I Could or Can do to serve 
yon — yet Gentlemen I have some reason to Hope that you will look 
on my Honest Intentions to serve you to be equal to the thing, shall 
therefore request of you Gentlemen who have a Seat in the general 
Court to use 3'our Intrest in favor of said Pettition, and you Gentlemen 
that Have no Seat in that Honourable House, I must also beg of you 
not to say anything to its predigue. In the mean while Gentlemen I 
remain 

" Your most obedient Humble Servant 

" Aaron Hinkley.^ 
"To Belcueu Noyes Esq. 

Clerk of the Pejopscot Company . • 

to he commxinicMtecl " 

[1763.] The town in 1763 again voted to petition the General 
Court to have the lands of non-resident proprietors taxed, and also 
that this petition should be signed by the selectmen and town clerk, 
and that some gentleman in Boston should be employed to present it 
and to speak in behalf of the town. It was also voted to set off and 
sell thirteen pews on the floor, and sixteen pews in the galler}', of the 
west meeting-house, '' the oldest inhabitants that have no pews to 
have the preference in buying said pews," and the proceeds of the sale 
to go towards defraying the expenses of repairing and finishing the 
meeting-house. 

[1766,] January 13, 1766, John Miller, his wife Jane, and his 
daughter Margret. and their families, were warned to leave town, in 
accordance with law, to prevent the possibility of their coming upon 
the town for assistance. Since this was, doubtless, the Reverend Mr. 
Miller who was settled three or four vears before over the First Parish, 
it shows that the town paid no respect to persons in this matter, but 
served all alike who had no visible pecuniar}- means of support. 
This law was enforced here as late as 1792. 

[1767.] The town this year voted to pay Mr. Hunt three dollars 
for building a new pair of stocks. Tliis is the first mention made 
of d'lUars in the town records. 

^ Pejepscot Papers. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 121 

The town also voted sixteen shillings per 3'ear for a sexton for the 
west meeting-honse, and two dollars per year for one for the east 
meeting-house. 

[1768.] At a meeting held September 22d, Aaron Hinklej^ was 
elected a delegate from Brunswick "to join the committee at Boston 
in order to consult and advise such measures as should be thought best 
for the peace and safety of his Majestj-'s subjects in this Province," and 
Thomas Skolfield, Isaac Snow, Captain Dunning, Samuel Thompson, 
and William Woodside, Jr., were appointed a committee to furnish him 
with instructions. By the term "committee" in the above extract 
from the records must be meant the Provincial Convention of delegates, 
which commenced its session that very day at Boston, in place of the 
General Court, which the governor had refused to convene without the 
consent of his Majesty, the king. The invitation to send a delegate 
from Brunswick was not received until two days before the convention 
met.i 

[1771.] In 1771 Aaron Hinkle}', Isaac Snow, and Thomas Skol- 
field were chosen a committee ' ' to answer the petition that thcselect- 
men of Topsham put into the General Court in May last." This peti- 
tion was to have the boundary line between the two towns so defined as 
to give the islands in the river to Topsham. 

[1774.] The selectmen were instructed, in 1774, to lay out the 
1,000 acres of Commons, and have a plan made of the same, in order 
that a deed of it could be obtained from the proprietors. 

It was voted, at the annual meeting, to again petition the General 
Court for power to tax land belonging to non-residents. 

At a meeting held August 3d, " the town took under consideration 
the difficulties of the Province, and unanimously agreed to the non- 
importing of English goods, imtil the matter in dispute between Great 
Britain and her colonies be reconciled." 

The selectmen were directed to ascertain the quantity of ammuni- 
tion the town had in stock, and to purchase, if necessary', a new sup- 
pi}'. The port of Boston having been closed by Act of Parliament 
on account of the seizure of the tea, it was thought best to assist that 
town by subscription. 

At a meeting held on the seventeenth of September, Captain Moul- 
ton, Samuel Stauwood, and Samuel Thompson were chosen a commit- 
tee " to meet the Falmouth committee that are to meet at Falmouth, 
on Wednesda}', the twenty-first day of September, instant, to consider 

* McKeen, Manuscript Lecture. 



122 HISTORY OF BliUNSlVICK, TOPSHAM, AKD HARPSWELL. 

what nioasures will be best to adopt for the good of the country and 
town." 

At a meeting of the town held on the seventeenth of November, the 
proceedings of the Continental Congress and of the Provincial Con- 
gress were read. The Provincial Congress had passed a resolution 
which was, in substance, that the inhabitants of the Province should 
inunediately provide themselves with arms and ammunition, and 
should use their utmost diligence to perfect themselves in military skill ; 
and if any town was not provided with a full stock of anununition, 
according to law, that tlie selectmen of such town should take ert'ectiial 
care withi>ut delay to provide the same.^ The Provincial Congress 
also appointed Henry Gardner, Esquire, of Stow, receiver-general of 
all moneys for the use of the Province.- 

The town, accordingly, adopted a resolution, " that it be our opinion 
that it is very proper to choose Militia othcers in this town forthwith 
and act agreeably to the directions in the Provincial Congress." An 
election of militia officers then took place ; Samuel Thompson being 
chosen* captain, Kobert Dunning, lieutenant, Thomas Thompson, 
ensign, and Stephen Getchell, clerk. A resolution was also adopted, 
" That the money voted in May last by our representatives be paid 
in to Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow, and that, if any other or former 
collectors have any Province money in their hands that they pa}' the 
same to the said Henry Gardner, Esq." 

Brunswick was represented in the Provincial Congress by Samuel 
Thompson. 

The Continental Congress at Philadelpliia, on the twentieth of Octo- 
ber, entered into an association or agreement, providing for the non- 
importation of goods, wares, or merchandise from Great Britain, 
Ireland, or other of the British possessions ; also, providing for the 
non-consuuiption of such articles, and for the non-exportation of home 
products. There were also articles abolishing the slave-trade ; pro- 
viding for improvement in the breed of sheep, and to prevent their 
being killed, unnecessarily, for food ; encouraging frugality, economy, 
and industry, and looking to the promotion of agriculture, the arts, 
and manufactures in this country, and discountenancing every species 
of extravagance ; guarding against extortion on the i>art of traders on 
account of the scarcit}' of goods, etc. The eleventh article, to which 
allusion is made below, was, in substance, that a committee should be 
chosen in every town to ol)serve the conduct of all persons, and when 

^American Archins, Fourth Series, Vol. l,p. S52. 'Ibid ,p. 851. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 123 

the committee were satisfied that any person had violated the provis- 
ions of the agreement, the trnth should be published in the Gazette., 
" to the end that all sucli foes to the riglits of British Americans may 
be publicly known & universall}' contemned, as tiie enemies of Amer- 
ican Liberty : and thenceforth we will break off' all dealings with him 
or her." i These proceedings having been read in full to the meeting, 
the town resolved, "that the proceedings of the Grand Congress be 
adopted and much applauded by this town, quite unanimous," and 
Tobias Ham, Nathaniel Larrabee, James Curtis, Samuel Stanwood, 
Ebenezer Stan wood, and Thomas Thompson were elected "a com- 
mittee to see to the due observance of the eleventh article in the pro- 
ceedings of the Grand Congress." 

There is on file a warrant of this year, in his Majestj^'s name, call- 
ing the voters to choose a representative to the legislature at Salem, 
but no meeting was held, as the citizens no longer recognized the 
ro3'al authority. 2 

[1775.] At a meeting of the town held January 10, 1775, the pro- 
ceedings of the Provincial Congress, at Concord, in December, were 
unanimousl}' approved, with the exception of the article relating to 
"storing the goods after the tenth of October next," in regard to 
which article the vote was seventy-nine yeas and twelve nays. 

A vote was also passed " that if a Number out of the several com- 
panies of militia should list as minute men," then each town ought 
" to make them such reasonable satisfaction as shall be thought proper 
by the town where they belong " Samuel Thompson, who was now a 
colonel, was elected as delegate to the Provincial Congress. 

At a meeting held March 9, Benjamin Stone, Nathaniel Larrabee, 
, James Curtis, Deacon Stanwood, and Aaron Ilinkley, Esquire, were 
elected " a Committee of safety to consult what they shall think best 
at this crisis and make report at the adjournment of this meeting." 

At a meeting held six days later, in tiie west meeting-house, the 
town voted " to pay Henry Gardner Esq. all the Province Money in 
the hands of the collectors of the town, agreeable to the advice of 
our Congress." 

At a meeting held April 27, Aaron Hinkley, Deacon Samuel Stan- 
WDQd, Benjamin Stone, Captain Curtis, and Captain William Stanwo€)4v 
Jr., were chosen a Committee of Correspondence and also a Committee 
of Supplies, to provide ammunition and whatever else was thought 
necessary for the safety of the town. 

^American Archives, Fourth Scries, Vol. 1, p. 915. ^ Pejepscot Papers, 



124 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HABPSWELL. 

At a subsequent meeting, Reverend John Miller, Benjamin Eideout, 
Gideon Owens, Joseph Melcher, Joseph Allen, Colonel Samuel Thom- 
son, David Brown, George Hayden, Benjamin Hinkle}', and Ben- 
jamin Larrabee were added to " the Committee of Inspection," as the 
Committee of Safety was also designated. Samuel Thompson was 
elected delegate to the Provincial Congress, from Brunswick and 
Harpswell, and he was to serve for one year after the last Wednesday 
in the following May. The selectmen were instructed to inform the 
Committee on Supplies why the town did not compl}- with their request 
in regard to coats, etc., for the army. 

At a meeting held on the fourth Tuesda}' in May, it was voted that 
the poAvder and flints provided \>y the town should be equally divided 
to each man in town, and the town was to pay the cost of procuring 
the powder ; and '' if the men who enlist under Captain Curtis should 
be called away, for them to carry their ammunition with them." A 
patrol was established this year, under the direction of the officers of 
the militia. 

In consequence of the public distress and the gi'ievonsness of the 
taxes. Reverend Mr. IMiller and Mr. John Farren, the schoolmaster, 
voluntarily gave up a portion of their salaries, and Thomas Skolfield 
and Nathaniel Larrabee, two of the selectmen, served the town in 
that capacity gratuitously. 

[177G.] At the annual meeting in March, 1776, James Curtis, 
Samuel Stanwood, Thomas Thompson, Andrew Dunning, and Nathan- 
iel Larrabee were chosen a Committee "of Correspondence, Inspec- 
tion and Safety." 

At a subsequent meeting, held May 27, it was voted " to send a 
petition to the Great and General Court," and the selectmen, together 
■with the Committee of Correspondence and Samuel Thompson, now 
a brigadier-general, Thomas Skolfield, and Thomas Cotton, were 
elected a committee to draft the petition. What the object of this 
petition was has not been ascertained. Deacon Samuel Stanwood was 
chosen a commissioner to present this petition at the General Court. 

A meeting was held May 31st at which " It was nnanimously voted 
that if the Honourable Congress should, for the safet}' of the United 
Colonies, Declare themselves Independent of the King of Great Bri- 
tain, that the}' will solemnly engage with their lives and fortunes to 
support the Congress in that measure." The selectmen were in- 
structed to deliver the powder that was brought hy Brigadier Thomp- 
son to the captains of the militia, for them to deliver to the men, when 
necessary. Brigadier Thompson received fifty, and Deacon Samuel 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 125 

StanwoocI thirt3'-nine votes for representative to the General Court, 
and the town then voted to send them both, — they agreeing to serve 
for half-fees. 

At a meeting held December 24th, " after due consideration on a 
Resolve of the Great and General Court of this State, dated Septem- 
ber 17, 177G," it was voted, "That the present House of Repre- 
sentatives of this State, with the Council, should consult and agree 
on some form of Government that shall most conduce to the safety, 
peace, and happiness of this State in all after generations." 

Brigadier Samuel Thompson was chosen to represent the wishes of 
the town at the General Court, agreeably to the above-mentioned 
resolve. 

[1777.] At a special town meeting, held in February, 1 777, Deacon 
Snow and Captain Robert Dunning were elected to fill the places of 
Deacon Stanwood and Captein Curtis, and at the annual meeting, 
March 4, INIajor Nathauiel Larrabee, Doctor Samuel Dunken, Captain 
Robert Dunning, Robert Spear, and Andrew Dunning were chosen a 
Committee of Correspondence, etc. 

At a meeting held May 22, Thomas Skolfield was elected a recog- 
nizee, i. e., an oflicer empowered to take recognizances. Tlie select- 
men were instructed to execute the law '' concerning monopoly and 
oppression." Notwithstanding the exciting and trying circumstances 
connected with the war of Revolution then going on, the citizens were 
not unmindful of the interests of education, for the town voted to have 
a school this year and to pay a schoolmaster £30. A committee was 
at this time appointed to procure a teacher. 

At a meeting held on the twenty-seventh day of November, in pur- 
suance of an Act of the General Court, entitled "An Act for supplying 
the Families of the Soldiers in the Continental Service," the town voted 
to supply the families of the men thus engaged, agreeably to the afore- 
said resolve. ¥ov this purpose, £20 were voted and Benjamin Stone, 
Samuel Stanwood, James Curtis, Nathaniel Larrabee, and Robert 
Dunning were elected a committee to attend to its disbursement 

[1778.] At the annual meeting of the town in Marcli, 1778, it was 
voted to allow Mr. Josiah Simpson eight pounds and four shillings for 
his service in carrying the baggage of twenty-two men from Bruns- 
wick to Boston the previous year. It was also voted " to supply the 
wives of those men that went for this town into the Continental army, 
by way of subscription, — they to be allowed the market price for s*^ 
articles that they shall find for s^ use." Lieutenant Thomas Berry, 
Nicholas Rideout, Captain Robert Dunning, John Dunning, and 



126 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

William Woodside were elected as Committee of Correspondence, 
etc. 

The proprietors made an agreement with Aaron Hinkley for him to 
survey the town Commons. This he had done, but the survey dilfered 
so much from the plan made by James Scales, " and the inhabitants 
made so much uneasiness about it," that it was laid one side, and the 
Scales plan was accepted. The proprietors complain, however, of 
the neglect of the selectmen in the matter.^ This explains why, at a 
subsequent meeting, held JNfay 12, the town voted to have the Commons 
surveyed, but laid upon the table till the next meeting the clause in 
the warrant relative to appl3-ing to the proprietors for a deed. At this 
meeting, Aaron Hinkley, William Stanwood, and Andrew Dunning 
were chosen to consult as to the best method for supporting the fami- 
lies of soldiers. 

" Then the votes were brought in for the proposed form of govern- 
ment, and there appeared to be for said form three, and against said 
form seventy five." This vote was in regard to a proposed new con- 
stitution for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which was not rat- 
ified by the towns in consequence of several serious defects contained 
in it. 

At a meeting held June 2, Aaron Hinkle^', William Stanwood, Jr., 
and Captain Curtis were chosen " to give our Representative Instruc- 
tions." What these instructions were has not been ascertained. A 
vote was also passed at this meeting that the one hundred and fift}'- 
eight dollars given, as an additional bount}', to the five men who went 
into the service, agreeably to a resolve of the General Court, of April 
20, 1778, should be paid b}' a tax on the polls and estates of the west 
end of the town. The only explanation of this vote which we can sug- 
gest is, that the east end of the town ma}' have furnished the five men 
called for, and should therefore be exempt from paying any bounty. 

At a meeting held on the tenth of June, the town voted " to lay 
out the Commons agreeable to the minutes that were read, viz., S"^ 
Commons to be bounded on the head of Middle Bay lots and to 
exteuil northerly between and adjoining upon the lots that front iqjon 
the twelve rod road and the lots that front upon Mericouege marshes, 
and upon the lots that front upon New Meadows river, until 1,000 
acres be completed." Captain James Thompson protested against 
this vote, probably for fear lest the Commons might encroach upon 
his lot. A committee was chosen, however, to lay out the land in 
conformity witli this vote, and Stephen Getchell was chosen surve3'or. 

' Brunswkk Records, in Pejepscot Collection. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 127 

At a meeting held on the 10th of September, it was voted " that 
such shirts as are fit to be sent to our brethren in the arm^' be 48/ each ; 
that good shoes for said service be 54/ , each pair ; that good stock- 
ings for said service be 30/, each pair." 

At a meeting held December 25, the town voted to accept of the 
surve}- of the Commons as laid out b}- the committee chosen the pre- 
vious May, but not to accept a deed of them from j!so3'es, if made 
according to Hinkley's survey. A committee was chosen to consult 
with the proprietors' agent in regard to the matter. 

[1779.] Brigadier Thompson, William Stanwood, and Doctor 
Dunken were chosen a committee to supply' the families of those men 
who went from this town into the Continental service with such neces- 
saries as the}' might need. The town also voted an appropriation of 
£200 for that purpose. James Elliot, Jr., Samuel Dunlap, Samuel 
Stanwood, Jr., Thomas Godfrey, and Stephen Pennell were chosen 
a Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety. 

The selectmen were, at this meeting, instructed to procure a deed 
of the Commons, and the committee chosen to Xay out the Commons 
were directed to complete their work as speedily as possibly. The 
selectmen were also instructed to take effectual means to secure, for 
the benefit of the town, the growth of lumber on the Commons. 

Thomas' Pennell was allowed £4 8s., " it being for so much Counter- 
feit Money he took in part of his tax in the year 1776." 

Four prisoners — probably British soldiers — were taken care of in 
Brunswick this year, and the town consequently voted the following 
sums as compensation to those having charge of them : — 

To Captain Dunlap .... £6 8n. Od. 
" "'. Thompson ... 440 

" Lieutenant Berrj- . . . . 14 

" Mr. John Dunning . . . 2 14 

The sum of three pounds was also voted to Jacob Anderson for ser- 
vices in carrying shirts, shoes, and stockings to Portland. 

At a special meeting in August, the town voted its approval of the 
transactions of the convention held at Concord on the fourteenth of 
July preceding. The object of that convention was to establish a 
State price-current, and to adopt other measures to prevent monopol}', 
extortion, and unfair dealing, and spirited resolutions were passed, 
fixing the prices of several articles of merchandise.^ 

^ History of Concord, Mass., p. 122. 



128 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

Aaron Hinkley, William Stanwood, Thomas Skolfield, Joseph Cur- 
tis, and Deacon Stanwood were chosen a committee " to set the prices 
on the articles in the town and cany the resolution into effect." They 
were also directed to inform the committee of the town of Boston con- 
cerning the action taken in this matter by Brunswick. 

At a meeting on the ninth of November, an account of the proceed- 
ings of the convention held at Concord in the previous month was read, 
audit was thereupon unanimously voted, " to stand by the proceedings 
of said convention," and Aaron Hinkley, Deacon Stanwood, Thomas 
Skolfield, Captain Curtis, and Captain William Stanwood were elected 
a committee " to see said resolutions put into execution." The con- 
vention referred to was held at Concord on the sixth of October, at 
which a revision of the price-current adopted at the July convention 
was made, and resolutions were passed relating to trade, currency, 
etc. County and town meetings were recommended to cany these 
resolutions into etfect.^ 

[1780. J At the annual meeting in March, 1780, the following 
appropriations were voted : The sum of $4,050 for highways, and 
to pay out of this thirty dollars per day for the labor of each man, 
twenty-five dollars for each pair of oxen, and five dollars for each cart, 
£12 to William Spear for his services for two years as sexton of the 
west meeting-house, and twenty-five dollars per dav as compensation 
to the selectmen, "■ they to find themselves and paper." 

The town at this time elected Brigadier Thompson as its agent to 
the General Court, in conformitj' with a resolve of that body, passed 
December 4, 1779. 

At a meeting held May 15th, the town postponed voting in regard 
to a change of the State Constitution until the next meeting. Proba- 
bly the next meeting of the town occurred too late ifbr the vote of 
Brunswick to have an}' eflfect, since no vote of the kind was recorded 
at any subsequent meeting this year. 

About this time a circular letter was received from Jere Powell, 
President of the General Assembly of Massachusetts Bay, desiring, in 
urgent terms, the town to furnish its proportion of blankets needed 
for'the army at once,^ as called for, amongst other things, by a resolve 
of that bod}' passed the previous j'ear. 

The town accordingly voted to furnish the blankets and other 
articles and '• to allow for each pair of good shoes, such as the agent 
will receive so much of the present currenc}' as will purchase seven 

* History of Concord, Mass , p. 122. '^Pejepscot Papers. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 129 

pecks of Indian corn, and for stockings of the like qualit}', the vahie 
of five pecks of corn, and for shirts the same price as of shoes, and 
for blankets — them that are good — the value of four bushels in said 
currency." 

At a meeting lield September 4th, tlie town cast its first vote for 
governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, lieutenant-governor, 
and senator. Whom the town voted for as governor is not men- 
tioned, but undoul)tedly it was John Hancock. Honorable Samuel 
Adams received a majority of eleven votes as lieutenant-governor, and 
John Lewis, Esquire, fourteen votes as senator. Honorable James 
Bowdoin received three votes as lieutenant-governor. 

At a meeting in October, Brigadier Thompson, Doctor Dunken, and 
John Given were chosen as a committee to procure the beef which 
had been demanded by the General Court for the supplj' of the arm}-. 
The}- were instructed that, if the}' were unable to procure the whole 
amount, they should, with the selectmen, make known to the General 
Court the reasons why they were unable to furnish all, and were 
authorized to make up the deficiency in the amount, in money. The 
selectmen were instructed to assess sufHcient to cover the amount 
paid out by this committee. 

[17"<1.] At the annual meeting in March, 1781, the selectmen 
were directed to inform the General Court that the resolve of Decem- 
ber 4, 17S0, concerning beef, was not received in season for the town 
to comply with its requirements. 

At a meeting held on the nineteenth of July, the town voted to 
comply with the last requisition of the General Court, in regard to 
furnishing beef for the army, and to raise £204, cash, to procure the 
beef. A committee Avas also chosen to obtain the beef. 

At a meeting held on the twenty-fifth of December, Samuel Stan- 
wood, Captain William Stanwood, Jr., AVilliam Woodside, Aaron 
Hinkley, Doctor Samuel Dunken, and Captain James Curtis were 
chosen a committee to prepare a petition to the General Court, " con- 
cerning our present circumstances and our inability of paying our 
taxes in specie, and to lay the petition before our March meeting, for 
approbation or amendment." 

[1782.] The above-mentioned petition was presented to the town 
at its annual meeting in ]\Iarch, 1782, and adopted. At this meeting 
Samuel Woodward, Jacob Anderson, and Samuel Stanwood, Jr., were 
chosen a Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety. 
This was the last time such a committee was raised by the town. 

At a meeting in June, it was voted that " the several classes in 
y 



]30 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

this town procure the three men called for b}- the General Court with- 
out delay." To promote the enlistment of soldiers, the town was 
divided into districts, which are designated above as " classes." 

Wolves must have become very troublesome at this time, for the 
town, at this meeting, offered a bounty of 20s. for each and every 
grown wolf killed within its limits, and 40s. to every person who 
would make pits or traps for tlieir destruction. 

On January 2, 1783, the following petition to have the town 
excused from paying a fine, for not furnishing the three men called 
for in 1782, was presented to the legislature by a committee of the 
town : — 

"To THE Honourable the Si;nate & Hoxourable House of representa- 
tives OF the commonwealth of Massacusetts in Gkneral Court 
to be assembled on the last Wednesday of January 1783. 

"THE PETITION OF US SUBSCRIBERS (BEING A COMMITTEE CHOSEN 
BY THE FREE HOLDERS AND OTHER INHABITANTS OF THIS 
TOWN OP BRUNSWICK IN THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND 
REGULARLY ASSEMBLED), 

Humbly Sheweth. 

" That whereas the Inhabitants of this Town have exerted themselves 
to the utmost of their power, in answering all requisitions that has 
been required of them During the present warr, but could not procure 
the last three men which was required for want of raonej' ; and whereas 
we understand that we have been overated in our taxations for some 
years past, both for men, money, & Beef, we Humbly pray y' Hon" to 
Excuse us from the fine that is laid on us for said three men — Your 
Hon" cannot be Ignorant of our Circumstances in these parts — How 
our Coast is (almost continually) Invested with the Enemy Depriving 
us of our Vessels &. Substance, So as we cannot gett to markett such 
commodities as we could spare. We are well assured that the farr 
Greater part of the Inhabitants here would be willing to suffer, and 
has suffered, in order to help on the present occation but for want of 
a Markett Cash is exceeding scarce among us — and many has & are 
moving back into the wilderness, because thej' cannot pa}' their taxes, 
therefore we Humblj' pray that we ma}- be eased of the above men- 
tioned fine but as for the average pait we mean to endeavour to pa}'^ 
as soon as possible but If executions should be issued out against us 
suddentl}', it would (we fear) Discourage the poor Inhabitants very 
much, therefore Relying on xonv Ilon'^ great wisdom, to consider our 
Circumstances, not Doubting but that you will I^lndeavour to pronjpte 
our Wellfare & Happiness in these parts as well as in the other parts 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 131 

of this commonwealth, And ^yonr Humble Petitioners as in Duty 
bound shall ever pra^'.^ 

"Thos. Skolfield ■] 



"Brunswick, Jany 2'* 1783. 



James Curtis i ^ 

^ , „ y Committee. 

Sam'll Standwood I 

Natii'l Larrabee J 



In answer to this petition the legislature passed a resolve, which 
was approved by the governor, excusing the town from pa3-ment -of 
any fine, provided they would pay into the treasur}'^ of the Common- 
wealth the sum of £185 4s 1-^d., which was the average price paid 
for the enlistment of three men.^ 

The town this year voted to pa}' Brigadier Thompson £30 IGs. 3d. 
for his services as delegate to the Provincial Congress in the 3"ears 
1774 and 1775. Reverend IMr. Miller, Nathaniel Larrabee, Thomas 
Skolfield, Deacon Dunning, and Captain Gross were chosen a commit- 
tee to answer a letter which had l)een received from the Committee of 
Correspondence of Boston. Their answer was as follows : — 

"At a legal Town meeting held in Brunswick, on Thursday, the 2Gth 
of June, 1783, in answer to ^our letter respecting the return of the 
Refugees and Conspirators who endeavored to deprive us of our rights 
and privileges bj' joining with the King of Great Britain, it is the 
unanimous opinion of this town that they ought never to be sutfered 
to return but to be excluded from having lot or portion in an}' of the 
United States of America." 

November 20th, of this j'ear, the Pejepscot proprietors gave to the 
town a deed of the town Commons. (See chapter on Public Lands, 
Roads, etc.) 

[1784.] At the annual meeting in March, 1784, the town voted to 
take no action upon the article in the warrant concerning paying 
Brigadier Thompson's demands for expenses incurred in hiring men to 
serve in the army in the year 1781. He had probably acted in the 
matter on his own responsibilit}', and the town did not consider itself 
legalh' bound to repay him. The selectmen were, at this time, 
instructed to take proper care of the town Commons, and to dispose 
of the lumber on them as they might think to be for the best ad- 
vantage of the town. 

[1785 ] In 1785 William Owen was elected representative to the 
General Court, and it was voted that in case that bod}' refused to 
receive him in that capacity, he was to act as the town's agent to 

^Pejepscot Papers. ^ Massachusetts Records, Vol. ii. '413 



132 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AJS'D IIARPSWELL. 

answer the Topsham petition. This petition was the renewal of a 
former one, to have the islands in the Androscoggin River annexed to 
Topsham. 

[178G.] At a special meeting in January, 1786, a committee was 
chosen to petition the General Court for some abatement of the town's 
assessment in the next State tax. The town voted to hold every 
alternate town meeting at the east meeting-house. A I'esolution was 
adopted that it was the unanimous desire of the town that a canal be 
cut througli from New Meadows River to ]Merryn)eeting Bay. It was 
also voted to be the unanimous wish of the town that the counties of 
York. Cumberland, and Lincoln be made a separate State, and Aaron 
Ilinklcy was elected a delegate to a convention to be held at Portland 
(Falmouth) for the consideration of this subject. 

[17S7.] The town this j^ear again voted in favor of making York, 
Cumberland, and Lincoln Counties a separate State. 

At a meeting held on the eighteenth of December, the town voted — 
twenty-three to seven — "to accept of the proposed form of Gov- 
ernment for the LTnited States as it now stands," and Captain John 
Dunlap was elected a delegate to an assembly which was to meet at 
the State House in Boston, on the second Wednesday in January, 
1788, for its adoption or rejection on the part of Massachusetts. This 
was the vote of Brunswick on the question of the acceptance, by the 
States, of the Constitution of the United States. 

[1788.] At the annual town meeting in 1788, Captain John Peter- 
son, Deacon Dunning, and Nathaniel Larrabee were chosen a commit- 
tee to petition the General Court for a modification of the "Fish Act." 

The town very injudiciousl}' voted to lease one hundred acres of the 
Commons to William Marriner, and the selectmen were authorized to 
lease as much more to other parties as might be desired. A vote was 
passed this year, that all future town meetings should be held at the 
west meeting-house. 

On the eighteenth of December, the town, for the first time, voted 
for Presidential electors, anil Honorable Dummer Sewall and Samuel 
Freeman received a majority of the votes cast. 

[1789.] The town this year decided to hold one annual meeting out 

of three at the east end of the town, and to hold all its other meetings 

alternately at the east and west ends. 

\s), [1^9^-] This year Benjamin Chase, his tamilv and estate, were set 

V I off from the town of Freeport and annexed to the town of Brunswick. ' 



1 Massachusetts Special Laws, 1, p. 277. 



MUNICIPAL inSTOKY OF BIWNSWICK. 133 

[1791 ] The vote for representative to Congress in November. 
1 7!HJ, seems to have been in some wa}- illegal, as a special meeting was 
called Jaiinary 2'), 1791, for the purpose of another election, at which 
Genei-al Litligow received a majority of eighteen votes. 

At the annual meeting this jear, a committee was chosen to locate 
a canal from ISIaquoit Bay to the Androscoggin River, but the town 
afterwards reconsidered the vote. 

An address from the senators and representatives in the district of 
Maine was read, and the town then voted — seventy-one to twentj- 
five — in favor of a separate State. 

[1792.] The town, in 1792, voted against the separation of the 
District of Maine from Massachusetts, by a vote of sixty-one to 
sixteen. 

[1793.] In 1793 the town voted that the selectmen should be 
instructed to take an account of the paper-money in Captain Stan- 
wood's hands, and direct him to dispose of it in the best manner he 
could, and deposit the proceeds in the town treasury. 

Tiie town also voted to dismiss the article in the warrant, concern- 
ing l)uilding a new meeting-house. 

[1794.] In 1794, the question of making the District of Maine into 
a State was again voted on. The vote stood four in favor and thirty- 
five against so doing. 

The town also voted -'to allow Nathaniel Larrabee five pounds in 
full for his past service as town clerk, which is twenty -eight years." 

The town this year voted, unanimousl}', ''in favor of revising the 
Constitution." Whether it was the State or national Constitution is 
not specified. It was, i)erliaps, the latter, as the eleventh article of 
the Constitution of the United States was offered in Congress in 1794, 
and probably was not presented to the State, for ratification or rejec- 
tion, much earlier than this. 

[1795.] The town again, in 1795, voted — sixty-three to twenty- 
three — against the formation of a new State. 

[1790.] "At a very full and respectable meeting of the town of 
lirunswick, legally assembled the fourteenth da}- of Ma}', 1790, for the 
sole purpose of taking into consideration the state of our public affairs 
with res[)ect to the treaty between Great Britain and America, voted 
unanimously to support the Constitution of the United States." 

[1797.] The town, in 1797, again voted against the formation of 
a new State. 

[1798.] In 1798 it was voted by the town that the selectmen 
should give a deed of the two hundred acres of land which the town 



134 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

had previously voted for the benefit of Bowdoin College, and the}' 
were instructed, if necessarj^, to petition the General Court for the 
requisite authority. 

A committee was also chosen "to settle some accounts disputable 
between the Baptist and Congregational societies in this town." 

At a meeting held in October to consider in regai'd to the formation 
of a new county from several of the towns in Cumberland and Lin- 
coln Counties, the town voted to send Nathaniel Larrabee as a dele- 
gate to a convention to be held in Hallowell, with instructions to vote 
against the project of a new county, unless Brunswick could be made 
the shire town. 

[1799.] In 1799 the town, although there was no war, raised one 
fifth as large an amount of money for gunpowder as it did for schools ; 
thirty pounds being appropriated for the former and one hundred and 
fifty pounds for the latter. 

[1802.] Appropriations by the town in 1802 were $1,000 for 
schools, and three hundred and fifty dollars for contingent expenses. 
This year men were allowed for labor on the highways one dollar per 
day, and sixty-six cents per day for each pair of oxen. 

[1806.] The town, in 1806, appointed a committee to consult with 
the towns of Durham and Freeport, to see if they would join with 
Brunswick in building a workhouse or a poorhouse, and upon what 
terms they would do so. 

[1807.] The records do not state what the decision of these towns 
was, but it may be inferred from the vote of Brunswick, in 1807, to 
build a house for the town poor, which should be thirty-six feet long, 
twenty feet wide, and two stories high. The town voted to have it 
located in the vicinity of Samuel Beals's,^ and appropriated two hun- 
dred and seventy-five dollars to finish the outside. 

[1808.] In 1808 the town voted that at the annual meetings in 
Maich, April, and May, every legal voter should take his seat in the 
meeting-house, and there remain until the moderator of the meeting 
should b}^ name call upon him to come forward and put in his vote. 
This rather dilatory method of voting was, undoubtedly, tried as a 
remedy for the disorderly conduct so often prevalent at municipal 
meetings. 

A committee was chosen this year to apply to the Pejepscot proprie- 
tors for permission to sell and dispose of the town Commons, ministry 
and school lots, " and marsh," the interest of such sales to be appro- 

i/< stood on the lot in the rear of Mrs. Frances Owen's residence, on Federal Street. 



MUmCIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 185 

priated for the use of schools, or in such other way as the town sliould 
think proper. As no answer to any request of this kind can be found 
in the town records, or in the Pejepscot Papers or Records, it is suffi- 
cientlj' evident that no such permission was ever granted. 

The effect of the Embargo Law, passed in Congress on the previous 
December, was severely felt throughout New England, and Brunswick 
formed no exception. The town therefore voted to present a respect- 
ful petition to the President of the United States praying him to sus- 
pend the law lajing an embargo, either wholly or in part. 

The selectmen were also requested to transmit to the selectmen of 
the town of Boston a copy of the proceedings of the town of Bruns- 
wick, and to assure them of their cordial co-operation with the inhab- 
itants of that metropolis in an^' constitutional measures necessary- to 
obtain a removal or alleviation of the grievances the}' suffered from a 
suspension of commerce. 

[1809,] On January 23. 1809, the town adopted the following reso- 
lutions : — 

" 1st. Resolved, That the inhabitants of this town do consider the 
Act of Congress laying a permanent embargo as directly repugnant to 
the spirit of the Constitution of the United States and the several sup- 
plementary acts, but especially the act passed on the sixth of January 
inst., as alarming violations of the express provisions of that Constitu- 
tion ; that the}' tend directly to the annihilation of the revenue, while 
they greath' increase the expenses of the United States ; to produce 
and daily aggravate distress among the great bod}' of the people, and 
if long continued to excite domestic convulsions. 

" 2d. R'isolvad, That the last act of Congress designed to enforce 
the embargo, when its utter inutility either as a measure of precaution 
or as a measure of coercion, upon those belligerents whose decrees and 
orders eff"ect our commerce, is acknowleged by all, forces upon us the 
apprehension that the embargo originated in the will of that Emperor 
who has declared that he will compel the United States to take part in 
the war either as friends or allies. 

" 3d. Resolved, That we believe it is the intention of the adminis- 
tration to unite with France in a war against Great Britain, a war 
which we deprecate as neither just, necessary or wise ; since we are 
persuaded that all matters of dispute between the United States and 
that government might by sincere and honorable negotiation be ami- 
cably settled and a friendly commercial intercourse re-established on 
principles mutually advantageous. 

"4th. Resolved, That the organization of a large military force in 



136 HISTORY OF BRUXSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

a time of peace, for purposes concealed from the people, excites in our 
minds the most alarming apprehensions, while the unlimited powers 
vested in the President and in officers of his appointment for enforcing 
the Embargo Laws present to our astonished view the monstrous 
image of a militarj' despotism, erected by the rulers of a free republic 
and the propert}', the libertj', and even the lives of citizens placed 
under the control of numerous pett3- tyrants in defiance of the express 
provisions of the Constitution of the United States and in contempt 
of the Constitution and laws of this Commonwealth. 

" 5th. Resolved, That deepl}' afflicted hy the evils incident to the 
embargo, but infinitel}^ more distressed hy these violations of our 
dearest rights, we will by every constitutional and peaceable measure 
seek the redress of onr wrongs, declaring at the same time our deter- 
mination to refrain from all violent opposition to the laws under which 
we suffer, and to discountenance such opposition in others. 

"6th. Resolved., That we despair of obtaining relief from our 
distress and our fears by au}' further application to the President or 
the Congress ; and that we will therefore present a respectful petition 
to the legislature of this Commonwealth praying that the}' would 
specially pursue such measures as they in their wisdom may judge 
most conducive to the redress of individual wrongs and best adapted 
to the portentous crisis of our public affairs. 

"7th. Resolved, That we are ready to make any sacrifice of prop- 
erty and life for the preservation of the honor, the peace, and the 
liberty of our countr}-. 

" 8th. Resolved, That whereas several merchants in this town have 
loaded their vessels by permission of the President of the United 
States, we do highly approve of their determination to refuse compli- 
ance with the law requiring them to unload their vessels or give heavy 
and unreasonable bonds." 

The following Memorial was at the same time sent to the General 
Court of Massachusetts : — 

"To THE Honorable Sexate and House of Eepresentatives of the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

"THE MEMORIAL OF INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF BRUNS- 
WICK IN THE COUNTY OF CUMBEELAND, 

Humbly Shews: 

" That, possessing the right to express their sentiments on the meas- 
ures of government, and the state of public atfairs, they are impelled 
by a strong sense of dut}' to themselves and to their posterity to 
exercise that privilege of freemen in the present distressed and alarm- 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF -BRUNSWICK. 137 

ing situation of the United States ; considering silence at such a crisis ^ 
as has now arrived as approbation of tliose measures which have pro- 
duced it and an indication of stupid insensibility to the aggravated 
evils resulting from their operation. 

" Your niemoriaUsts presume not to point out to your enliglitened 
and honorable bod}' the grievous sufferings inflicted, or the essential 
rights violated by the Acts of Congress laying a permanent embargo, 
and especially by the Act for enfoicing the several embargo laws ; but 
deeph' impressed with an awful sense of the dangers in which their 
liberties are involved, they address you as their deputed guardians 
praying protection from that ruin in which those Acts, if not speedil}' 
revoked, must overwhelm them. 

" Your memorialists see in those Acts no equivocal proofs of a sub- 
servient attachment to one of the belligerents and an inveterate enmity 
to the other, alike inconsistent with the dignity and injurious to the 
interests of an independent nation. That the embargo was the result 
of a necessity imposed b}' the decrees of France or b}' the orders in 
council of Great Britain we can never admit: since it was laid thir- 
teen months after the decree of Berlin and a considerable time before 
the knowledge of orders in council reached the administration, and it 
has been acknowledged by Mr. Pincknc}', Minister of the United 
.States at London, that these orders made no part of the motives to 
that measure. 

'• Your memorialists are persuaded that had the administration 
been animated bj' that spirit and guided by that wisdom which per- 
vaded the councils of the nation in 1794 and 1798 in respect to our 
foreign relations, the same happy result would have followed ; but 
unhappily the reverse has been realized and our government have dis- 
covered a fixed determination to reject every proposal of accommoda- 
tion with one of the belligerents and disposition to submit with 
astonishing [alacrity ?] to gross and wanton violations of a solemn 
treaty and [to] unceasing insults from the other [belligerent.] 

" Your memorialists disdain to be the apologists for the aggressions 
or insults of any nation, but justice compels them to declare what 
the}' full}' believe that Great Britain has manifested a disposition to 
adjust in an amicable manner our differences with that nation, while 
France has not onl}' disregarded the obligations of a treat}', but has 
declared her determination to compel the United States to take part 
in the war either as friends or allies. 

"Your memorialists see with extreme [solicitude?] the organiza- 
tion of an extraordinary military force in a time of peace, the object of 



138 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

which is concealed from the people ; and we declare onr utter detesta- 
tion of the Act of the sixth instant, designed to enforce an embargo, 
which even its advocates on the floor of Congress acknowledged to 
have produced no effect as a measure of coercion against the belliger- 
ents, while the evils affecting the people of the United States have 
been incalculabl}' severe and aie still increasing; and we do consider 
the provisions of that Act as unconstitutional, tyrannical, and oppres- 
sive in the highest degree, and are bound by the strongest obligations 
to resist them in ever}- legal and constitutional way. 

" We pray 3'our Honorable Body to adopt such measures as 3-ou 
shall deem wise and expedient in this singularly- awful crisis of public 
affairs." 

It was also voted that the foregoing memorial should be signed by 
the moderator and town clerk, be presented to the legislature of the 
Commonwealth by the representative of the town, and that he be 
instructed to use his best endeavors to promote the object contained in 
said memorial. 

A proposition was made this year to purchase the old meeting-house 
for a town-house, but it was defeated. 

A committee was chosen to ascertain the limits of the 1 ,000 acres <^)f 
town Commons, in order that the overplus, if an}', which was given 
to the First Parish, might be determined. 

[1811.] In 1811, the town elected Isaac Gates, Esquire, and Peter 
O. Alden, Esquire, as special agents to petition the legislature, in 
behalf of the town, for permission and authority to divide, set off, and 
conve}' to the President and Trustees of Bowdoin College the two 
hundred acres of land which was granted to them by a vote of the 
town passed May 2, 1791, and afterwards approved or confirmed b}' a 
vote of the Pejepscot proprietors. 

[1812.] At a meeting held on the seventeenth of August, 1812, Jacob 
Abbot, Henry Putnam, Isaac Gates, Robert D. Dunning, and Jacob 
Anderson were chosen a committee to draft, and submit to the town, 
resolutions concerning " the present alarming state of national affairs." 
The committee reported the following, which were adopted, and the 
moderator and clerk instructed to sign and forwai'd a copy of them to 
the President of the United States, and also one to the Portland 
Gazette for publication : — 

" The people at all times, under an elective government, have the 
right of peaceabl}' assembling to consult for the public good. When 
doomed to experience the most awful calamities that can afflict a 
nation, the right is not only unquestionable, but essential to the exist- 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 139 

ence of libert}^ and expressly sanctioned by the Constitution. The 
freedom of speech and the liberty of the press and the undisturbed 
privileges of an individual, or united expression of sentiment, are the 
vital principles of a pure republic. The electors of rulers have a right 
to examine their conduct, and when measures are adopted bringing 
povert}' and ruin in their train, and death and wretchedness in their 
consequences, under a pretext that the people demand them, it is the 
dut}- of every citizen to raise his voice to convince the deceived of 
their error and arrest the progress of destruction. 

'^ Therefore, R"Solved^ That we view the union of the States as an 
inestimable blessing while the government is administered agreeabl}" to 
the original compact, but we fear that a cruel and oppressive course of 
measures, and admission of new States into the Union whose inhabi- 
tants in habits and education are adverse to republican principles, will 
tend to disaffect the people and eventually dissolve the compact which 
has heretofore been a source of so much wealth and happiness to these 
States. 

" Resolved, That w^e consider the declaration of war as preiJiaf ?rre, 
unjustifiable, and groundless. That it was produced by an undue 
attachment for the greatest tyrant and most sanguinary monster that 
ever disgraced the civilized world. That we consider it as directed by 
the finger of the same hand which has not ceased for 3-ears past to 
impose restrictive measures upon the commerce of the United States ; 
in short, that we consider the declaration of war as merely the promul- 
gation and approbation of an edict of the Court of St. Cloud. 

" Resolved, That a treasury without money, an exposed commerce 
without naval protection, an army without soldiers, and a war without 
adequate and just cause, show the iveakness or wickednes of our 
rulers, and tend to a direct sacrifice of everything dear to free 
men. 

" Reso'ved, That William Widger}-, member of Congress from this 
district, in voting for war contrar}^ to the known wishes of his constit- 
uents and to the destruction of great maritime interests of New Eng- 
land, has added sJuwie and disgrace to the good people of this district, 
without injur}^ to his own moral or political reputation. 

^'■Resolved, That we fully approve of the minority in Congress 
upon the question of war, and we pride ourselves upon having one 
representative from Maine who preferred the interests of his constitu- 
ents to the inundates of the executive. 

" Resolved, That we view with abhorrence and detestation the late 
daring and sanguinary attack upon the libert}' of the press at Balti- 



140 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

more by a lawless and cannibal mob, and the assassination of the 
veterans of the Revolution and the voluntary defenders of liberty. 

" RemlrPcU That we cordially approve of the sentiments expressed 
by our brethren in Boston, at their late town meeting, upon the same 
subject, and of the measures by them adopted, for the purpose of aid- 
ing the civil authority in the prevention and sxippression of similar 
outrages. 

" Resolved, That the liberty of speech and of the press is the bul- 
wark of freedom, and the most glorious prerogative of free men, and 
that we will ne\'er relinquish this liberty but with our lives. 

" Rf-solvecU That we cordially approve of the moderate, firm, and 
dignified conduct of our excellent governor, whose measures have 
always tended to promote the interests of the State and individual 
happiness, and we rejoice in again having a chief magistrate who will 
not sell himself to a party, who holds the scale of equal justice and 
is above the reach of venalty. 

" Resolved, That the districting of the Commonwealth for the choice 
of State senators and representatives to Congress under the administra- 
tion of Elbridge Gerry, so that twenty-nine senators are chosen by a less 
number of votes than were necessar}- to choose the other eleven, is a 
most tyrannical and wicked exertion of power, a violation of the spirit 
of the Constitution, and a prostitution of the rights of the people, and 
must have originated in a desire to deprive them of their constitutional 
privileges. 

" Resolved, That the senators so chosen, by refusing the various 
equitable modes for the choice of electors proposed b}' the House of 
Representatives, have evinced their approbation of this iniquitous s^'s- 
tem and have rendered themselves totally unworthy of the confidence 
of a free people. 

" Resolved, That we will hold ourselves in readiness to obey the 
orders of our commander-in-chief in repelling an}' invasion of our 
shores or to aid the civil authority in executing the laws. 

" ResO'Vad, That we will exert ourselves by every constitutional and 

honorable measure to effect a change of our national rulers, that peace, 

commerce, and fi-ee trade may be enjoyed with all liberal and civilized 

nations, and all possible means be used to secure aud preserve the union 

. of the States. 

" Resolved, That from the foregoing considerations, aud from a belief 
that onl}' when life or liberty are jeopardize<l the rulers of a nation 
are completely justified in declaring war, and as the great ostensible 
causes of the present one are removed by Britain herself, and as 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 141 

amicable adjustment of the only remaining difficulty is now offered, it 
is the imperious duty of our government to suspend hostilities without 
dela}', and restore the blessings of peace to a brave but abused and 
suffering people. 

" Peter O. Alden, Moderator. 
Da>"'l Given, Town Cieik.''^ 

The following address was also adopted : — 

"To the Hon. P^leazer AV. Ripley, Jonathan Page and Ebenezer 
Poor, senators of the district of Cumberland and Oxford. 

" After having seen the various modes offered by the connnittee of 
conference from the House of Representatives to the Senate tlirough 
their committee for the choice of electors of President and Vice-Presi- 
dent of the United States, we are alarmed at the pertinacious adher- 
ence of the Senate to a i)artial and unequal mode of choosing electors, 
whereby, a majority of the people are liable to be overruled by the 
minority, contrary to the spirit and letter of the Constitution and the 
principles of republican liberty. 

" That this Commonwealth may have a voice in the next election of 
President and Vice-President a manly and just concurrence of the 
Senate with the House of Representatives is wanting, and this town 
hereby- calls upon you to co-operate with them by your best exeilions 
and procure a concurrence of the Senate with the House in some one 
of their propositions. 

^ In this day of peril and difficulty for the public good your best 
services are required. To stiHe the voice of the people and deprive them 
of their elective rights would be a stiide at usurpation too alarming for 
us to behold in silence and too flagrant to be borne. 

•' We consider the proposition made by the House fair, honorable, 
and constitutional, and we are sorr^' to assert that the Resolves of the 
Senate do not appear to us to be of that character. 

" If our liberties, so dearly purchased by the blood and treasure of 
our fathers, must be lost, we most sincerely hope and fervently pray 
that they ma^' never be destroyed under the forms of judicial nor legis- 
lative proceedings." 

The town voted that four attested copies of the above address be 
made out by the town clerk, and that one be forwarded to each of the 
above-named senators, and one to the president of the Senate, to be 
laid before that bod}'. 

[1814.] Nothing especially worthy of record occurred in 1813, but 
at a meeting held in Februarj', 1814, the town appointed a committee 
to write an address, setting forth " the present most unjust and iniq- 



142 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

uitous restrictions upon our trade." It was also voted to have this 
address published in the Portland Gazette. No copy of it appears on 
the records of the town, and the number of the Gazette supposed 
to contain it has not been found by the compilers of this work. 

An article in the warrant, "to see if the town will accept of the 
Engine belonging to individuals of this town," was dismissed. 

Some of the town officers elected at the ammal meeting, not pre- 
senting themselves to take the oath of office, a warrant was issued to 
John Owen, constable, to notify them to appear at a specified time 
and take the oath, as required b}' law. Owen, on his return, certified 
that he had notified all "■ except Roger Toothaker [one of the fence- 
viewers] who ran off and would not hear me notify him, and Abraham 
Locke, whom I missed by mistaking his place of residence, and Silas 
Goddard." 

At a meeting held in August, the selectmen were authorized to hire 
money, "to meet the expense occasioned b}' the mihtary movements." 

It was voted to dismiss the article in the warrant " to see if the 
town will afford an}' assistance to the unfortunate sufferers b^' the 
freshet," which occurred that spring and did a great deal of damage. 

[1815.] In 1815 the selectmen were directed to collect the resolves, 
maps, etc., belonging to the town, and to deposit them in their office. 

[1810.] The town, at its annual meeting, in 181G, gave Russell 
Stoddard and others permission to place some ha^'-scales' between the 
road that went by Mrs. Robson's and that going by John Pollard's. 

At a meeting held Ma}' 20, a majority of twenty-two votes was cast 
by the town against a separation of the District of Maine from the 
State of Massachusetts. At this meeting a committee was also 
appointed to provide a code of by-laws for the town. 

At a meeting held September 2, tlie town again voted against the 
formation of a new State by a majority of fiftj'-one votes. Tlie town 
also at this meeting chose Robert Dunning, Doctor Jonathan Page, 
and Joseph Mclveen, delegates to a convention to be held in Bruns- 
wick on the last Monday in September following, to count the votes 
cast in the District upon this question, and if a majority of the votes 
cast were favorable, to form the draft of a constitution for a new 
State. 

[1818.] The town, at its annual meeting in 1818, authorized the 
selectmen to purchase a hearse at a cost not exceeding one hundred 
dollars. 

1 The scales loere located in what is now the mall, ojyposite Green Street. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 143 

At this meeting it was voted inexpedient to build a poorhouse. 
The one built in 1807 was sold by the town in 1812. 

An article in the warrant of this meeting, in regard to a separation 
of the east and west parts of the town, was dismissed. Its insertion 
in the warrant was probably owing to some slight disaffection in one 
of these sections. 

[1819.] At a meeting held Ma}' 3, the representative from the town 
was instructed to use all fair and honorable means towards effecting 
the separation of the District of Maine from the State. This act shows 
an evident change on the part of the citizens of Brunswick in regard 
to this question. The representative was also instructed to use all fair 
and honorable means to oppose the passage of a law allowing Wingate 
and others the exclusive right of navigating the Kennebec River with 
steamboats. Apart from all questions of proprietj' or of constitu- 
tional right, Brunswick and Topsham both had a special interest in 
opposing a law which would affect the navigation of their own river. 

At a special meeting on July 26, the town voted, by a majority of 
one hundred and thirty-three votes, in favor of a new State, and at a 
subsequent meeting, held September 20, Robert D. Dunning, Doctor 
Jonathan Page, and Reverend Benjamin Titcomb were chosen dele- 
gates to the convention to be held in Portland on the second Monday 
in October, for the purpose of forming a Constitution for the new State. 

At a meeting held December 6, the town voted its approval of the 
Constitution framed by that convention. 

UNDER STATE OF MAINE. 

[1820] On March 15, 1820, the State of Maine was, by act of 
Congress, admitted into the Union. 

At the annual town meeting this 3'ear, the selectmen were author- 
ized to provide a place for the hearse, which they had been authorized 
to purchase two 3'ears before. Whether the hearse had been kept out 
of doors or in somebodj-'s barn, or whether it was not purchased until 
this 3'ear, does not appear. At this meeting Doctor Jonathan Page 
bid off' the care of the town's poor for six hundred dollars. 

At the first election for governor of Maine, held this year, the vote 
of Brunswick stood: for Honorable William King, 195; for Stephen 
Longfellow, Esquire, 23 ; scattering, 9. 

At a meeting in May, the selectmen were directed to petition the 
legislature to incorporate the town of Brunswick, together with a 
number of other towns in the counties of Cumberland and Lincoln, 
into a new count}'. 



144 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

The selectmen were also, at a meeting held in November, directed 
to petition the legislature to make a deduction from the valuation of 
the town, as taken by the selectmen in August, in consequence of the 
loss of property occasioned by the great freshet of October previous. 

[1821.] At the annual meeting in 1821 the town passed a resolve 
that the public good required the formation of a new county, to be 
composed of the towns of IJrunswick, Bath, Fhipsburg, Durham, 
Harpswell, Freeport, Pownal, Danville, Topsham, Bowdoinham, Bow- 
doin, Litchfield, Lisbon, Lewiston, and Wales ; and the representative 
from Brunswick was instructed to endeavor to eti'ect the object at that 
session of the legislature. This attempt was, however, unsuccessful. 

The town this year, instead of building a poorhouse, instructed the 
overseers of the poor to hire suitable houses and land to acconnnodate 
the poor of the town and to appoint a person to take charge of them. 
This was for the purpose of making available, for the l)enelit of the 
town, the labor of the paupers. 

[1822.] At a meeting of the town, held September 9, 1822, the 
representative to the legislature was directed to endeavor to obtain 
the passage of a law granting compensation from the State treasurj' 
to the sokliers of the militia. 

[1823.] At a town meeting held January' 20, l82o, it was voted 
to be inexpedient to make any olfer to the legislature to induce that 
bod}' to fix the seat of government in Brunswick. What effect a dif- 
ferent vote might have had upon the prosperity of the town is a matter 
of some doubt, though had such an offer been accepted, tliere is no 
doubt but that it would greatly have benefited the conununity. The 
town, also, at this meeting, directed its representative to op[)ose in 
the legislature the erection of au}' new county which should include 
Brunswick within its limits. 

The anuual meeting in March was adjourned to the first Monday- in 
April, ''in consequence of the severity of the cokl and the small 
number present." 

[1824.] At a meeting held the fifth of April, 1824, the selectmen 
were authorized to receive all mone}' or other property that may have 
been raised by subscription for the sufferers h\ the great fire in Bruns- 
wick, which occurred the previous j'ear, and to divide the same among 
them according to their necessities. The selectmen were also author- 
ized to pay twenty cents to each soldier of the militia, in lieu of 
rations, if the application for the same was made as the law prescribed. 

At a meeting held September 6th, the town passed resolutions 
inviting General Lafa3ette to visit Brunswick while on his tour 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRlKSWIt'K. 145 

through New England, and a committee of eleven gentlemen, in addi- 
tion to the selectmen, were appointed as a committee of arrangements 
for his reception, if he accepted. He was also invited b}' the authori- 
ties of the college, but was obliged to decline both invitations. 

[1825.] At a meeting held January 1, 1825, the town voted an 
appropriation of one hundred and fifty dollars towards defraying the 
expense of exchanging the bell then hanging in the steeple of the new 
meeting-house for a larger one. A committee was appointed to pur- 
chase a fire-engine, and eight hundred dollars was appropriated for the 
purpose. $1,500 was appropriated this 3'ear for schools. 

The selectmen were authorized to settle with Joseph Storer for 
damages suffered b}' him in crossing the bridge on Federal Street ^ 
with a horse and chaise. 

A committee of fifteen was chosen to solicit aid for the relief of 
the sufferers at the late fire. 

[1826.] The town, in 1826, voted to purchase the house, barn, 
out-buildings, and farm, near the lower landing, then owned by Roger 
Merrill,'^ and which contained about forty acres of land, at a price not 
exceeding $1,500. The town also voted to raise six hundred dollars 
per 3'ear, for three 3'ears, to meet the above expense. 

The selectmen were authorized, this 3'ear, to furnish blank car- 
tridges for the use of the militia of the town, when at reviews. 

[1827.] At a meeting of the town, held Januar^^ 4, 1827, the rep- 
resentative was instructed to use all fair and honorable means to pre- 
vent the passage of siwy legislative act which would deprive the town of 
Brunswick of an}' of its territory' or in any way disturb the line estab- 
lished between the counties of Cumberland and Lincoln. This action 
was taken upon an article in the warrant to see if the town would 
consent that the islands below the falls should be set off, with their 
improvements, to Topsham, agreeably to a petition to the legislature 
of George F. Richardson and others. 

The town voted, November 3, that the bills incurred in consequence 
of depredations on the Indians, the previous August, bj- Jere O'Brien 
and John McKeen, should be accepted to the amount of seven dol- 
lars and twentj' cents. It seems that this 3'ear a party ol Indians had 
encamped near " the landing," in Brunswick, and that a number of 
evil-disposed 30ung men made a raid upon them, tore down their 
teuts, and drove them off. O'Brien and McKeen entered a complaint 



1 This was a small pole-bridge at the foot of (he hill, across a brook leading from the 
swamp west of Maine Street. 
'■2 The present poor-farm,. 
10 



146 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

against the rioters, and the above vote was intended to compensate 
them for their legal expenses. 

[1828.] In the year 1828, five gentlemen were chosen as agents of 
the town to oppose an}' division of the town that might be nrged upon 
the legislature, which was then in session at Portland. One hundred 
dollars was appropriated for keeping in repair the two fire-engines, for 
ringing the bell, and for such other purposes as might tend to the 
security of the town against fire. 

[1829.] The same amount was appropriated for the same purpose, 
in 1829, and tlie town voted to have the bell rung at nine o'clock on 
Sunday evenings. 

The town voted to hold its futui-e meetings in the village, provided 
a house could be obtained without expense to the town. Accordingly 
the next meeting, September 14, was held in the Baptist meeting-house 
on School Street. 

At the September meeting of the town, a code of Bj'-Laws was adopted. 
The provisions of these By-Laws were, in brief, as follows : — 

Article 1. Provided against injury or loss of fire apparatus. 

Article 2. Against the building of bonfires in the streets, and 
against the careless use of lights in houses, barns, and stables. 

Article 3. Against coasting on or across the streets, and also 
against obtaining rides by taking hold of or getting upon vehicles, 
without the consent of persons riding therein. 

Article 4. Against the wanton or unnecessar}- discharge of fire- 
arms near an}' dwelling-house, shop, or store. 

Article 5. Against playing ball within ten rods of any dwelling, 
throwing snow-balls, playing with kites, or doing anything in public 
streets to annoy passengers. 

Article 6. Against the assembling of noisy crowds in the night, 
and against rude or disorderly' behavior, indecent or profane language, 
or the injuring of trees, fences, or buildings. The penalty for the vio- 
lation of this article was five dollars. 

Article 7. Against allowing geese to go at large. The penalt}' in 
this case was six cents per goose. 

These B3'-Laws were approved by the Court of Appeals in the 
December following, and the town voted to have them printed, and 
one copy furnished to each family. 

[1831.] In the j'ear 1831, the town authorized the selectmen to 
appropriate a piece of land near the poorhouse for a paupers' ceme- 
terv. Also, that future town meetings should be held in the old west 
meeting-house. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 147 

[1832.] In 1.S32 the town appointed a committee to draw up 
some resolutions expressing the opinions of the inhabitants of Bruns- 
wick " in relation to the alarming modifications of the tariff now pro- 
posed to be made by the Congress of the United States." Another 
committee was also appointed to report suitable resolutions expressing 
the opinions of the citizens in regard to the sale of the disputed ten-i- 
tor}' on the northeast boundar}'. 

The reports of both committees were read and accepted, and the 
selectmen were instructed to furnish copies of them for publication to 
the Portland Advertiser and Kennebec Journal. 

The selectmen were this j-ear instructed to sell the " poor lot" on 
Federal Street, by auction or by private sale as they might deem best. 
The dividing line between Brunswick and Freeport was this year 
defined. There seems to have been some doubt as to its location 
before this, for on October 15, 1828, the selectmen of the two towns 
met at the house of Samuel Chase, and proceeded to perambulate the 
line. Robert D. Dunning was the suiTe3'or for Brunswick and Bars- 
tow Sylvester for Freeport. The line surveyed by them appears 
from the recoi'd to have been the same, or nearl}' the same, as that 
previousl}' established. 

For some reason, however, the line was not satisfactory to some of 
the citizens of the two towns. Depositions were taken in January, 
1832, from various residents, testifying as to the location of the origi- 
nal line. Depositions were made by David Curtis, William Alexander, 
and Daniel Given. 

On the seventh of February, 1832, the legislature appointed Joseph 
Sewall of Bath, William Bradbury of New Gloucester, and William 
Curamings of Cape Elizabeth, a committee to establish the dividing* 
line between Brunswick and Freeport. 

On the eleventh of June following, the committee met and viewed 
the premises on that day and succeeding days, closing their labors on 
the twent3-third of June. 

Their report, which we give below, furnishes the result of their 
labors : — 

" Pursuant to the foregoing Resolve for establishing the line between 
Brunswick and Freeport, we the subscribers, the Committee therein 
appointed, having been duly sworn, and having given due notice to 
the parties, and having met them b}' their committees and counsel at 
the house of Alexander Moorhead, in Brunswick, the eleventh day of 
June in the 3'ear of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirt}'- 
two, and by adjournment from day to day until tliis twenty third day 



148 HIbTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

of said June, and having heard all their pleas, proofs and arguments, 
and having viewed the premises, and maturel}' considered the same, 
have deteimined and estabHshed the dividing line between the towns 
of Brunswick and Freeport, in the Count}' of Cumberland, agreeably 
to the Acts of Incorporation of said Towns, to be as follows to wit : 
Beginning on the Western shore of Maquoit Bay at the mouth of 
Bunganiunganock so called at a ledge which we have marked B, thence 
North twenty eight and one eighth degrees West, passing by a hem- 
lock tree in Vincent Mouiitfort's pasture, and through said Vincent 
Mountfort's house, and by a beach stump one rod and two links wes- 
terly of an ash tree in William Alexander's pasture by a stone in the 
wall on the western side of the county road on David Curtis' land 
marked -{- and over a ledge in said Curtis' pasture marked FB and by 
a spruce tree, a yellow birch tree, a ledge in Grouse's field marked -)-, 
a ledge in Skolfield's pasture marked -f-, a maple tree, a yellow birch 
tree, a stone set in the ground on the easterly side of the county road, 
twelve rods & sixteen links from the corner of Thomas Pennell's house, 
marked FB, a beach tree, a ledge in Samuel Sylvester's pasture 
marked FB, a stone in the wall on the westerly side of the Story road 
so called, a ledge in John Field's field marked FB, a beach tree, a 
hemlock tree, a spruce tree, a pine tree five miles & seventy rods to 
a stone marked FB at the middle of the Quaker road so called, and 
one rod and a half from William Jordan's wall, thence North East one 
hundred & ninety six rods to a stone marked DB at the corner of 
Durham and including within the town of Brunswick all Mair Point 
so called, and to include within said town of Brunswick all the estate 
of the late Benjamin Chase which was annexed to said Brunswick 
ty virtue of an act of the Legislature of Massachusetts passed in 
1790, entitled an Act setting off Benjamin Chase, his family and 
estate from the town of Freeport and annexing them to the town of 

Brunswick. 

" Joseph Sewall. 
Wm. Bradbury. 
Wm. Cummings."^ 

The same committee also established the Durham line. 

According to McKeen the survey of the west part of the town was 
made by John Merrill while B. Ring lived in Brunswick, though the 
plan of the " Great Lots " was never laid down by any actual survey. 
According to the same authority, if Merrill's plan had been regarded 

* Pejepscot Records. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 149 

and the boundaries preserved, the line would have gone farther south 
upon Froeport than was established b}- the committee in 1832, and 
would have taken sixteen rods on to what Durham now holds. ^ 

[1833.] The town appropriated for schools in 1833, $2,000; for 
support of poor, $700 ; for highways, $2,500. 

The town clerk was this \-ear directed to procure all plans and 
papers, of every description, of the Pejepscot Company, which might 
be of use to the town hereafter, and which related in any way to the 
settlement of the town, at as moderate an expense as possible. The 
papers of the Pejepscot Compan^^ were, at this time, in the hands of 
Josiah Little, Jr., of Newburyport (or of Amesbury), Mass. By a 
sworn statement by John McKeen, the then town clerk, it appears 
that Mr. Little placed the Pejepscot Papers in his hands upon condi- 
tion that they should be finally placed in the library of the Maine 
Historical Society, where the}' now are. This was certainl}- the best 
disposition that could have been made of them, particularly as man}' 
of the papers relate not only to Brunswick but to the whole region 
embraced in the Pejepscot purchase, and it would be difficult, if 
not impossible, to separate from them those relating exclusivelj^ to 
Brunswick. 

The selectmen were this year authorized to grant licenses to retail 
ardent spirits, on condition that no spirits should be drank in or about 
the premises of the retailer. 

John Coburn was appointed an agent to appear before a committee 
of the legislature, and to use his best endeavors to carr}' into effect 
the vote of the town in favor of the formation of a new count}' from 
parts of Cumberland and Lincoln Counties. 

[1834.] At a meeting of the town, held July 4, 1834, a lengthy 
report of the Committee on Town Commons was read and accepted. ^ 
A committee was also chosen to consider the practicability and advis- 
ability of having the town farm upon the Commons, and to estimate 
the expense of removing the buildings thereto. 

At a meeting held August 30, the Report of the Committee on 
Town Commons, Poorhouse, etc., was read, but its consideration was 
postponed to a further meeting. The selectmen were instructed to 
have the report printed and also to have the Commons surveyed. 

The selectmen were also directed to petition the legislature for per- 
mission to use the Commons for agricultural purposes or to dispose of 
them at some future daj', should the town ever so direct. They were, 

1 McKeen, MSS. Lecture. 2 gee Chapter XIX. 



150 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

moreover, directed to procure the same permission from the Pejepscot 
proprietors ; and also to demand a rent from all parties occupying the 
Commons, and to remove all persons refusing or neglecting to pa}^ the 
rent. 

[1835.] At a town meeting, held April 27, 1835, it was voted to 
build a town-house without unnecessary' dela}'. 

The village school district this 3ear applied for an Act of Incorpo- 
ration, for certain municipal purposes, and an Act to this effect was 
passed by the legislature and received the approval of the governor, 
January 28, 1836. 

At the annual meeting this xeav the town appropriated seven hun- 
dred dollars to pa}- for the town-house, and the Building Committee 
were authorized to borrow the needed balance of three hundred dol- 
lars. The town-house was completed this j-ear. 

[1837.] The town met at the town-house for the first time on 
January 16, 1837. The town, at this meeting, voted to receive its 
proportion of the money deposited with the State by the United 
States, in pursuance of '' an Act to regulate the deposits of the public 
mone}'," on the condition specified in the Act of this State entitled 
"An Act providing for the disposition and repayment of the public 
money apportioned to the State of Maine, on deposit, by the govern- 
ment of the United States." James F. Matthews was appointed the 
agent of the town to receive this money. The revenue of the United 
States had for some years been in excess of the demands of govern- 
ment, and this Act of Congress was to distribute the surplus to the 
States. 

At a meeting of the town in April, the selectmen were authorized to 
loan the town's share of the surplus revenue to citizens of the town, 
on good personal security, in sums not exceeding two hundred dol- 
lars to an}' one individual. 

At a meeting held in July, the selectmen were directed to collect 
what had been loaned, as it became due, and to deposit the amount, 
together with the remaining portion of the surplus revenue, with the 
citizens in the following manner: — 

The sum total was to be divided into as many shares as there were 
inhabitants of the town at the last enumeration, and each male head of 
a fiimily, and each female head of a famil}' where there was no male 
head, should be entitled to receive, on deposit, one share for each 
member of his or her family actually resident at home in the familj' on 
the first da}' of the preceding March, including the heads of the family, 
the daughters, the sons, under the age of twent^'-one years, and the 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 151 

regular apprentices. Each male above twenty-one years of age. with- 
out a family-, was entitled to receiA^e one share. 

The receipts, which were to be taken in all cases, were to contain a 
promise of repa3'ment, without interest, of the sum given, whenever the 
town should be required to repay it to the treasury of the State. 

At a meeting held in September, the preceding vote was so amended 
as to entitle all who were residents of the town on the first of March 
previous to a share of the surplus money, and that persons since, but 
not then, residents should not be entitled to it. 

[1838.] At the annual meeting in April, 1838, the town voted to 
relieve those who had received shares of the surplus revenue money 
from all obligation to return it, since the legislature had passed an Act 
releasing towns from a similar obligation. 

The town voted to refer to the Building Committee the deeds of the 
gifts from Reverend William Allen and David Dunlap, Esquire. The 
above vote refers to the deeds of the land upon which the town-house 
was built. 

[1841.] The overseers of the poor were authorized in 1841 to sell 
the poorhouse and farm whenever they could do so for a not less sum 
than $1,500. 

In regard to several proposed amendments to the Constitution of the 
State, the town voted as follows : — 

In favor of increasing the number of representatives, but against 
establishing the number at one hundred and fifty-one ; in favor of 
electing the governor for two years instead of one, and in favor of 
having the legislative meeting but once in two years. 

[1842.] In 1842 a petition from Isaac Lincoln and others, to have 
the town house sold or else to have it moved to the village, was dis- 
missed. 

[1844,] The town in 1844 voted in favor of an amendment to the 
Constitution of the State, changing the meeting of the legislature to 
May. 

[1845.] A new hearse was purchased in 1845, by order of the 
town, and the old one was repaired and fitted with runners for use in 
the winter season. 

[1847.] At the annual meeting in 1847 the selectmen were in- 
structed to have the bell on the Universalist Church rung daily, for 
the ensuing 3'ear, at the expense of the town. 

The town also at this meeting appropriated two hundred dollars 
towards the purchasie of a clock to be located in the tower of the 
Universalist Church. 



152 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

The town this year voted in favor of so amending the Constitution 
of the State as to prohibit tlie loaning of the credit of the State to 
an}- amount exceeding $300,000 in the aggregate ; and also, against 
an anjeudment providing that the governor, senators, and representa- 
tives should be elected by a plurality instead of majority vote. 

[1849.] In 1849 tlie town Aoted to dispose of Engine No. 1 and 
to purchase a new one, and for that purpose the sum of three hundred 
dollars was appropriated. The town this year refused, by a vote of 
one hundred and fourteen to sixteen, to adopt an Act of the legisla- 
ture, which was passed Jul)- 16, 1846, and was entitled "An Act for 
the License and Regulation of Stationar}- Steam-Engines." 

[1850.] The town voted in 1850 in favor of a constitutional 
amendment, which provided for a meeting of the legislature in Jan- 
uarj- instead of Ma3\ 

At a subsequent meeting this year the town voted to accept an Act 
of the legislature authorizing certain cities and towns to grant aid in 
the construction and completion of the Kennebeck and Portland Rail- 
road, and also voted to loan its credit to that compan}' for the sum of 
$75,000, according to the conditions and for the security provided in 
the Act. The vote was fiAC hundred and eight3'-eight in favor, and 
two hundred and fifty-two against the measure. 

The inhabitants changed tlieir minds in regard to stationar}' steam- 
engines, and the town accordingly voted this year to accept the Act in 
reference to the same, which was approved 3\\[y 16, 184G. 

[1851.] A protest, signed b}- one hundred and thirty-five of the 
inhabitants of Brunswick, was presented to the town in 1851. This 
protest was against the vote to loan money to the Kennebec and 
Portland Railroad, and was made on the ground that the Act of the 
legislature authorizing it was illegal, unconstitutional, and not binding 
upon the town. 

[1856.] In 1856 the town authorized the selectmen to grant the 
use of the town-house to the Brunswick Light Infantry for an armor}-. 

[1857.] The Act of the legislature, approved March 13, 1855, 
granting authority to cities and towns to adopt ordinances or by laws 
for sidewalks, was accepted in 1857, and a committee, consisting of 
the selectmen and Richard Greenleaf, Esquire, was appointed to lay 
out and determine the width of the different sidewalks in Brunswick, 
and to prepare some b^'-laws in reference to the same, Avhich they were 
to report at a future meeting. 

Another committee was also appointed this A'ear, consisting of 
Messrs. Abuer B. Thompson, John C. Humphreys, William G. Bar- 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 153 

rows, Samuel R. Jackson, Richard Greenleaf, and John McKeen, 
to investigate all matters relating to the town Commons ; to ascer- 
tain what title the town had to them, and the boundaries thereof; to 
ascertain what encroachments had been made upon them, and all 
other facts relating to the subject, and to make a report at some 
future meeting. 

Some time between March 10 and the first Monda}' in June, the town- 
house was destroj-ed by fire. The June meeting met — bj' adjournment 
— at the ruins of the town-house, and adjourned to McLellan's Hall. 

The committee on sidewalks i-epoi'ted at this meeting the names of 
the streets upon which the}" had constructed sidewalks, the widths of 
the walks, and a code of by-laws in regard to the same. 

The selectmen were authorized to dispose of the materials of the 
town-house which remained »after the fire, and of the lot upon which it 
stood. 

[1858.] At a meeting of the town, held January 18, 1858, to see 
what measures the town would adopt for the purpose of obtaining a 
charter for a city government, it was voted to appoint a committee of 
nine, — three from the A'illage, three from the east, and three from the 
west part of the town, — to consider the matter and to report in one 
week. This committee reported, Januarj- 25, that the east and west 
portions of the town were opposed to a city form of government, but 
that the village was strongly in favor of it. A motion to petition the 
legislature for a charter as a city was lost by a vote of twenty- six 
majority. It was, however, voted that the village school-district 
should have leave to petition the legislature for a citj^ charter for said 
district, under the name of the city of Brunswick, and the selectmen 
and town clerk were directed to petition the legislature to that effect. 
This they did, and upon February 10, a committee of the legislature 
reported a bill to incorporate the village district as the city of Bruns- 
wick. This bill was laid on the table and ordered to be printed. It 
was afterwards passed, and was approved by the governor, March 29. 
The bill provided for its acceptance b}' the whole town within thirt}' 
daj's, or to be null and void. At a meeting of the town, April 27, the 
charter was read, and rejected by a majority vote of one hundred and 
one. 

At the annual meeting in March, the sum of seven hundred dollars 
was appropriated for a night watch. The committee on town Commons 
reported at this time. The report was accepted, and it was voted that 
the town agent be empowered and directed to communicate with the 
several parties whose lots abutted on the Commons, and in case any of 



154 HIS TOBY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HAH PS WELL. 

them should decline to give the matter to referees, he was instructed 
to institute legal proceedings against them, that the rights of the town 
might be maintained and protected. The selectmen were also in- 
structed to cause permanent stone monuments to be erected, in order 
to mark clearl}' the boundarj' lines of the Commons, whenever these 
lines should be authoritatively ascertained. 

At a meeting held June 7, the town voted almost unanimously for 
the Prohibitory Liquor Law of LS08, there being but one vote for the 
License Law of 1856. This vote shows either an unparalleled senti- 
ment in the town in favor of prohibition, or else that those in heart 
opposed to a temperance reform believed that its advocates had over- 
shot the mark and that there would be a speedy reaction. 

The town this 3'ear voted against granting State aid to a proposed 
Aroostook Railroad, and in favor of exeijipting future manufacturing 
establishments from taxation for a period of ten vears. 

[186Q.] A committee was appointed in 1860 to consider the pro- 
priety of building a new town hall. The}' recommended the erection 
of a building on the corner of Maine and Pleasant Streets, at an esti- 
mated cost of $5,000. The town, however, refused to build. 

[1862.] In 1862 the town lines between Brunswick and Freeport, 
Brunswick and Durham, Brunswick and Harpswell, and Brunswick 
and Bath, were perambulated by the selectmen of Brunswick and the 
authorities of the other places named, and monuments were erected to 
mark the line. 

[1866.] An article in the warrant for a special meeting in Novem- 
ber, 1866, in relation to petitioning the legislature to set Brunswick 
otf from Cumberland Count}', was dismissed. 

A new hearse was this j'ear procured. 

[1869, 1870.] In 1869, and again in 1870, propositions were 
made looking to the erection of a town hall, but the}' were defeated, 
and none has yet [1877] been erected. 

[1872.] In 1872 a proposition was made for the erection of a 
monument in memory of the fallen heroes of the Rebellion. A com- 
mittee was appointed to consider the subject, and at a subsequent 
meeting reported in favor of such a monument, but the town decided 
adversely to its erection. 

All important acts of the town not embraced in this chapter will be 
found in other connections. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 155 



CHAPTER III. 

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF HAKPSWELL. 
UNDER COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. 

The place formerl}' known as Wescustego was, on September 22, 
1680, incorporated as a plantation by the name of North Yarmouth. 

In 1731 the limits of North Yarmouth were determined by order of 
the General Court as follows : — 

" To begin at a white Rock b}^ the side of the Bay dividing between 
Falmouth & North Yarmouth &, to extend from thence into the woods 
North west by Falmouth line eight miles, and from y® s*^ white Rock to 
extend by the Ba}^ to the mouth of Bungamunganock River, from 
thence to extend eight miles into the woods on a line parallel to Fal- 
mouth line & from thence to Falmouth line aforesaid, & from the 
afores'' white Rock & mouth of Bungamunganock River S** Township 
to extend south east, the width of s*^ Township to the Main Sea so as 
to include the Islands within s*^ courses." 

On April 6, 1733, the township was incorporated as a town.i 

In 1735 a committee appointed by the General Court ran the line 
of the town as follows : — 

" Beginning at the mouth of Bungamunganock River on the west- 
erl}' side thence south east over Maquoit Ba}' to Mare Point and said 
line runs over INIinot's Barn which stands on s^ Point, thence over 
Middle Bay to Memconeag neck, thence across s*^ neck and Merri- 
coneag river to a point on Sebascodegan Island to an Inlet of water 
called the Basin, thence crossing another part of s"^ Island to a small 
Island called Egg Island in Quahaug River, thence crossing another 
part of s*^ Island running a S. E. course across the bay to small Point, 
thence to Hunnewell's Cove, thence crossing s*^ cove and so on in a 
S. E. line to the Main sea at mouth of Kennebec River." 

The present town of Harpswell, or the greater portion of it, was, it 
will be observed, at this time embraced within the limits of the town 
of North Yarmouth, of which town it constituted a parish. ^ 

1 Maine Historical Society Collection, 2, pp. 172, 176. Russell's History of North 
Yarmouth. 

2 Maine Historical Collection, 2, p. 180. 



156 HISTORY OF BBVNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

[1740.] In the 3'ear 1740 Merriconeag Neck was annexed to 
Brunswick, as will be seen bj' the following petitions to and order of 
the General Court : — 

^'To His Excelency Jonathan Belcher Esq. Captain General and 
governour in cliief, the honourable the council and honourable 
House of Represkntatives of His Majesty's Province of the Mas- 
sachusetts Bay in New England in General Court Assembled 
May 28t«, 1740. 

" THE PETITION OF TBE PROPRIETORS OF THE NECK OF LAND 
IN CASCO BAY IN THE COUNTY OF YORK, CALLED BY THE 
NAME OF MERECONEGE NECK:- 

" Humbly Sheweth 

" That Whereas the said Neck of Land, is one half part of it within 
the line of the Township of North Yarmouth, and having Paid Rates 
and Taxes to said Township, both to Church and State, altho' the 
Inhabitants there live above Thiit}' miles distant by Laud from the 
Meeting House, and twelve miles hy Sea across two very Dangerous 
Ba3^s, (Especially in the Winter time) being also man}' times Impassa- 
ble in canous, with their Family's therebj' depriving them of the Public 
Worship of God, for a great part of their time, which is a very great 
discouragement to the Setlers, and Whereas this Honourable Court 
have been pleased Two 3'ears since to Invest the Township of Bruns- 
wick with all priviledges as the other Towns in this Province Enjoy 
and that Brunswick Meeting House is but Three Miles distant from 
the upper end of said Neck, adjoj'ning to Brunswick Town, and no 
Water to pass over which makes it easj' to repair thereto without the 
Danger and Dificult}' of the Winter and Tempests by Water and the 
very great length of wa}' by Land. 

"May it please your Excelleucj' and Honours, We Humbly pray, 
That you Avould be pleased for the prevention of the aforesaid Incon- 
veniences to set ofl' the Familj-s that ma}- Inhabit said Neck of Land, 
from the Town of North Yarmouth, and annex them to the Town of 
Brunswick, especiallj' since but a part of said neck of Land is couched 
within the line of North Yarmouth Township. And as in Dut}- Bound 
your Petitioners shall ever pray. 

"Joseph Wadswortii 
Adam Winthrop 
Henry Gibbs 
Belcher Noyes 
Job Lewis 

for ourselves and Partners.'^ 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 



157 



" We the Inhabitants of the said Neck of Land Most Humbly 
[Pray?] That your Excelency and Honours would be pleased to gi-ant 
the Prayer of the above named Proprietors of said Neck of Land that 
we may be Released under our very Great hardships, and as in Duty 
Bound shall ever pra}'. 



"James Brewer 
John Mathews 
William Magray 
Edward Quingiiam 
William Gibson 
Moses Gatchell 
Joshua Cromwell 
Samuel Winchell 
John Orr 
William Mackness 
Thomas McGregor 
John Smart 
John Lindsey 
Benjamin Denslow 



Richard Jaques 
John Stovkr 
Elisha Allen 
Isaac Hall 
Samuel Standwood 
David Standwood 
John Stevens 
John Ross Jun". 
Seth Toothaker 
Job Moulton 
Ariel Sprage 
Wait Webber 
Ebenezer Toothaker" 



"In the House of Representatives, June 3, 1740. 

" Read and ordered, That the' Petitioners serve the Town of North 

Yarmouth with a copy of this Petition that they Shew Cause if any 

they have on Tuesday the 24"" Instant, if the Court be then sitting, 

if not, on the first Thursday of the next Sitting of this Court, why 

the Prayer thereof should not be granted. 

" Sent up for concurrence 

" J. QuiNCY, Sy=r 



" Read and Concurred 



"In Council June 4 th 1740. 
" Simon Frost D<pM Secy 



" Consented to 

" A true Copy Exam*^ 



"J. Belcher. 



" Simon Frost Depv Sec:" " 



" The following order passed on the petition of the Propriet? of 

Merriconeag Neck, viz' 

"In Council Juue 27, 1740 

" Read again and it appearing that the Town of North Yarmouth 
has been duly served with a copy of the Petition but no answer given 



158 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

in, Ordered that the pra3'er of the Petition be granted, and that that 
part of the Neck of Land within Mentioned which heretofore belonged 
to the Town of North Yarmouth together with the Inhabitants thereon, 
be and liereliy are set otf from the said Town of North Yarmouth, 
and annexed to & accounted as part of the Town of Brnnswiclv there 
to do Dut}' and receive Priviledge accordingly. 

' ' Sent down for Concurrence 

" Simon Fijost Dep" Seer" 

"In the House of Representatives Juue 28, 1740. 
" Read & Concurred 



" Consented to 



" A true cop3' Examined 



"J. QUINCY /Sp*.'" 



" J. Belcher. 



" SoiON Fhost Dcp'J Sec'l " ' 



[1741.] Merriconeag Neck remained, however, annexed to Bruns- 
wick for a short time only, as on August 1, 1741, the foregoing bill 
was again bronglit before the Council, together with tlie answer of 
Ammi Kuliamat Cutter, agent for the town of North Yarmouth, and 
the matter liaving been thoroughly considered, it was voted " tliat the 
order of this Court within written passed the twenty seventh of June 
last (A) be & is hereby superseded & set aside, and that such of the 
Inliabitauts of the neck of land within mentioned, (B) as are consent- 
ing thereto and shall give in their names to the Town Clerk of 
Brunswick for that purpose be & hei'eb}' are set oft" to the Town of 
Brunswick so far as relates to the INIinistry, to do duty and receive 
priviledge accordingl}-." This vote was sent to the House of Repre- 
sentatives August 5, where it was read and concurred in, with the 
addition of some amendments at the places marked A and B. The 
first amendment simplj- inserted the date, and the second one added 
the words, " with their estates."- 

This legislation was not satisfactory to the people of Brunswick, 
nor to man}- of those upon Merriconeag Neck, and accordingly the 
following petitions were sent to the General Court this same year : — 

1 Pejppscot Papers. 2 JUd, 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF HARFSWELL. 159 



"To His Excellency William Siiiuly Esq Governouu & Comander 
IN Chief in & over his Majestyes Province of the Massachusetts 
BAY IN New England, 

The Honourable his Majestyes Councill, and the Honourable House 
of Eepresentatives in Generall court assembled Anno Domini, 
1741. 

" THE PETITION OF THE SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN OF 
BRUNSWICK IN THE COUNTY OF YORK IN BEHALF OF SAID 
TOWN, 

Humbly Sheweth 

" That the S*^ town being of but small Extent and the Inhabitants 
as yet but few in number & a considerable part of the Soil not so rich 
and fitt for tillage as in man}- other towns, and tho' the said Inhabi- 
tants from a Principle of Loyaltj' & dutifullness to the Government, 
are read}- & desirous to do what they can towards the support of the 
publick charge, 3et for the reasons above mentioned, the}* find it very 
difficult to maintain their families & support the ministiy, & much 
more to pay the Province tax which the Honourable Court was 
pleased to lay upon them last year, and they find this Disal)ility in 
some measure Increased by reason that a considerable part of Meri- 
coneag Neck, which hapens to fall within the line of North yannouth, 
by reason of the large extent of S** township into the Sea Cuting of 
the whole front of Brunswick next the sea, which was the last year b}' 
order of the Generall Court annexed to Brunswick has been since Set 
back to North yarmouth ; Now we beg leave Humbly to Represent to 
your Excellency & Honours that the town of North j-armouth is in 
extent of land more than three times as large as Brunswick, without 
reconing in the Necks & Islands Couched within the lines of S'' town, 
which much Increase the proportion, and the S*^ town is much more 
numerous in Inhal)itants, .& their land b}' long Cultivation is become 
much more profitable, so that the}' cannot be reasonabl}' suposed to 
stand in need of so small an addition as Mericoneag Neck. Now 
whereas the uper part of S*^ neck, is Contiguous to Brunswick and the 
rest of it b}' land, is 18 miles nearer to the center of Brunswick & to 
S*^ meeting house than to- North yarmouth meeting house, & a much 
nearer «fe safer way to Brunswick in time of danger, where they can 
be relieved b}' land from Brunswick town, which thej' cannot readily, 
b}' North 3'armouth, by land or water, and tlie addition of it to Bruns- 
wick, would something increase their number, & at present in Some 
measure Enable them to discharge the heavy tax laid upon them, 
which is very burthensom by reason of their Continuall fears and great 



U>0 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM. AXD HARPSWELL. 

povoity of the Inhabitants (oxoopting four or tivo faniilyos) Your 
IVtitiouers therefore llninbly pray that yonv Honours will so far 
Compassionate «& Encourage them as to annex unto Brunswick the 
whole of 8'' neck viz : that part of it that is coucIuhI within North 
Yarmouth line & the uper part of it that lies between the lines of 
North Yarmouth and Brunswick and which at present is within the 
bounds of no town and your Petitioners as in Duty bound Shall ever 
pray t^c. 

"Bknj* Lauuabee. 1 
Wymond Bhadbukv, [ <^ckcUncn 



SaML IIlNKLKY, J "/ ^''•""-''^''>^-- 



" "We the Subscribers Inhabitants of Merriconeag Neck in Casco 
ba}', such of us as fall within the line of North-yarmouth tinding our- 
selves under a great burthen & disadvantage in being subjected to 
that town from whence we are so very remote & from whence we can 
expect no manner of benelit on account of the ^linistry, School, or 
otherwise, & others of us who arc not within the bounds of any town 
but lying between the lines of North yarmouth & Brunswick, but 
lying contigui>us to Brunswick i!c .Uulging it to be very much for our 
Comfort iS: benelit to belong to s'' town, do Humbly Joyn with the 
Inhabitants of Brunswick in the within IVtition, and earnestly Suppli- 
cate your ExcUcncy vt Honours that for the reasons therein sot forth 
you will bo pleased to annex the whole of Mericoneag Neck to the 
town of Brunswick »S: your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever 
pray. 

" lilCIIAKD JaQUES •— ^ 

Wait Wkbbku 
John Stover 
Joux Mathews 
Thomas MctiitEOOK 
Nath"- L. Baknes " ' 

These petitions were not favorably received by the (icneral Court, 
but on June 14, 17-10. that body, in response to a petition of the 
inhabitants c>f that portion of ^Merriconeag Neck and the ailjoining 
islands, wliich was within the limits of North Yarmouth, passed an 
order to the ett'ect that the Neck, the land and islands mentioned in 
the petition, aiui the northeast part of Sebascodcgau Island, should 
be a distinct and separate precinct.^ 

^ P^qpscot Papers. Oiiginal Petition. ^Massachusetts Records, 109. 



MUNICIPAL IIISTOUY OF ILinPSWELL. ' IGl 

In 1 758 the following Act of Incorporation was passed : — 

"ANXO BEONI ^ ^ck iUitit -ft^ ^ KKOI8 GflOIiOII 




Skcundi TiticKS- di%^SmOK^^f^'» '^*^ pkimo 



"AN ACT 

For iiiwjrporating a neck of land called Mericoneag Neck, and certain Islands adja- 
c*uit, in the County of York int^> a Separate District by the name of 

" Whereas the Inhabitants of Mericoneag Xeck and the Islands 
adjacent have humbly represented to this Court the diflicnlties and 
great inconveniences they labour under in their present situation and 
have earnestly requested that they may be invested with powers priv- 
ileges and immunities of a District. 

" Therefore be it enacted by the Governor, Council, and House of 
Tleiiresentatives, Tliat the said Neck of Land beginning where Bruns- 
wick line intersects the upper end of said Neck which is four rods 
above the Nairows of said Neck commonly called the Carrying Place, 
from thence including the whole of said Neck down to the Sea, 
together with the Islands adjacent hereafter mentioned, viz : Great 
Scbascodegan Island alias Shapleighs Island, Little Sebascodegan 
Island,' and Wills ^ Island lying to the South east side of said Neck; 
Birch Islatifl, Whites Island and the two Goose Islands lying on the 
Northwest side of said neck and Damariscove Islands** lying at the 
lower end of said Neck, be and hereb}- are incorporated into a separate 
District by the name of IIarpf!v:eJL 

" And the Inhal>itants of said Neck of land and Islands shall be and 
hereby are invested with all the powers, privileges and immunities that 
the several towns In this Province b}' law do or may enjo}', that of 
sending a liepresentative onl}' excepted. 

" And be it further enacted That John Minot Esq. be and hereb}' is 
empowered to issue his warrant to some principal Inhabitant of the 
said District requiring him in his Majestys name to warn and notify 
the said Inhabitants qualified to vote in town affairs to meet together 
at such time and place in said District as by said Warrant shall be 
appointed to choose such officers as the law directs and may be neces- 
sary to manage the affairs of said District : 

" And the said Inhabitants being so met shall be and hereby are 
empowered to choose officers accordingly. 

1 Nov) On'K Inland. 2 ^ovj Bailey's Island. 

8 One oJ'vMrh is now called HaskeWs Rlan/.l. 
11 



162 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

" January 20"' 1758, 
" This bill having been read three several times in the House of 
Eepresentatives passed to be enacted 

" F. Hubbard, Speaker. 

" January 20*'» 1758, 
" This bill having been read three several times in Council passed 
to be enacted 

" A. Oliver, *Sec'//- 

" JANU.VRY 25"> 1758, 

" By the Governor I consent to the enacting of this bill 

'T. POWNAL. 

" Copy examined 

"A. Bradfoed 

'• Sec^y of Commnmcealth of 3£assuchusetts^^ 

It will be observed that no reference is made in the foregoing Act to 
the town of North Yarmouth. This would convey the impression 
that when Harpswell was made a precinct, it became legally separated 
from that town, which was probablj' the case. 

The present name of the town is not known to have been used prior 
to the incorporation. By whom it was first suggested is not known. 
One aulhorit}' ^ states that it was so named b}' the General Court, 
but according to traditionary accounts the name was given by the 
Dunnings. There is a Harpswell in Lincolnshire, England, and the 
name was probably first suggested by some emigrant from that vicinity 
and was lavored b}- the Dunnings, who were English people, though 
from another count}'. 

Harpswell, though similar to an incorporated town in most respects, 
had not the privilege of being represented at the General Court, and 
was therefore onlv a district. 

The first recorded meeting of the district was held March 30, 1758. 
At this meeting Captain John Stover was chosen moderator ; Andrew 
Dunning, clerk ; David Curtis, Isaac Hall, and Andrew Dunning, 
selectmen and assessors ; Lieutenant Lemuel Turner, district treas- 
urer ; Elijah Douglas and Taylor Small, constables ; James Babbage, 
Seth Toothaker, and John Coombs, tithing-men ; Waitstill Webber, 
William Alexander, and Joseph Thompson, surveyors of highways ; 

1 Kellogg, MSS. Lecture. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 103 

Edward Easters, Thomas McGregor, and Joseph Linscott, fence- 
viewers ; Nathan Adams, James Gardner, and John Snow, hog- 
reeves ; and Elisha Allen, sealer of leather. It was voted at this 
meeting that hogs and horses should be allowed to run at large, 
according to the existing law. The meeting adjourned to the last 
Wednesday in May. 

At the adjourned meeting on May 25, the following votes were 
passed : — 

That Alexander Wilson and Andrew Dunning should be a com- 
mittee to settle with North Yarmouth, and to receive whatever money 
was due the town. 

To have no schoolmaster this year. 

That the selectmen should lay out the higliways as the}' might 
deem advisable. 

That the selectmen should settle "with Mr. Jaques, the former 
treasurer" probabl}- of the former precinct or parish, "and should 
remove the Treasury into Lemuel Turner's hands." 

That Thomas McGregor should be collector for that 3'ear, on the 
Neck, and should be allowed thirteen shillings and four pence for his 
services. 

That Mr. William Ilarsey should be paid fifteen shillings for his 
trouble in making out the rates for the parish in 1755. 

That Mr. William Blake and Mrs. Mary Young should be paid 
twelve shillings each, for making out the rates at the same time. 

That Captain Timoth}' Baile\' should bs paid one pound for a note 
that he gave in the 3'ear 175i " for the Place being presented." 

That Mr. Curtis be paid £33 Is. Id. "for taking up Mr. Pattis- 
halls execution against the Parish." 

That he have eighteen shillings for his time and expense in taking 
up the execution. 

That*Benjamin Jaques be paid thirteen shillings four pence " for 
going with Mr. Curtis to take up Patishal's execution." 

That Benjamin Jaques and Alexander Wilson be paid three shil- 
lings each "for getting a power [of attorne}'?] to give Mr. Ralph 
Far nan." 

That fourteen shillings be allowed Richard Starbird on his assess- 
ment for 1754. 

That Samuel Eaton be paid three pounds for serving as clerk for 
four 3'ears ; and that Lieutenant Lemuel Turner be paid eighteen 
shillings, David Curtis twenty-four shillings, and Captain Timoth}' 
Baile}' three shillings, for going to North Yarmouth. It will be seen 



164 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

that most of the foregoing relates to past transactions of the precinct, 
or parish, which have not been preserved as matters of record. 

[1759.] On May 9, 1759, a committee was chosen to settle the 
district and parish affairs, and another committee was also chosen to 
settle with the town of North Yarmouth, and to receive what money 
was due to Harpswell. At this meeting it was also voted to build a 
pound near the meeting-house, and also one on Mr. Joseph Thomp- 
son's land on the island called Great Sebascodegan. 

On Ma}' 30, of this 3'ear, the town voted to purchase scales, 
weights, and measures for use as a standard. Jonathan Flint was 
allowed £1 9s. for laying out the main road from the Brunswick 
line to the lower end of the Neck ; James Gardner was also paid 3s. 
for carrying a pole to lay out the road, and Thomas Jones, Jr., and 
Captain John Stover, 3s. each, for assistance in laying out this road. 
£13 6s. 8d. was appropriated for the poor. 

[1760.] In 1760 the town appropriated 35s. Ad. to pay David 
Curtis for his expense in obtaining books, scales, and weights. 

[1762.] At the Ma}' meeting in 1762, it was voted that 2d. per 
head should be paid for all crows killed on the Neck before the Octo- 
ber following. 

[1763.] In Ma}', 1763, the town A'oted to pay Benjamin Jaques, 
Alexander Wilson, and John Alexander the sums assessed against 
them for the sloop built the previous year. 

[1765.] In 1765 the town voted to allow Nicholas Pinkham the 
sum assessed upon his father " for the fine laid on the Quakers as 
appears by State and Rate Bills, 1760." ^ 

[1768.] At a meeting held March 25, 1768, the town voted — 
twenty-six to twelve — not to set off Great Sebascodegan Island as a 
parish. At a meeting held September 28th, it was voted not to send 
a delegate to the convention to be held at Boston, but the selectmen, 
with Andrew Dunning and Benjamin Jaques, were chosen as a commit- 
tee to prepare and forward a letter to that convention. 

[1770.] The records of the meeting on May 22, 1770, contain the 
following entry : — 

" The majority of votes for Mr. Samuel Stanwood as Representative 
were 20." This is the first mention to be found of the town's being 
represented at the General Court. 

[1772.] In 1772 the town voted to pay David Curtis and Elijah 



1 This is the first and only record in either of the three towns where Quakers are spoken 
of as having been fined. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 165 

Douglas one dollar each " for haling Boards from Brunswick." What 
the boards were for is not stated, but probably- for the school-houses. 

[1773.] On January 28, 1773, a communication from the town of 
Boston, setting forth the rights of the colonies and a statement of 
the infringement of their rights, was laid before the town for their 
consideration . 

A committee, consisting of William Sylvester, Deacon Andrew 
Dunning, and Captain Benjamin Jaques, was chosen to write a replj' 
and to submit it to the town at a special meeting to be held on 
the eighth day of March, at which time the committee reported as 
follows : — 

" That generous Ardor for Civil and Religious Liberty which in the 
Face of every Danger and even Death itself induced our fore Fathers 
to forsake the Bosom of their Native Country their Pleasant Seats 
and Fertile Fields and begin a Settlement in this then a howling 
Wilderness is not extinct in us their Posterity. 

" they Dearly purchased (with many Tears Praj^ers Mortifications 
& Self Denials) those happ3' Gospel Priviledges and Religious Liber- 
ties which we enjoy in Conjunction with the Royal Charter these we 
esteem dear and Sacred — we are greatly' alarmed at the Innovations 
made upon our Charter Rights and think them a Real Grievance — 
We fear not Poverty' but disdain Slaver}'. 

' whatever Day, 
Makes Man a Slave takes half his worth away.' 

" We shall not particularly enumerate our Grievances but only Say 
we Concur with the Sentiments of the Committ^- of Correspondence at 
Boston as they have stated the rights of the Colonists and of this 
Province in Particular, and of the Infringements on those Rights. 
We openly and Frankly declare that we hold Fast our Loyalty- to our 
Sovereign (Independency we have not in View — we abhor the Thought) 
and hold our Selves in Readiness at all times with our lives and For- 
tunes to assist his Majesty in his Defence as we have heretofore done 
(when for the Enlargement of the Brittish Empire, upon the Ruins of 
their Perfidious French Neighbors we have Cheerfully Emptied our 
Purses and furnished out our Quota of Men to join the Countless 
Numbers of loyal Americans who have Sacrificed their lives in the 
high Places of the Field & Desert — Many of whose Bones are to this 
Day whitning in the sun) yet we groan under our Burdens we sensibly' 
feel them, but do not despair of Redress If the Importunity of a Poor 
widow May Moove an unjust Judge to avenge her How much More 



166 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HABPSWELL. 

May we hope for Redress by Frequent application to our Gracious 
and good King wliicli application we humbl}' conceive Should be 
Dutiful and 103-al — Vewing our Selves to be the children and our Gra- 
cious Sovereign the Parent. And Could his Excelency Our Gov- 
ernour (whom we highl}- esteem & think to be endow"^ with Singular 
abilities) be prevailed upon to join the other Branches of the Legisla- 
ture Supplicating the Throne for .Redress it appears to us the Most 
probable way of obtaining his Majestys Ro^-al Attention and Relief. 

"William Sylvester ^ 
And^ DuNiNG \ Committy.''^ 

Bejtj" Jaques j 

The records continue as follows : — 

•" The question being put whether the foregoing Report be accepted 
it Passed in the Affirmative Nemine contradicente and. thereupon voted 
William S3'lvester Esqr., Deacon Andrew Duning & Capt. Benj^ 
Jaques a Committ}' to Transmit an attested Coi)py from the Clerk to 
the Comitty of Correspondence at Boston with the Thanks of this 
District to that Respectable Patriotic Town." 

[1774.] At the annual meeting in 1774, the town passed the fol- 
lowing votes : " to allow Andrew Duning 6 shillings a year since 1759 
for services as Clerk," and " to fence the burying place with stone or 
boards, as the Committee think proper." 

At a special meeting, held August 11, William Sylvester, Esquire, 
Andrew Dunning, and Deacon Isaac Snow were chosen a committee 
to replj' to sundry letters from the town of Boston, relative to enter- 
ing into a covenant for the non-consumption of British goods. 

The committee reported as follows : — 

" That the Town of Boston is Now Suffering in the Common Cause, 
a Cause which we Esteem to be Our Own that it is our Fixed Resolu- 
tion not to be Awed into Acquiesence b}" a Mad Exertion of Mere 
Power on the Part of Our Enemies but to hold and Defend Our 
Charter Rights to the Last, that a general Agreement between the 
Colonies of non importation & non exportation faithfully observed 
would (under God) be a Means of the Salvation of our falling 
Country' that as the Honourable House of Representatives Did on 
June 17'*' 1774 Resolve that a Committy Should be appointed to Meet 
as Soon as May be the Committies that are or shall be appointed b}- 
the Several Colonies on this Continant/to Consult together upon the 
Present State of the Colonies and to Delibei'ate & Determine upon 
Wise and Propper Measures to be b5' them Recomended to All the 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF HARP SWELL. 1G7 

Colonies for the Recover}- & Establishment of their Just Rights 4— & 
it is our Opinion that our now Coming into the non-Consumption 
agreement Previous to the Result of the Congress would be Prema- 
ture and that We should Anticipate the Verry End of that Respectable 
Body we therefore think it More Regular and Advisable first to hear 
the Measures advised to by the Congress and we hold our Selves in 
Readiness to Compl}' with the Same." 

This report was accepted. 

On September 14th, Joseph Ewing, Captain John Stover, and 
Andrew Dunning were chosen a committee "to go to Falmouth to 
meet the Falmouth and other Town Committees at Falmouth, y^ 21st 
of Sept. Inst." 

[1775.] On March 20. 1775, the town passed the following vote: 
" to Give the Men that Shall Engage as Minute Men too Shillings & 
Eight Pence p' Week allowing they Meet three Days each week & 
spend three Hours Each Da}- in exercising or Learning the Art Mili- 
tary for One Month from Date Agreeable to the Advice of the Con- 
gress — and if Legually called by the Chief Officers to March Out of 
Town Shall be entitled to forty eight Shillings as A Bounty or Incour- 
agement and the like Incouragement to Any Others that shall be 
Legally Called as above & comply with the call." 

The selectmen were this year instructed to have the town's propor- 
tion of the Province rate paid to Henry Gardner, Esquire, "• as soon 
as may be." 

• William Sylvester, Joseph Orr, Nathaniel Purinton, .John Siiow, 
Samuel Bartlett, James Ridley, Joseph Ewing, Andrew Dunning, 
Benjamin Jaques, Paul Curtis, John Stovei', Ebenezer Toothaker, 
John Roduck, John Farnham, Mark Rogers. William Morgridge, 
Simeon Hopkins, Ezekiel Curtis, and Anthony Coombs, Jr., were 
chosen a Committee of Inspection and of Correspondence. 

The town also voted to provide a stock of ammunition, dou])le in 
quantit}' the amount required by law. On May 1st, William Sylvester, 
Nathaniel Purinton, John Snow, Benjamin Jaques, and Andrew Dun- 
ning were chosen a Committee of Supply. 

At a meeting held on the 5th of June, it was voted that '• the 
Remainder of the half barrel of Powder Purchased by the Committy 
of Supply be a Town Stock." It was also, at this time, "Voted to 
keep four Watches — One at the intervale By the Harbour or there 
Abouts One at the High Land Near Benj. Webbers One at the 
Lookout and One at Jaqueses Hill And Every Person Deficient being 
Duly Notified to Pay Six Shillings as a fine." It was also voted, 



168 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

" Not to fire a gun between Sun Set & Sun Rise except at the enem}' 
or an Alarm on Penalty of Setting in the Stocks One Hour." 

The town also voted that the powder should be furnished to those 
needing it, in the quantit}' of half a pound for each man, who applied 
and who should pay or give his note for it. 

Captain John Snow, Paul Randall, and William Sylvester were 
chosen a Committee of Supply and Safet}'. 

At a meeting held July 6th, Captain Nehemiah Curtis was selected 
to join with the committees of other towns in the county, for the pur- 
pose of distributing in the most important places the men w'ho were 
stationed for a guard upon the sea-coast. 

[1776.] At a meeting of the town held Januar}' 16, 1776, the 
selectmen were chosen a committee to embod}' in a petition to the 
General Court the necessity there was for an armed guard and a 
supply of ammunition in the town. 

On March 4, William Sjdvester, Nathaniel Purinton, Captain Nehe- 
miah Curtis, Captain John Snow, and Lieutenant Benjamin Dunning 
were chosen a Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safet}'. 
At a meeting held Ma}^ 6, the vote of the District in 1775, giving 
minute-men 2s. 8d. per week for meeting for military practice on 
three days in each week, for three hours each day, was rescinded. 
On July 30 it was voted that the selectmen should take charge of the 
ammunition and arms, receipt for the same, and then distribute them 
among the officers of the militia, who should be accountable foi' them. 
It was also voted to pa}' Nathaniel Purinton and the seven men who 
assisted him in bringing guns down the Kennebec River, 4s. each, for 
two days' labor. It was also voted to pa^' Deacon Isaac Snow 12s. 
for his expenses and charge in bringing twenty-five fire-arms from 
Falmouth. Andrew Dunning was, at this meeting, chosen to take 
recognizances in Harpswell. At a meeting held on December 20, 
the following resolutions were passed : — 

" Voted the great & General Court or Assembly of this State Do 
Take up a Form of Go\'ernment as Soon as they think Propper & that 
form that Shall tend most to Piety, Peace, Safety and Good Oixler in 
this State and agreeable to the Honourable Continental Congress — 
the vote unanimus at a full Meeting. 

" Voted the Selectmen Send to the General Court or Treasurer for 
Axes, Kittles, Canteens and Mone}' to hire Waggons & Pay the Men 
that are Draughted their Milage to the Place of Destination." 

[1777.] At the March meeting in 1777, Nathaniel Purinton, 
Captain John Snow, Captain Nehemiah Curtis, Ezekiel Curtis, and 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 169 

Andrew Dunning were chosen a Committee of Correspondence and 
Safety. It was also voted, " Not to Have a Hospetal Built in the 
Count}' for an Enocolating Hospetal." It was also voted this A'ear 
to pay Andrew Dunning 12s. for superintending the deliver}- of pow- 
der and flints, and for recording the Declaration of Independence. 
On November 25, a committee was chosen to sujipl}' the families of 
soldiers with necessarj' articles. 

[1778.] The entry of the May meeting in 1778 commences, " At 
a meeting of the Town of Harpswell." It is the first time that the 
records were thus commenced, heretofore the words " parish," " dis- 
trict," or " inhabitants" being used. Yet Harpswell must have been in 
all respects a town prior to this, having in 1770 elected a represent- 
ative. At this meeting, Captain John Snow, Joseph Ewing, Benja- 
min Dunning, Ezekiel Curtis, Captain Thomas Merryman, Paul 
Randall, and Alexander Ewing were chosen a Committee of Inspec- 
tion, Safety, and Supply. It was voted to raise £420 " for the rein- 
forcement of nine men now to be raised, and proportioned as hereafter 
mentioned, viz. to four men for the militia one hundred dollars per 
man. To five men for the Continental Armv two hundred dollars per 
man." The selectmen were instructed to hire the money to pay the 
above bounties, and also the mileage of the soldiers. 

At a meeting, held June 24, the town voted to purchase some cloth- 
ing which had been provided for the soldiers and also to raise the sum of 
£56 for the four men who had that day enlisted. At another meeting, 
held on the third of August, it was voted that the selectmen should pro- 
vide the town's proportion of clothing for the arm}', in accordance with 
the order of the General Court, passed the previous June, and that each 
article of clothing should be of the same price as previously, if of as 
good quality, and that it should be valued by the same committees, 

[1779.] At the March meeting in 1779, Thomas Merryman, 
James Ridley, and Alexander Ewing were chosen a Committee of Cor- 
respondence, Inspection, Safety, and vSupply. At a meeting, held 
July 2, it was voted that all the male inhabitants of Harpswell above 
the age of sixteen years should take the oath of allegiance to the United 
States. It was also voted to supply powder and balls from the town 
stock to such as might need them ; that the price of the powder should 
be £3, and of balls 15s. per pound. — each one being allowed half a 
pound of powder, and balls in proportion. It was also voted that 
Michael Curtis, Thomas Farr, Paul Randall, and John Blake should 
be a committee " to wait on the Justice to tender the oath of alle- 
giance to the United States," and that all males over the age of six- 



170 IllSTORY OF BliUXSWICK, TOrSIIA}f, AXD ^.iRPS^VI:LLr 

teen years who refused to take that oath should be disarmed. At a 
lueeliug- held iu August, it was voted to sell eight tire-arms, that had 
l>een receutly purchased, at forty two and one half dollars each. 

[1780.] At the ^lareh meeting in 1780, William Sylvester, 
Esquire, Captain Xehemiah Curtis, Paul Curtis, Thomas Farr, Cap- 
tain Isaac Snow, Lieutenant Anthony Coombs, and Simeon Hopkins 
were chosen a Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety. 
At the May meeting the town voted to raise £2,000 for expenses and 
£;>00 for support of the poor. 

The proposed new constitution tV>r the State of ^NTassachnsetts was 
read and considered article by article. It was amended "in Page 
'27tli, last line, for the word Christian to have the word Protestant 
and in Page ood — the House of Peinescntatives to have a voice in the 
appointment of ofticers for the Continental army." Thus amended, 
thirty voted in favor of, and one against it. At a meeting held in 
Septembor, the town voted for governor, lieutenant-governor, and 
senator. John Hancock received fourteen votes as governor; Sam- 
uel Adams eight, and James Bowdoin seven, as lieutenant-goy- 
eruor ; and John Lewis, lifleen as senator. This is the lirst record of 
a vote of this town for State officers. 

At a meeting held October 23, a committee was chosen to procure 
beef for the army. 

[1781.] On January 11, 1781, a committee was chosen to procure 
soldiers for the Continental army, and on the thirtieth of the month 
the town voted " to give Sixty Pounds L. M. Paid in the Old Way in 
hard money. Stock. Produce or Equal in other things as shall be 
agreed on by the Town and Persons Engageing." 

At a subsequent meeting, held the third of February, the town voted 
that the above-named sum should be given as a bounty to each man 
that should enlist for three years as a soldier, and that it should be 
paid " by the tenth Day of ]\Liy next, or as 31any ^lidling Cows & 
Calfs as shall amount to the Sum at five Pounds for each Cow ct Calf 
or Intrcst for the same till Paid." 

At a meeting held in March, the town voted that *' the Pools [polls] 
& estates in the Town be Divided into ten classes as Near as may 
be to Pay the Bounty Given the ten Continental soldiers, the Assess- 
ors to assess the Inhabitants «& Each Class to collect their Part & Pay 
to the Agents for the Soldiers according to Agreement." And that 
'' the whole sum contained in the Notes Given the Soldiers be assessed 
except the Cows that were Promised at the three years end, the Town 
to be assessed for the money." 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF HARP SWELL. 171 

At a meeting held in April, a Committee of Correspondence, Inspec- 
tion, and Safety was chosen as usual. 

At a June meeting it was voted to raise thirty-five pounds for cur- 
rent expenses and fifteen pounds for the support of the jwor, the 
money to be reckoned in silver dollars at six shillings each, or in other 
currency equivalent to silver. 

In July the town voted to raise £50 in silver, or its equivalent, for 
the purchase of the beef called for l)y the General Court in its 
requisition of June 22. 

On D('ceml)er /i, the town voted to pay twenty-two shillings per 
hundred-weight for the beef needed to fill the second and third requisi- 
tions, and to raise £10 for that purpose. 

[1782.] In May, 1782, the town voted to relieve the tax collector 
of all responsibility for the counterfeit mone}' he had received prior to 
July, 1781, upon his making oath to the facts. The usual Conunit- 
tee of Correspondence, etc., was chosen this year. 

[1 783.] In March, of this year, the town voted to build two pounds, 
one to be erected on the neck and the other on the island. 

In Ma}', Nathaniel Purinton, Esquire, Lieutenant Anthon}' Coombs, 
Deacon Andrew Dunning, Benjamin Dunning, and Lieutenant Michad 
Curtis were chosen a Committee of Inspection, " on account of the 
Return of the Absentees." 

[178o.] In March, 1785, the town voted to rent a workhouse, 
also to pay for labcr on the highwaj-s the following rates : 4s. per day 
per man, 2.s. for oxen, 8fi. for a cart, and 1.?. for a plough. 

[1787.] On January 8, 1787, the town voted in favor of the three 
eastern counties being made a separate State, and Captain Isaac Snow 
was elected to represent the town at the convention to be held at 
Portland on thelast "Wednesday in January. 

■ On December 10, Captain Isaac Snow was elected a delegate to 
attend the convention to be held at Boston on the second Wednesda}^ 
of the succeeding Januarj', and a conmiittee was chosen to give him 
instructions. On the twenty-eighth of the month the town met to hear 
the instructions which the committee had prepared, and it was at this 
meeting voted to "except [accept] the federal Constitution with 
Amendments." This vote explains the object of the convention for 
which the town had chosen a delegate. 

[1792.] The town appears to have been very undecided as to the 
utility of a separation of the eastern counties from Massachusetts. 
In January it voted in favor of it and in Ma}- against it. 

[1794 ] On August 11, 1794, it was voted " to give the men that 



172 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

shall go on this detacliment five dollars as a bount}' if they are called 
for into service. Voted to make up to the men that shall List with 
the Continental Pay, twelve dollars per month for three months if 
the}' should be called into actual service." The object for which a 
detachment was made from the Harpswell company of militia has not 
been ascertained. It is evident, however, from the above vote, that 
it was of a national character. 

In November of this .year, Stephen Purinton, Johnson Stover, and 
Benjamin Dunning were chosen to make a survey and plan of the 
town, in accordance with the provisions of an Act of the General 
Court passed the preceding eighteenth of June. 

[1795.] This 3'ear the town voted — thirty-eight to twelve — 
against a revision of the Constitution. 

[1796.] In May of this year the town voted "That if an}' let 
his Ram go at Large between the first daj' of September and the 
Tenth Day of November he shall forfeit the Ram." 

[1797.] On Ma}' 10, 1797, the town again voted against a sepa- 
ration of the District of Maine from the State of Massachusetts. 

[1798.] At a meeting held October 15, 1798, the town voted against 
"the formation of a new county to be composed of the towns of 
Brunswick, Harpswell, Durham, Georgetown, Bath, Topshara, Bow- 
doin, Bowdoinham, Little River, Litchfield, Green, Lewiston, Wales, 
and Littleborough." 

[1803.] In 1803 the town offered a bounty of four cents for each 
crow killed during that year. 

[1805.] In 1805 it was voted that " if the Treasurer shall receive 
any bank bills that will not pass that the town will receipt for the 
same." This was a singular way to discountenance the counterfeiting 
of money. 

[1810.] This town seems to have been remarkably lenient towards 
those who had been imposed upon by counterfeit, or bad money, for 
this year it was voted "to receive a three dollar bill of the Widow 
Sarah Haskell, on Vermont State Bank, said not to be good, and give 
her good money in lieu of the same, and voted that Paul Ra}'mond 
have the bill and make sale of it to the best advantage." 

[1812.] At the annual meeting in 1812, the town voted " that 
Peter Birthright [and his family] live on the premises where they are 
and the Selectmen supply them with necessary s." 

A present often dollars was also voted to Samuel Clark. At a special 
meeting, held August 24th, Stephen Purinton and John Curtis were 
elected delegates to a County Convention to be held at Gray " to take 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 173 

measures to alleviate the miseries of war, and bring about a speedy 
and lasting peace." The selectmen, with Stephen Purinton and Marl- 
borough S^'lvester, were chosen a Committee of Safet}^ and Correspond- 
ence. 

[1S14.] At a meeting held July 25th, the town chose Stephen 
Purinton as an agent to go to Boston to receive Harpswell's quota of 
the State stock of arms and ammunition, provided that he could get 
them at the expense of the State and without cost to the town. 

At a town meeting held the seventh of November, the selectmen 
were chosen a committee to receive into their care the arms and 
equipments for the town, and were authorized to dispose of the arms, 
one to a person, on sufficient security that those who received them 
would deliver them up when called for. 

[1816.] In May, 1816, the town again voted against a separation 
from Massachusetts, and in September also, by a still stronger vote. 
At this latter meeting Reverend Samuel P^aton was chosen as delegate 
to the convention to be held at Brunswick on the last Monda}- in 
September. 

[1817.] In 1817 the collectorship of taxes on the Great Island was 
struck otf at auction to John Reed at five and a quarter cents, and 
that on the Neck to David Orr at four and a half cents on the dollar. 

[1819.] In July, 1819, the town again voted against the separation 
of Maine, but at a meeting held in vSeptember, Stephen Purinton was 
elected delegate to the Portland conveirtion, and on the sixth of 
December the town voted in favor of accepting the Constitution 
prepared by that convention. 

UNDER STATE OF MAINE. 

[1821.] At a meeting held February 25, 1821, the town voted to 
send a representative to the legislature for their proportionate part of 
the time, but objected to being classed for representation with any 
other town. At this meeting the town also voted against being set 
off from the county of Cumberland, and also against the formation of 
a new county. At a meeting held in May, it was voted " that Joseph 
Eaton shall purchase locks and hinges for the town chest, at the 
expense of the town." 

[1822.] In 1822 the town's poor were, according to custom, set at 
vendue, but a vote was passed that those who bid them off should fur- 
nish them with suitable food and with tobacco, but should provide no 
clothing without the consent of the overseers of the poor. At a 
meeting of the town, held on December 21, a committee was chosen 



174 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHA.V, AXD HARPSWEIL. 

to prosout to the legislntinv :i ivmonstninoe agaiii!>t the proposed 
division ot' Cmubevland County. At this meeting the selectmen were 
instrueteil to i-emonstrate to the legislature "" against the now 
extended limits of the jail yard in this oounty." ^ The town also 
voted tluit the selectmen and town elerk should " instruct the repre- 
sentative in future events." 

[182;>.] In 1823 the town voted in favor of allowing the inhabi- 
tants of Great Island to be set otl'as a separate town. 

[182o.] At the annual tall meeting this year, •• it was motioned 
and seconded to take the minds of the people whether to send a rep- 
resentative or not, and the vote was not to send. The presiding 
selectman then told the people if there were any who wished to bring 
in their votes he should receive them." The result was that dohn 
Curtis had twenty-two votes, Paul Kandall thirteen, and IVlog Curtis 
one vote. 

[182(5.] At the September meeting, in 182G, the town voted that 
the militia should be furnished with one quarter of a pound of powiler 
for each man — made into blank cartridges — and that the commanders 
of companies should cause it to be expended in teaching the men pre- 
cision in tiring. Lutlier Dana was. in November of this year, licensed 
'• as a retailer of strong liquors to be spent out of his shop." This is 
the tirst lieouse of the kind recorded in the town records. 

[1827.] In 1827 the town voted to let the powder remain in the 
magazine, and to pay the militia money instead of rations ; also, to 
deliver to each non-commissioned otticer and private — at the review 
inspection — one quarter of a pound of powder to be made into blank 
cartriilges. 

[1829.] In 1820 the town voted that the selectmen should grant 
licenses to sell intoxicating liquors to all suitable persons, who were 
victuallers or retailers, that should apply tor a license agreeably to the 
pi-ovisions of au Act passed in March of that year. 

[18ol.] On January o. 1831, the town voted unanimoutiJ;/ against 
the formation of a new county, if llarpswell was to be included in it. 
On January 25, it was voted to petition the legislature not to class 
llarpswell with any other town for representation, but for it to author- 
i/.e the town to elect a representative for such a portion of time and 
at such period as should be equal to their portion of representation. 
The request was not granted. 



1 H'as this an exquisite bit of satire, impli^iny that the Jail was so insecure that the 
prisimers nnvned all orer the counti/ ? 



MfJXIfJJ/'AL HISTORY OF lIAltl'SWKLL. 175 

[I8;{2.] On July 7, 1H,")2, !i law of Maicli, 1H.",2, rolatiiif? to vncfi- 
nalioii wiiH nsiid, and llic town then voted 1o make no pifjvision for 
vacfinatinj^ tin; inliabitantw, and to ra'iHe no money for Hiieli a purjxjse. 
Pelcg (.'nrtis, JoHeph Eaton, Levi !>. T<jtman, Stephen Snow, and 
David Johnson, 2d, w(!re chosen a llr-alth Committee, and were 
instructed to use; all reasonable m(;ans to pievent the introduction and 
spread of the chohira in that town. 

[18.'M.] On F(!l)ruary lo, 18:54, the town voted, for a fourth time, 
against the formati(jn of a new county, and still again at a meeting in 
8eptcml)er. It was also voted this year that no licenses should he 
granted to retailers, permitting them to sell liquor to be drank in their 
stores. The selectnuiu were aulhoiiwjd to grant permits for the taking 
of lobsters, and the next year (188;')), they were instructed to grant a 
license to Captain John Smith, of Waterford, Connecticut, and com- 
pany, to take lobsters, — he not to emplo}' more than six smacks, — 
and to none others, for the sum of one hundred dollais jxjr yeai- until 
the town ordered otherwise. 

[183G.] An article! in the warrant for llu; annual meeting of the 
town in 1>S,'5(;, for purchasing one; or more hearses, was" passed over," 
and until the year 1877 there was no hearse in town. 

[IH;57.] In March of this year tlu; representative was instructed 
to favor the passage of an Act so that the town might receive its pi-o- 
portion of the surplus revenue. At a meeting, held tlu; next April, 
IJenjamiu Randall was chosen an agent to receive the town's propor- 
tion of the surj)lus revenue, and it was voted to have this money 
loaned to the citizens, and a committee was chosen to HUpei'intcnd 
the loan. It was also, at this meeting, voted that the overseers of 
the poor should tr}' to remove all negroes from the town. This action 
ma}' have been due to anti[)athy against the race, but it was more 
probalily because the negroes were all paupers. "The town, also, this 
year, voted almost unanimousl}^ against an amendment to the State 
Constitution relative to bail. 

[18;)8.] 'J'his year the town voted that the suri)lus revenue nuMiey 
should l)e divided among the citizens, X'^'n" <:o,pitci, as soon as it could 
be collected. Paul Kandall was chosen an agent to collect and distrib- 
ute it, and he was authorized to colk'ct it " in Union IJank bills and 
small change." 

[1839.] The town this ^ear voted against a proposed amendment 
to the State Constitution, relating to the tenure of judicial (;llicers. 

[IHIO.] At the regular meeting this year a committee was 
appointed to consider and report concerning the annual value of the 



176 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

lobster privilege. They reported that it was worth one hundred and 
ten dollars per year, and the town voted to lease it at that price. 

[1841.] The town, this year, voted in favor of a resolve of the 
legislature, passed in April, which reduced the number of repre- 
sentatives to one hundred and fift3--one. Also, in favor of diminish- 
ing the number of representatiAcs when they reached two hundred. 
The town, this year, again petitioned the legislature not to class 
Harps well with any other town, but to assign its proportion of rep- 
resentation. 

[1843.] A committee was chosen, this year, to ascertain where 
land could be purchased for an almshouse. 

[1844.] The town, in 1844, voted ve-y strong!}' against a resolve 
of the legislature for amending the Constitution, which was passed 
March 19, and it also A^oted unanimousl}^ against an Act to estab- 
lish town courts, which was passed by the legislature, March 22. 

[1845.] In February, 1845, a committee was chosen to petition 
the legislature for a separate representation. Several meetings were 
held in the winter and spring of this year, to fill the vacancy caused by 
the resignation of Samuel Ma^'all, the representative to the legisla- 
ture. There was no choice, as this town voted each time for a 
llarpswell man instead of one from Gray, the town with which it was 
classed in representation. The town this 3-ear purchased land and 
built a house — which it still owns — on Lamboe's Point, for Thomas 
J. Pennell and family, Avho had lately removed from Gray. Pennell 
was a poor man, but able-bodied, and the town furnished this assist- 
ance as a precautionar}' measure to keep him from becoming a pauper. 

[184G.] This year the town had the same trouble as the year 
before in regard to electing a representative. 

[1847.] The town in 1847 voted against a resolve of the legisla- 
ture which provided for the election of representatives to the legislature 
by a plurality vote ; also, against an Act pledging the credit of the 
State and creating a State debt. 

[1851.] In 1851 the town again petitioned for a separate repre- 
sentation in the State legislature. 

[1852.] In 1852 the selectmen were instructed to appoint an 
agent to sell liquors. 

[1853] At a special meeting, held on February 26, 1853, the 
town was found to be unanimoush' opposed to Harpswell being set 
off from Cumberland and annexed to another count}', and it was 
voted to remonstrate against all petitions for new counties that in- 
cluded Harpswell. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF HARPS WELL. 177 

[1855.] In March of this 3'ear the town A-oted not to dispense 
with a liquor agenc3^ hut that if the selectmen should appoint an 
agent the_v should buy the liquor and pay him a reasonable compensa- 
tion for selling it, the town receiving the profits thereof. In September 
the town voted against certain proposed amendments to the State 
Constitution, b}- which judges of probate, registers of probate, sher- 
iffs, municipal and police judges, land-agent, attorney-general, and 
adjutant-general should be elected by the people. 

[1H56.] In March, 1856, the selectmen were instructed to see if 
the old meeting-house could be obtained of the proprietors, and in 
Sejjtember the town voted to buy it for a town-house, for one hundred 
dollars, the price being that fixed by the proprietors. 

[1857.] The selectmen were instructed in 1857 to remove the 
body pews in the town-house, build a chimney, provide wood, etc. 

[1858.] At a special meeting, heldin May of this year, the town 
voted unanimously in favor of the prohibitory law ; fiftj^-nine votes 
being cast. 

[1859.] The town in 1859 voted against State aid to the " Aroos- 
took Railroad Company." It was also voted that the selectmen 
should take counsel in reference to some disputed islands adjacent to 
Harpswcll, and should report as to the probability of the town's being 
able to deny them. The representative to the legislature was instructed 
to use all means in his power to reduce the expenses of the State 
government. 

[1861.] In 1861 the town voted to petition the legislature for a 
separate representation for the term of ten years. The request was 
not granted. 

The town records, subsequently to the last date, contain nothing of 
general interest, except what relates to the enlistment of volunteers 
and the support of their families, which will be mentioned in another 
connection, until 1865. 

[1865.] At a meeting, held April 8, of this 3'ear, it was voted to 
raise $2,500 to purchase a town farm. Charles Stover, Paul C. 
Alexander, and Paul A. Durgan were chosen to hire the monej^ and 
were instructed to hire it on town bonds, running fifteen years. This 
vote, however, was evidently never carried into effect. 

[1866.] At the annual meeting in 1866 the town voted to leave 
the poor in the care of the overseers. It was also voted to raise 
$1,500 for the support of the poor. 

[1867.] In 1867 the selectmen were authorized and instructed to 
have a room finished in the gallery' of the town-house for an office, 
12 



1 78 HISTOin' OF liRUy^SWICK, TOFSIIAM, J.YZ) IIAIiPiiWELL. 

iiiul also to biiiltl a chiinupy and procure a stove, and to have the 
ltuililin<; sliinulod. At a nioetin«i- hold June 3d, the town voted unani- 
mously in f^ivor of an Act of the legislature for the suppression of 
drinkino-houses and tippling-shops. 

[18()i).] At the animal meetiuii' this year it was voted to buy a 
town farm, and L. II. Stover, "William C. Eaton, and S, S. Toothaker 
were eliosen a eonunittee to get proposals, and were instructed to 
report at a meeting to be called for the purpose. The eonunittee 
reported on the twenty-t\)urth of April, and the town voted to raise 
$;>,00() by loan to purchase a farm, ami the selectmen were instructed 
(if in their judguient the interests of the town required the purchase 
of a town farm) to purchase such a fiirm as they should think proper, 
and make the necessary repairs on the same. 

[1870.] At the annual meeting in 1S70, the town voted to leave 
the care of the poor with the overseers, and also to raise Si,")!)!) for 
their support. The town also voted " that the treasurer be instructed 
to keep the State bonds arising from ccpialization in iiis own luMise." 

[1871.] On Jamiary 1-4, 1871, the town voted that the selectnien 
and overseers of the poor " be and are hereby instructed to build a 
new barn for James Alexander in place of the one destroyed by tire, 
and that they furnish him with hay and sutVicient farming tools, using 
their di>ci'etiou in the matter." 

The town also passed the following resolve : — 

'' That in our candid judguient the burning of the barn of James 
Alexander, "id, and the maiming of his cattle in the night-time by 
some person or persons unknown, is an outrage upon a peaceable com- 
munity which demands the most vigorous etlbrts to detect and convict 
the perpetrator, as no person is safe in his person or proi)erty in a 
community containing at large such a person. 

" Therefore, Ri solved. That the selectmen be authorized and in- 
structed and are hereby required to make diligent search to appre- 
hend and convict the otfendor, using their discretion as to the methods 
to be taken to produce that result." 

The selectmen were also instructed to oppose the repeal of the Porgie 
Law, before the Conunittee on Fisheries at Augusta. 

At a meeting held February (>th, the following preamble and resolu- 
tion were passed by unanimous vote : — 

" Whereas the location of our town of Ilarpswell is so isolated and 
is so far removed from any town not entitled to a representative, 
that it would be very inconvenient, and of no benefit to have it classed 
for representation. 



MUNICIPAL mSTORY OF IIARI'SWKLL. 170 

" Therefore, Resolved, 'i'liat wo in our corporate capacity, agreeable 
to the requirernont.s of the constitution of Maine, do hereby determine 
against a classification with any other town or plantation, and we do 
hereby instruct the town clerk to forward a copy of this resolution to 
the speaker of the House of Representatives, praying that the legisla- 
ture may authorizie the town of Ilarpswell to elect a representative 
for such portion of time and such periods as shall be equal to its por- 
tion of representation." 

Tlie pra3'er was not granted, however, an<l Ilarpswell still continues 
to be a classed town. 

At the annual meeting this year, the town vot(;d that the selectmen 
" be authoriz(!(l to purchase a town farm the present year and to hire 
money for the purijose." This vote, however, was never carried into 
effect. 

[187.').] At a meeting held in October, 1873, the town voted to 
exempt from taxation for six j'ears the property located and the capi- 
tal invested in Ilarpswell, of S. F. Perley and twenty-five others, 
who were associated for the manufacture of superphosphates, bone, 
plaster, fertilizers, and acids. 

The important doings of the town not already mentioned will be 
found incori>orated in other chapters. 



180 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 



CHAPTER IV. 

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 

The town of Topsham first received its name, legally, in the 3'ear 
1717, when a vote passed in the House of Representatives of the Com- 
monwealth of Massachusetts, "That the other Town Plotted In a 
square of a Mile to y^ eastward of Androscoggin River fronting to 
Merrimeeting Bay be allowed and accepted by the name of Topsham 
and be Plotted & Laid out the quantity- of Six miles Square as the 
Land will allow." ^ This tract of land was mainly settled b}^ English 
emigrants, the greater number of whom are supposed to have come 
from the town of Topsham, England, and to have named the place in 
memory of their former home. The situation of the place on the bank 
of a river may possibly have given it, to the minds of its founders, a 
fancied resemblance to its English namesake. 

The settlement of the town under the Pejepscot proprietors has 
already been given in previous chapters. No records of any municipal 
doings of the inhabitants previous to the incorporation of the town 
have been preserved, if, indeed, there ever were such. 

UXDER THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. 

[1764.] The municipal history' of the town commences, therefore, 
with its incorporation in Januaiy, 17G4. The petition for an Act of 
Incorporation was as follows : — 

"PROVINCE OF THE MASS-* BAT. 
" To His Excellency Francis Barnard Esq Gov" & Commander in 
Chief of Said Province, The Honb"-" His Majestys Councill and 
THE Hon""-^ House of Eepresentatives in General Court assem- 
bled, Dec. 21, 1763. 

"THE PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE SETTLEMENT OF 
TOPSHAM IN THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN. 

Most Humbly Sheweth. 
"That from the Year 1715 under the Sanction & approbation of 
this Honoured court the Settlement of said Place was projected at the 

1 Massachusetts Records, 1717. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF TOP SHAM. 181 

Desire & Expense of the Pejepscot Proprietors under whose Right 
the said Inhabitants originall}' settled & so continue to this present 
time : That we always have been and still are an Exposed Frontier & 
have greatly suffered by tlie Indian Enemy Nevertheless by the 
Divine Favour have maintained said Settlement under the Protection 
of this Government and there are at this time to the number of thirty 
five families who are desirous of being incorporated that so t\\ey may 
be enabled to have the Gospell setled among them having already 
erected a Frame for the Meeting house in said Place ; also that they 
may be qualified to transact their Affairs among themselves necessary" 
to their better Settlement in Town Order the said Inhabitants having 
laboured under many Inconveniences on these Accounts and b}' their 
Situation have been Subjected to be taxed bj' the Town of Brunswick 
on which account they have had Just Cause to think themselves no so 
fairly treated by them. 

"Therefore 3-our Petitioners most humbly entreat this Honourd 
Court would be pleased to incorporate them into a Township or 
District that they may be entitled to the Advantages & Priviledges 
other ToAvns enjoy by virtue of the Ro^-all Cliarter and that the said 
present Settlement may thrive & flourish under the encouragement & 
Protection of this Ilon*^ Court, And 3'our Petitioners as in Duty 
bound shall ever pray. 

" Adam Hunter John Patten 

William Thorne Sam" Winchell 

James Bevkridge Sam"-"- Staples 

Ezra Randall John Winchell 

William Reed Junr Stephen Staples 

Charles Robinson Joseph Graves 

John Reed Johnson Graves 

William Reed Samuel Graves 

David Reed Archibald Moffatt 

John Orr Gowen Fulton 

James Mustard 

James Work 

Eben" Work 

James Hunter 

W:: Hunter 

James Fulton 

Robert Fulton 

John Fulton 

W" Patten "1 

^Pejepscot Papers. 



182 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AXD IIARPSWELL. 

In accordauoo ^Yith this potitioiu Topshnin was duly incorporated in 
17G4. Tlie following is a copy of the Act of Incorporation : — 

"Anno Regm Regis GEORGII III Teutio Quarto, 17(14. 



"TOPSHAM A TOWNSHIP. 

"AX ACT 

for oroctinir ;\ Town in the County of LiDcoln by tlio X;uno of Tupsham. 

'' Whekkas the Iithubitants {Settled on <i Tract of Land sit- 
uate on the e'isterh/ Side of Androscoggin River, lying 
convenient for a Town, hitherto called and known by the 
name of Tppsliam. within the County of Lincoln, hare Preamble. 
humbly petitioned this Court, thd for the Reasons there- 
in mentio7ied, thfy may be Incm'poi'ated into a Town, 
and vested ivith the Powers and Authorities belonging to 
other Towns. 

Therefore for the Encourairemout of said Settlement : 

'' Be it enacted by ins Excellency the Governor, ^ , . 

Bounds of 

Council ani> IIoise of Representatives in General Topsham. 
Court Assembled. 

"That the Said Tract of Land described as follows, viz. to begin 
npon the Southerly Line of the Town of Bowdoinham, where Said 
Line strikes the "Water, and from thence to run a West Northwest 
Course upon said Bou-doinhani Line, as far as it goes, and from 
thence on the same Streight Course to Little liiver so called, which is 
about eight Miles from the "Water aforesaid, and from thence South- 
wardly down said Little River to Androscoggin River, and down said 
Androscoggin River to ;Merrv-ineeting Bay, and from thence to the 
Line of Boiodoinhani aforesaid, including several small Islands or 
Islets lying in said Androscoggin River, between the Said Ijittle River 
and the Falls at Brunswick Fort, be, and hereby is erected into a 
Town to be called To2)sh<nn. and the Inhabitants thereof shall have 
and enjoy all such Immunities and Triviledges as other Towns in this 
Province have and do by Law enjoy. 

" And be it further enacted, That^loro^ Hinkley, First meeting 
Esq. be and hereby is empowered to issue his Warrant l'^^^^' ^*^^^ called, 
to some principal Inhabitant of the said Town of To2)sham. requiring 
him in his ^lajesty's Name to warn and notif}' the said Inhabitants 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF TOPSIIAM. 183 

qualified to vote in Town Affairs, to meet together at such Time and 
Place in Said Town as shall be appointed in said Warrant, to chuse 
such Ollicer.s as the Law directs and may be necessar}' to manage the 
Affairs of Said Town ; and the Inhabitants being so met shall be and 
hereby are impowered to Chuse such Officers accordingly."^ 

The first town meeting was held May 9, 1764. In accordance with 
the Act of Incorporation, the warrant for this meeting was issued by 
Aaron Ilinklc}', of Brunswick, a justice of the peace, and was 
addressed to Adam Hunter. The following officers were elected at 
this meeting, \\z. : — 

Gowen Fulton, moderator ; William Thorne, clerk ; Adam Hunter, 
treasurer; John Fulton, John Read, and John ]\Ierrill, selectmen; 
Hugh Wilson, constalde ; David Reed, Paul Randall, and Samuel 
Wilson, surveyors of highway's ; James Work and Thomas Wilson, 
tithing-mcn ; Ezra Randall and William Wilson, fence-viewers; 
Robert Gore, sealer of leather ; James Beverage and William Alexan- 
der, hog constables ; StephenJStaples and John Winchell, surve^'ors of 
boards, at Cathaiice ; John Merrill and William Wilson, surveyors of 
boards; Samuel Staples, pound-keeper; James Mustard, field-driver; 
James Hendr}' ( ? ) , surve^'or of staves, shingles, and hoop poles ; 
Adam Hunter, sealer of weights and measures ; James Hunter and 
Robert Gore, wardens. 

At a meeting, held June 2, Thomas Wilson, Adam Hunter, John 
Reed, John Fulton, and John Merrill were chosen a committee to lay 
out the highways and roads through the town. The town at this 
meeting voted to raise £;M 13.5. 4ri. as a contingent fund. There is 
no record to be found of anj' meetings of the town in 170.0. 

[1766.] At a meeting of the town, held May 8, 1766, Mr. Wil- 
liam Patten was chosen to prefer a petition to the General Court " in 
order to get Kate Hance Point annexed to Toi)sham, and likewise all 
the islands in Brunswick River, below the falls." 

[1767.] Tlie above-mentioned petition was presented to the House 
of Representatives, and in 1767 the committee to which it was referred 
reported in favor of its dismissal, and it was dismissed. ^ 

At a town meeting, held in July of this year, it was voted to allow 
men 3s. per day for work on the highways, and 2.s. per day for each 
yoke of oxen. 

[1769.] In 1769 Messrs. John Patten, William Patten, Robert 

1 Topshum Town Eecords. "^ Massachusetts Records, Vol. 2G, 1707, p. 49. 



184 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

Fulton, aud Robert Patten, inhabitants of Cathanee Point in tlie town 
of Bovvdoinham, presented a petition to the General Court, asking to 
be set off from Bowdoinham and annexed to Topsham. The petition 
was considered by the General Court, and an order issued that the 
petitioners should notify the town of Bowdoinham that they might 
show cause at the next session of the Court why the prayer of the 
petitioners should not be granted. ^ 

At the March meeting of the town, this 3'ear, James Potter, Jr., was 
chosen "to go to the General Court to get Cow Island, together with 
all the islands in the Narrows, annexed to Topsham." 

[1771.] On the petition from Topsham it was ordered, in 1771, 
that the petitioners should notify the town of Brunswick that their 
petition was revived, in order that the agents of that town might be 
on hand at the next session of the Court. ^ 

At the Ma}' meeting, this year, the toivn requested Mr. John INIerrill 
to draw up a memorial to the General Court, asking to have the line 
determined between Brunswick and Topsham. 

[1774.] At a meeting of the town, held November 19, 1774, it was 
unanimously voted that the town would stand b}' what the Continental 
and I'rovincial Congresses had done. 

[1775.] At a town meeting, held April 30, 1775, Robert Gower 
and William Randall were chosen a committee to meet the committees 
of other towns at I'ownalborough on the second of May, to represent 
the town of Topsham, as to the matter of provisions and ammuni- 
tion, and to consider the method of furnishing the same. 

The selectmen having petitioned the General Court for a supply of 
powder, that body passed a resolve to the effect that Topsham, being a 
seaport place in the eastern pai't of the colony, and much exposed to 
the attacks of the Indians, therefore it was recommended to the select- 
men of AVrentham, Massachusetts, to furnish the town with one half 
barrel of gunpowder at the expense of the colon}'. ^ 

[1776.] The town, at its March meeting this 3'ear, instructed the 
selectmen to petition the General Court to take off the provincial tax, 
"till the trade is opened." At this meeting James Potter, Junior, 
David Reed, James Fulton, John Merrill, and Robert Hunter were 
chosen a Committee of Inspection, Safety-, and Correspondence. 

At a meeting held June 12th, the selectmen were authorized to hire 
£30, lawful mone}-, to furnish the town with a stock of powder. In 

1 Massachusetts Records, Vol. 28, 1769, p. 144. 
'^ Massachusetts Records, Vol. 29, 1771, p. 257. 
^Massachusetts Records, Vol. 31, 1775, p. 212. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 185 

December, the town voted to keep this powder at Captain James 
Mustard's and at Captain Actor Patten's. 

[1777.] At the annual meeting of the town in March, 1777, a new 
Committee of Safet}', etc., was chosen, consisting of Joseph Graves, 
David Robinson, Joseph Foster, James Purinton, and Pelatiah Hale}*. 
At another meeting, held the latter part of this same month, it was 
voted to petition the General Court for authority to collect the 
"Province Taxes" for 1776. Also, to send an agent to meet with 
other committees in other towns of the county, to regulate the j)rices 
of goods, etc. 

[177S.] At the May meeting in 1778, the number voting against 
the constitution of the government, as it then was, was nineteen, 
and there were none in favor of it. The small number voting may 
possibly be due to a bad state of the weather and a consequently thin 
attendance, rather than to indifference. This vote was in reference 
to the ratification of the first Constitution of Massachusetts. ^ 

A good deal of doubt was felt in town about this time in ;-egard to 
the legality of a number of previous meetings, in consequence of there 
having been a neglect on the part of the constables to make a regular 
return on the warrants for holding these meetings. The matter was 
laid before the General Court in a petition. The General Court 
accordingh' passed a resolve this year, "• That none of the proceedings 
of said meetings or of an^' town meetings since March, 1776, shall be 
considered as invalid on account of the irregularity of the said returns, 
or neglect in recording the same."^ 

[1779.] In March, 1779, the town requested John Merrill, Esquire, 
to furnish a plan of the whole township. At a meeting held in July, 
the town voted to procure the number of shoes, stockings, and shirts 
which the General Court called for, for the use of the arm}-. 

[1780.] At the annual meeting in 1780, the town voted to give 
fifty dollars a pair for the shoes referred to above, sixty dollars a pair 
for the shirts, and forty dollars a pair for the stockings. The town at 
this meeting appropriated £1,600 for highways, and voted to pa^^ 
twenty dollars per day for work on the same. £1,000 was also appro- 
priated for current expenses. 

At a meeting of the town held November 20, the selectmen were 
instructed to inform the General Court that the beef called for by 
them 3 could not be obtained without great difficult}'. 

' Bancroft, Iliatory of United States, 9, p 260. 
^Massachusetts Records Vol 38, 1778, p. 674. 

^Each town was required to furnish its proportion of beef, etc ,for the support of the 
Massachusetts army. 



186 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

[1781.] At a special meeting, held February 6, 1781, the town 
voted to postpone getting the beef refeiTed to above, " until further 
orders." At this meeting a committee was chosen to procure the 
enlistment of seven men for the army, as required by the General 
Court. At the April meeting. Actor Fatten, Lieutenant David Reed, 
and John Rogers were chosen a Committee of Correspondence and 
Safety. At a meeting held in May, the selectmen were directed to 
purchase the cows " promised to the Continental soldiers." The town 
also, at this meeting, voted that if the General Court had released or 
would release this count}^ from sending its quota of men to the Con- 
tinental Arm}', in that case the selectmen would " settle with the 
soldiers for this town as the}' think proper." The town also voted to 
raise £486, hard mone}-, or cows with calf or with calves by their side, 
— cows to be reckoned equivalent to eight pounds each, — or £3,000 
in paper-mone}'. 

At a meeting held the July following, it was voted to petition the 
General Court to release the town from providing the beef called for 
by them. 

[1782.] At a meeting held January 14, 1782, the town voted to 
petition the General Court in regard to the difficulty the}' experienced 
in paying their taxes, and to employ William Lithgow, P^squire, of 
Boston, to speak in favor of the petition. h\ March, John Merrill 
and William Wilson were chosen a committee to petition the General 
Court in regard to the people at Little River settlement refusing to 
pay their taxes. Frobably the settlement at Little River was an 
" adjacent" of Topsham. 

At a meeting of the town, held on the last day of August, Captain 
George White was chosen delegate to a convention to be held at 
Wiscasset, to consider the question of a separation of the District of 
Maine from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

[1783.] At the March meeting in 1783 it was voted to rate the 
islands below the Falls to the town of Topsham. The wolves must 
have been committitig depredations about this time, as at this meet- 
ing a bounty of 40.s. per head was offered for all that were killed. At 
a meeting held in May, the town voted to comply with the resolve of 
the town of Boston, in regard to permitting absent refugees to I'eturn. 
Captain David Reed, John Winehell, and Robert Alexander were 
chosen a Committee of Correspondence and Safety, this year. 

[1784.] William Reed, Ezekiel Thompson, and John Rogers were 
chosen a Committee of Correspondence and Safety for 1784. 

[178a.] William Randall, Actor Patten, and Joseph Berry were 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 187 

the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety for the year 
1785. At a meeting held in November of this year, Samnel Thomp- 
son was chosen a- delegate to a convention to be held at Falmouth, to 
consider as to the advisability of having the eastern counties made 
into a new State. The town at this time voted to petition the Gen- 
eral Court to relieve them, whoU}' or in part, of their taxes, then due, 
or about to become due, on account of " the great loss the town had 
sustained by the late great freshet." It was, also, at this meeting, 
resolved, " that the former petition sent to the General Court, with 
regard to the islands in the Androscoggin River being annexed to 
Topsham," was agreeable to the present wishes of the town. 

The General Court this year, on the petition of the inhabitants of 
Topsham witli regard to the islands before mentioned, ordered that 
the petitioners serve the town of Brunswick with an attested cop}' of 
their petition, and of this order, twent}' days before the second 
Wednesday- of the next session of the Court. ^ 

On the petition for an abatement of taxes, the General Court so far 
granted the request as to direct the treasurer of the Commonwealth to 
credit the town of Topsham with the sura of £12G 6s. 'M. on the sec- 
ond tax set on the town in the j^ear 1780.2 

[1786.] At the annual town meeting in 1786, Samuel Thompson 
was chosen a delegate to the convention to be held at Falmouth on 
the first Wednesday of the following September. The question as to 
whether the District of Maine should be separated from Massachusetts 
was brought l^efore the people in November, and this town voted in 
favor of a separation. 

[1787.] At the annual meeting in 1787, the selectmen were 
directed to see that the town was provided with a stock of powder 
and ammunition, as provided by law. The}' were also directed to 
join in a petition of the people of Cathance in regard to having Cat- 
hance Neck annexed to Topsham. At this meeting a committee was 
chosen to take care of the fishery, agreeable to an act of the General 
Court in 1780, providing for its protection.^ At a meeting held Sep- 
tember 29, it was voted to petition the General Court " to consider us 
with regard to our deficienc}' in not [?] paying our taxes." At a 
meeting held the last da}' of the year, the town voted "against the 
constitution," and Samuel Thompson was chosen a delegate to a con- 
vention to be held at Boston."* 



^ Massachusetts Records, Vol 46, 1785, p. 97. ^Ibid., p. 5M. 

^ Massach'isetts Records, Vol. 48, p. 472. *Seep. 132. 



18 S HISTORY OF BRUXSWICK, TOPSIUM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

[1788.] On March 29, 1788, the General Court decided, on the 
petition of John Patten and others, of Bowdoinham, and of the town 
of Topsham, that Patten's Point, so called, be set off' from the town 
of Bowdoinham, and annexed to the town of Topsham. ^ 

At the May meeting, 1788, the selectmen were instructed to employ 
some person as agent to discharge the beef tax then standing against 
the town, and to authorize him to draw the mone}' out of the town 
treasur}'. The town at this meeting voted that an application should 
be made to the General Court for an act to stop the catching of 
salmon b}' dip-nets and seines, and to prevent the building of weirs. 
Samuel Thompson was elected representative to the General Court, 
but was instructed not to attend its next session without orders from 
the selectmen. Another petition was also ordered to be sent to the 
General Court, in regard to the deficiency in taxes. At a meeting 
held in December the town gave its consent to the building of a boom 
from Mason's Rock to Ferry Point,^ and fixed a scale of prices to be 
paid the owners of the boom, for stopping masts, bowsprits, logs, etc. 

[1791.] In 1791 the representative was instructed not to attend 
the session of the General Court except so ordered b^' the authorities 
of the town, unless at his own expense. The town this ^ear voted in 
favor of a separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts. 
The town also voted against the proposed plan of cutting a canal from 
the Canying-Place in Brunswick to Maquoit. But one person voted 
in favor of this project, w'hile there were fifty voting in the negative. 
The town also voted to raise this year one half of the monc}- allowed 
by the General Court for the damages caused by the great freshet of 
1785. The excessive depreciation of the old paper currency at tliis 
time is shown b}' the instructions given to the selectmen, which were 
to the effect that they should take the paper-money belonging to the 
town and sell it as best thej- could, but not for a less price than seven 
dollars, current money, for $1,000 of the old. 

[1792.] In 1792 the town voted to distribute, among the sufferers 
b}' the great freshet of 1785, one half of the money allowed by the 
General Court for this purpose. At the Ma}' meeting the town again 
voted in favor of a separation of the District from the Commonwealth. 
In November the town cast its vote in favor of Samuel Thompson 
as a Presidential elector. In the list of votes for Presidential electors, 

^Massachusetts Special Laws, Vol. 1, p. 194. 

^ Ferry Point, the point of land at the Topsham end of the iron bridge. Before the 
toll-bridye was built, thereivas a ferry from this point to the landing in Brunswick below 
Mason's Rock, hence its name. 



MUNICIPAL IIISTOEY OF TOPSHAM. 189 

in the Massachusetts archives, the number of votes for him is recorded 
as seventy-seven. 

[1793.] In 1793 Samuel Thompson was chosen a delegate to the 
convention, to be held at Portland in December, to consider the expe- 
diency of forming a new State. 

[1794.] At the annual meeting in 1794, the town voted to purchase 
a stock of ammunition. At a meeting, held September 18, William 
King, afterwards governor, being moderator, the town voted " that 
those men who shall this da}^ enlist, agreeably to the Act of Congress 
of the 10th of Ma3' last,^ shall receive a bounty of four dollars per 
man, whether called for or not." The town, moreover, voted that 
those who should enlist should have their wages made equal, by the 
town, to ten dollars a month, from the time they should march to actual 
service until their discharge from the service, allowing them a reason- 
able time to return home ; and that the}' should have one month's wages 
advanced on their march. Also, that one dollar of the aforesaid bount}' 
should be paid on enlistment, and the remaining three dollars on pro- 
ducing a certificate of having passed muster. Colonel John Read, Jr., 
Captain Actor Patten, and Doctor Benjamin Jones Porter were chosen 
a committee to draw up the enlistment orders and to wait on the men 
and see that their names were enrolled. In November it was voted that 
a survey of the town be taken, agreeably to a resolve of the General 
Court. This 3'ear, for the first time, several persons were warned to 
leave the town, not having its consent to reside therein. 

[1795.] At the meeting, this year, the selectmen were authorized 
to take measures to secure the lot of land called the school lot, which 
was said to belong to the town. 

Samuel Thompson was chosen a delegate to a convention, held at 
Portland, for the same purpose as the previous conventions, and Wil- 
liam King was chosen representative to the General Court. 

[1797.] The question in regard to a separation of the District from 
the Commonwealth again came before the people in May, 1797, and 
the town voted forty-six in favor to one aigainst a separation. 

[1798.] This year William King was chosen delegate to a conven- 
tion to be held at Hallowell, on the fourth Tuesday of the October 
following, to consider the expediency of dividing Lincoln Count}', and 
if judged expedient, to agree on the dividing line. 

[1799.] At a meeting held May 6, 1799, the town .voted to peti- 
tion the General Court to have a Court of Common Pleas and General 

1 For the improvement of the militia, Williamson, 2, p. 570, 



190 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Sessions of the Peace held in Topsham thereafter. Reverend Jona- 
than Ellis, Doctor Benjamin Jones Porter, and James Purington were 
chosen a committee to draft and present the petition. 

[1801.] In 1801 Captain Robert Patten was exempted from pa}'- 
ing taxes for that year " by reason of his house being burnt." 

[1802.] At its March meeting in 1802, the town voted to hold its 
meetings in future in the Court House, and the meeting in the May 
following was held there.' At this same meeting it was voted not 
to send any representative to the General Court that year. A motion 
was made to reconsider this vote, but it was not carried. " After the 
moderator (Reverend Jonathan Ellis) had declared the meeting dis- 
solved, some person (not one of the selectmen) called for the people 
to bring in their votes for a representative. One of the selectmen 
protested against the disorderly manner of introducing the business, 
and declined having anything to do in receiving the votes. Two of 
the selectmen, however, with the town clerk, received and counted the 
votes, receiving, however, a number of unqualified votes and refusing 
some qualified votes which were offered while the votes were being 
assorted. The moderator then declared that the town had chosen 
Jonathan Ellis their representative." The town, at a meeting held on 
the last day of the same month, had a statement to the above effect 
prepared for presentation to the legislature, containing a remonstrance 
against Reverend Jonathan Ellis holding a seat as their represent- 
ative. He was allowed, however, to take his seat. 

[1804.] In 1804 a premium of twenty-five cents per head was 
offered for crows. 

[180G.] A Mrs. Drybmy became a town charge in 180G. She 
was the first pauper the town ever had. She lived in a little cot near 
the First Parish meeting-house. Her house was sold this year by the 
town for a small sum. 

At the meeting for choice of governor this year, considerable feel- 
ing was manifested at what was considered the unfair management of 
the polls, and a protest was sent to the General Court. 

The protest was signed by : — 

RoGEK Merrill. Jonathan Blaisdell. 

Gideon Walker. Luther Kimball. 

David Patterson. James Pueinton, Jr. 

Samuel Emery. James Cook. 

1 The town meetings had previously been held in the old meeting-house east of the 
village. Sometimes, in extreme cold weather, the meetiiigs were adjourned to Mrs. 
Hunter's inn. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF TOP SHAM. 191 

Peter II. Green. David Foster. 

Gideon I.arrabke. Moses Waymouth. 

Nathaniel Green. William Frost. 

Samuel Toavns. John Kogers. 

Nathaniel Walker. John Haley, Jr. 

[1807.] In 1807 the town instructed its senator and repre- 
sentative to make application to the legislature for its consent to a 
separation of the District of Maine from the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts. 

[1808.] The embargo which Congress had, December 22, 1807, 
declared, was a source of great vexation and sutTering to all the New 
England towns, especially to those on or near the seaboard. Tops- 
ham suffered from this cause equally' with Brunswick or Harpswell, 
and accordingl}', at a meeting held August 20, 1808, the town 
resolved that it " unanimously approves of the doings of the town of 
Boston," respecting the petitioning for the repeal of the embargo 
laws, and the selectmen were directed to communicate this action to 
the selectmen of Boston. The town also voted to present to the 
President of the United States a memorial requesting him to suspend 
the embargo, in whole or in part, and Benjamin Orr, Esquire, William 
AVilson, and Henry Wilson were chosen a committee to draft the 
address. It was at once prepared and unanimously accepted by the 
town. The address, probabl}' for the most part the production of Mr. 
Orr, was as follows : — 

" To Thos. Jefferson, 

President of the United States : — 

"The inhabitants of the town of Topsham in the State of Massa- 
chusetts, legally assembled in town meeting on the twentieth day of 
August, 1808, respectfuU}' represent: 

"That having alwa3's been influenced by a regard for the general 
interests and welfare of their country, sincerely attached to its Con- 
stitution and duly impressed with the necessity of conforming to the 
laws of their government, they have hitherto submitted to the priva- 
tions and losses occasioned by the embargo laws, without opposition 
or complaint, at the same time indulging an anxious hope, that when 
experience should ascertain the extent and degree of their sufferings, 
in common with their fellow- citizens, and events in Europe should 
render it safe and expedient, a speed}' relief would be afforded them, 
through the existing provisions of Congress for that purpose. 

' ' And could your memorialists entertain a belief that the further 



192 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

suspension of all foreign commerce and the existing restrictions on 
domestics were necessary to the essential interests of their country, 
or consistent with the original views and policy of the goA-ernment in 
passing the embargo laws, they would still wait the pleasure of gov- 
ernment, without an expression of their wishes for relief. 

''But concurring in opinion witli numerous other sections of citi- 
zens assembled to express their sentiments on this subject, your me- 
morialists are impressed with a conviction that the late attempt to 
subjugate the people of Spain to a foreign yoke, and their consequent 
declaration of independence, and of war against the power attempting 
to impose it, have materiall}' altered the relations of the United vStates 
to some of the powers of Europe ; and also believing that the avenues 
of a safe and lucrative commerce to the people of this country are hy 
these events laid open, which the wisdom of the "legislature has ren- 
dered available by placing the power to suspend the laws restricting 
it, in your hands : 

" They therefore pray that the embargo laws may be suspended, in 
whole or in part, as your wisdom may direct, agreeably to the powers 
vested in you by Congress for that purpose." 

A reply was received from President Jefferson to this memorial, 
which is entered in full on the i-ecords of the town. As it is identi- 
cally the same answer that was given to similar memorials from the 
majority of the New England towns, and as it has often been published 
in documents of State and other works, it is not judged necessary to 
give it in this connection. 

[1809.] At a meeting held February 4, 1809, the following reso- 
lutions and memorial were adopted, — the resolutions to be printed in 
the Portland Gazette, and the memorial signed by the selectmen and 
clerk, to be sent to the representative, to be by him presented to the 
General Court : — 

" Resolved, That it becomes us not to despair of the safety of our 
Republic, while we enjoy the constitutional right and liberty of assem- 
bling peaceably to consult upon the common good and to petition the 
legislature to devise and promote the redress of the wrongs and griev- 
ances we suffer. 

" That as it is our privilege ' in prosperity to rejoice,' it is our duty 
' in adversity to consider,' to investigate, to ascertain the causes of the 
calamities we experience and the most effectual means to remove them. 

'' That we are convinced the people in many instances have not 
been sufficiently cautious in the exercise of their electoral rights, but 



MUXICIPAL HISTORY OF TOPSIIAM. 193 

have permitted themselves to be deceived by crafty and unprincipled 
men and have frequently conferred their suffrages on seekers of popu- 
lar favor, without making the important inquiries, ' Are they capable ? ' 
' Are they honest?' 'Are the}' attached to the Constitution?' 

"Hence it has happened that man}', destitute of requisite talents 
and integrity, have been promoted to offices of the highest trust and 
importance ; and that we now feel the extensive mischief naturally 
arising from this want of caution and inquir}' in the people ; for power 
obtained b}' fraud will alwaj's resort to violence for support. 

" That the principles and public conduct of our rulers are the fair 
objects of a manl}' and public-spirited scrutiny, for the purposes of 
merited censure or approbation, their continuance or removal from 
office, in the prescribed forms. 

" That, when we take into view the great prosperity generally dif- 
fused through our once happy land, under the arduous administration 
of the revered Washington and his immediate successor, we are com- 
pelled to believe, that the numerous and heav}' evils since fallen and 
daily accumulating upon us have been principally occasioned b}' the 
departure of our rulers from that wise, firm, liberal, and impartial 
policy which regulated the conduct of those distinguished patriots. 

"That, with sorrow, we must confess that the present executive 
of the United States has appeared to us, in the course of his adminis- 
tration, more like the dependant and humble friend of a foreign despot 
than the brave and generous chief of a great spirited and free people, — 
more devoted to the nefarious schemes of the republic-destroying. 
King-making Napoleon, than to the security, peace, and happiness of 
his own country, or to the rights and privileges of those nations, who, 
having made a noble stand, are now contending from the pure spirit 
of patriotism against that rapacious tj'rant of boundless ambition. 

"That the people have a right to require of their lawgivers and 
magistrates, who are at all times accountable to them, an exact and 
constant observance of constitutional principles in the formation 
and execution of the laws. 

" That our national legislature, apparently from the impulse of 
executive influence, have enacted a S3stem of embargo laws, in our 
decided opinion, unconstitutional in principle and ruinous in operation, 
that must subject us abroad to contempt, at home to want and wretch- 
edness. 

" That we consider the act entitled ' An Act to enforce the several 
Embargo Laws of the United States,' a most flagrant violation of many 
articles in our federal and State Constitution and the measures pre- 
13 



194 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

scribed to carry it into effect to be utterly subversive of our dearest 
rights and privileges ; that it is a law which the people are not bound 
to obey and which we believe, from their strong attachment to the 
lilierties of their country, they will not obe}'. 

" That we most cordially approve the patriotic conduct of those 
officers of the revenue department who, disdaining to be the instru- 
ments of arbitrary power, and having a. more tender concern for the 
rights of their fellow-citizen than for the emoluments of office, have 
lately retired to the post of honor, — a private station. That we sin- 
cerely hope these patriotic examples will excite a general emulation, 
and should deeply lament that any from a penurious, calculating spirit, 
from a naere regard to private i)roperty, should submit to or aid the 
execution of laws destructive of our civil liberties." 

"MEMORIAL, 

" To THE Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in General 

Court assembled. 

" The inhabitants of tlie town of Topsham in legal town meeting as- 
sembled on the fourth day of February, a. d. 1809, respectfully rep- 
resent, 

"That in the late recess of Congress, they petitioned the President 
of the United States to relieve them from the sutferings occasioned by 
the embargo, and, finding no hope of relief, they have made a similar 
application to Congress, by whom their petition has also been neglected. 

'•To 3-our honorable body, therefore, 3'our memorialists are induced 
to resoit for relief, not only from the evils and sufferings of which 
the}' had reason to complain to the President and to Congress, but 
also from others of more serious moment emanating from those high 
authorities. 

" At the time of the passing of the first embargo law, the respect 
due to the constituted authorities induced your memorialists to hope 
that it would not be continued in fprce beyond the ability of the people 
to endure it ; but in the Act recently passed, not only to enforce that 
law and its supplementary appendages, but to extort additional sacri- 
fices the most exorbitant, they recognize a polic}' equally ruinous and 
oppressive. 

" Had this law been wholl}' original it would have been less dread- 
ful in its aspects ; but in the French decree of April, 1808, it has both 
an example and guarantee, by which all vessels of citizens of the 
United States found at sea after that time are declared forfeited to 
France for breach of the embargo. 



MUXICIPAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 195 

" When such is the concurrence of laws, 3'our memorialists can 
entertain no hope of relief or of safety from the constituted guardians 
of their national rights and privileges. 

" To enumerate the losses, privations, and sufferings resulting 
from the emljargo system would be but a recapitulation of circum- 
stances familiar to every mind. 

" The protection they afford to seamen brings with it want and 
misery ; the benefits thej' confer on merchants are waste and bank- 
ruptcj', and to the hand of charity they consign the necessitous laborer 
and his dependants. As to their effects abroad, none are perceptible 
to your memoriaUsts, except the approbation of the nation to whom 
alone they are beneficial and the disregard of that which they were 
manifestly intended to restrain and humble. 

" The act to enforce the embargo, in its relation to the Constitution, 
cannot escape the notice of jour honorable body. By this act the 
property of 3'our memorialists, as well as their fellow-citizens, is ren- 
dered liable to seizure b}' military force, without evidence, without 
process or trial, and on the suspicion alone of an accuser, and neither 
their possessions nor buildings remain a secure depository against the 
combination of jealousy and force to assail them ; these, with the 
exaction of exorbitant bonds for acts in themselves lawful at the time 
of doing them, appear to 3'our memorialists calculated to deprive them 
of their most essential constitutional rights. 

" In recurring to the transactions of the last session of your hon- 
orable bod}', your memorialists derive tlie highest satisfaction from the 
consideration that the opposing voice of a free people was distinctly 
expressed to an administration that had been offering up an essential 
part of their national rights a sacrifice to the boundless ambition of a 
foreign despot, rights that were obtained b}' the toils of the illustrious 
Washington and his companions and fellow-sufferei's, and secured b}' a 
Constitution that will never be abandoned by free men, to the merci- 
less hands that opposed it in its origin and still seek to destroy it. In 
the wisdom and firmness of yoav honorable bod}' to restore to your 
memorialists and their fellow-citizens of the State the full enjoyment 
of those rights by rescuing them from the destructive grasp of the 
tyrant of Europe and his minions, they repose the most implicit confi- 
dence, and they pledge themselves by all the lawful means in their 
power to support the measures that your honors may adopt for the 
general safety and relief, against the various acts of violence and 
oppression with which they have been assailed by foreign and domes- 
tic usurpers. They therefore pray your honors to take the subject of 



196 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

their grievances into consideration and adopt such measures of redress 
as 3'ou, in your wisdom, shall deem proper and expedient." 

[ISIO.] In the year 1810 a committee was chosen to superintend 
the inoculation with the kine-pox of all such persons as had not had 
the small-pox, and one hundred dollars was appropriated for the vac- 
cination of those unable to bear the expense themselves. 

[1811.] In 1811 a committee was chosen to discover what method 
should be taken to keep the highways from being encumbered with 
mill logs, timber, etc., especially on the island, and in the village near 
Granny's Hole. This committee reported at a subsequent meeting to 
the effect that increased diligence should be required on the part of 
surveyors, etc. The committee on vaccination reported that Doctor 
Isaac Lincoln had vaccinated four hundred and three persons, of which 
number three hundred and ninety-one cases had been successful and 
twelve were doubtful. The committee complimented Doctor Lincoln 
for the zeal and attention which he had shown in the matter. 

[1812.] In 1812 Benjamin Hase}', Esquire, and Thomas G. Sand- 
ford were chosen delegates to a county convention, to be held at 
Wiscasset on August the third, '• to take into consideration the alarm- 
ing state of public affairs, to ascertain and express by memorial, or 
otherwise, the voice of the people relative to the war in which we are 
now involved, and to devise and recommend the most speedy means 
of relief from its awful calamities." On August the first, the follow- 
ing resolutions were adopted as the sentiments of the people of Tops- 
ham, and a copy of them was sent to the Portland Gazette for 
publication : — 

" Resolved, That 'in the present season of calamity and war' it 
behooves the people to exercise their essential and unalienable right 
of consulting and seeking their safety and happiness ; that, at all 
times, it is their duty to approve and support, with zeal and alacrity, 
laws for the vindication of their rights and the advancement of their 
welfare, and their right and privilege to expose and control, b}- the 
powers of reason and argument, all public measures endangering their 
securit}', their prosperity and peace. 

•'•' Resolved, That we cannot cease to cherish our fond attachment 
to the union of the States and the federal Constitution, endeared to us 
bj* the upright, wise, and liberal administration of "Washington ; that 
we cannot cease to hope that the innumerable evils already inflicted 
b}' the partial, degrading, and destructive ' exercise of restrictive 
energies,' commenced by the last administration and consummated 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF TOP SHAM. 197 

by the present, will awaken in ourselves and our fellow-citizens a 
lively sense of our common dangers, and unite us, as the surest means 
of relief, in a firm resolution to intrust with power those only who are 
true to the example and faithful to the precepts of the departed Father 
o{ our Country. 

" Resolved, ' That we cannot insult the free and gallant citizens of 
America with the suspicion that they are less able to defend their 
rights, than the debased subjects of arbitrary* power to rescue theirs 
from the hands of their oppressors ; that we will not insult them with 
the supposition that they can ever reduce themselves to the necessity 
of making the experiment " to regain their lost liberties " by a blind 
and tame submission to a long train of insidious measures which must 
precede and produce it.' ^ 

" Resolved, ' That a state of war does not destroy or diminish the 
rights of citizens to examine the conduct of public men and the ten- 
dency of public measures ' ; ^ that all attempts to impair the liberty of 
opinion and inquir}', the freedom of speech and of the press, are 
infringements upon our most invaluable constitutional rights and privi- 
leges, meriting the pointed disapprobation of all except Napoleon and 
his humble worshippers. 

" Resolved, That we deeply lament the numerous facts which loudly 
proclaim that, in too many instances, the spirit of faction has mis- 
guided the deliberations of our State and national legislature. That 
by faction we understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a 
majority or minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some 
common impulse of passion or interest adverse to the rights of other 
citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the whole. 

" Resolved, That to a factious spirit only can we attribute the con- 
trivance of our senatorial districts by which nearly three fourths of the 
present Senate have been elected by a minorit}' of votes of the whole 
State. That to intemperate party zeal in the Senate so chosen we 
must ascribe their obstinate refusal to adopt any one of the various 
propositions made to them by the House of Representatives, at their 
last session, for dividing the Commonwealth into electoral districts, 
and especially their refusing to concur in the resolve providing for the 
choice of electors by the people at large. That we consider these 
proceedings as disgraceful to the Commonwealth as grievances of the 
most alarming magnitude, demanding redress without delay ; that we 
have full confidence that our representative in the General Court will 



1 Madison. 2 j)e Witt Clinton. 



198 TIISTOKY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

not be wanting in his endeavors to correct procedures so reproachful 
and oppi'essive. 

" Resolved, That to a spirit adverse to the rights of the maritime 
States we must impute the long neglect and repeated refusals of our 
Congressional legislature to provide a navy in some degree com}>e- 
tent to protect our commerce and guard our extensive and almost 
defenceless coasts ; that our surprise at this neglect is greatly aggra- 
vated wlien we call to mind the solemn truths long since announced 
b}' the present chief magistrate of the Union, truths the more impor- 
tant and interesting now we are placed in ' an attitude ' if not in ' an 
armor' of war. ' Naval batteries, the most capable of repelling for- 
eign enterprises upon our safety, are happily such as can never be 
turned by aperfidims government against our liberties. The inhab- 
itants of the Atlantic frontier are all of them deeply interested in 
this provision for naval protection ; and if they have hitherto been 
suffered to sleep quietl}' in their beds ; if their property has remained 
safe against tlie pi'edatory spirit of licentious adventurers ; if their 
maritime towns have not been compelled to ransom themselves from 
the terrors of a conflagration by yielding to the exaction of daring and 
sudden invaders, these instances of good fortune are not to be attrib- 
uted to the protection of the existing government that claims their 
allegiance, but to causes that are fugitive and fallacious.' ^ 

'-'- Resolved, That the closest examination we have been able to 
make of the long train of our foreign negotiations compels us to 
believe that the unnecessary and ruinous war, into which we are now 
plunged, is to be attributed more to the impulse of faction, combined 
with the intriguing, flattering, menacing, confiscating, plundering, and 
burning polic}' of the modern Attila, operating upon our own govern- 
ment with magic influence, than to the ' injustice of a foreign power,' 
declared to be our enemy. 

" That a war so forced upon us we can neither approve nor volunta- 
rily support ; that we cannot consent to forego the abundant and hon- 
orable returns of legitimate commerce for the scanty and disgraceful 
plunder of legalized piracy- ; we cannot freely exchange the cheering 
scenes of domestic peace for the chilling horrors of the ' blood}' arena.* 
Indeed we are unwilling wantonly to put to hazard the noblest gifts of 
God to man, — our liberty and independence, — to assist even our 
loving friend Napoleon in his aim to destro}' the remnant of liberty in 
Europe, that he may the more easily bring within his iron grasp the 

1 Madison. 



MUNICIPAL n: STORY OF TOPSHAM. 199 

' ships, colonies, and commerce of the world.' In short, this -nar we 
must reprol)ate and abhor chiefly because it tends to draw us into a 
close connection, into a fatal alliance with this tyrant of nations, the 
enemy of the human race, whose tender mercies are cruel, whose 
friendship is slaver}- and death. 

" Resolved., That, undismayed at the gloomy and threatning aspect 
of our public affairs, we will not despair of the safety of our confed- 
erated Republic, trusting that the discerning, enlightened, and resolute 
spirit of a free people, not to be shaken b}' the ruffian assaults of 
faction, not to be seduced by the insidious arts of t3'ranny, will speed- 
ily arise in vindication of their honor and in defence of their rights, 
and make manifest to the world that their confidence cannot be betrayed 
nor their interest^! sacrificed with impunity." 

[1814.] In 1814 it was voted to accept the offer of the Court 
House, for the purpose of holding town meetings, on the terms named 
by the Court of Sessions. 

[1816.] At a meeting held May 20, 1816, the town voted strongly 
against a separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts, and 
the representative from Topsham was instructed to use all means in 
his power to prevent such separation. 

At a meeting held September 16, Benjamin Hase}' was elected dele- 
gate to the convention to be held the latter part of the month in 
Brunswick. 

At a meeting held November 4, the memorial strongly opposing 
separation, which was adopted by the convention at Brunswick on the 
last Monda}^ in September, relative to the separation of the District 
of Maine from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was read, and it 
was then A^oted that the same should be signed by the selectmen and 
town clerk, and b}' them be presented in behalf of the inhabitants of 
the town of Topsham to the honorable General Court. 

[1818.] At the annual meeting in 1818, Messrs. Abel Merrill, 
Thomas G. Sandford, and Captain Nathaniel Walker were chosen a 
committee to adopt measures for the maintenance of paupers. They 
reported at the Ma}' meeting in favor of the town poor being collected 
together and provided for by some one individual. 

[1819.] At a meeting held July 6th, 1819, the town again, and 
for the last time, voted in favor of a separation of the District from 
the Commonwealth. This was the fourth time that the town had 
A^oted in favor of a separation, never having voted against it but 
once. September 20th, Mr. Nathaniel Greene was elected delegate to 
the convention to be held at Portland in October, for the purpose of 



200 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

framiug a constitution for tlie new State. On December 6tli, tlie 
town voted unanimouslj' in favor of the Constitution framed at that 
convention. 

UNDER STATE OF MAINE. 

[1820.] The annual town meeting tliis year was held April 3d. This 
was the first meeting of the town after the admission to the Union of 
the State of Maine. At this meeting Mr. Pelatiah Haley declined any 
longer service as a selectman, and the thanks of the town were ten- 
dered him " for the ability and punctuality displayed in his service in 
that capacit}^ for many j'ears past." 

At a meeting held in May following, the representative to the 
legislature was instructed to advocate a petition in favor of a new 
county. 

[1821.] In 1821 the selectmen were instructed to provide a hearse 
for the use of the town. 

[1822.] The vote for count}' officers was this 3-ear thrown out by 
the Court, ou account of unlawful proceedings at the town meeting. 

[1824.] In 1824 the selectmen were instructed to pa}' each sol- 
dier belonging to Topsham, who was entitled to receive rations, 
agreeabl}' to a late law, twenty cents in cash. This was to enable the 
soldiers to bu}^ their dinner on muster days. They were also instructed 
to emplo}' a physician to vaccinate the town. The town this year 
voted to purchase the farm occupied by Aaron Thompson, " for the 
use of the town," paying for the same three hundred dollars in three 
annual payments. Probably the vote never went into etfect. 

The following b3'-laws were adopted by the town and approved by 
the Court of General Sessions this 3'ear : — 

"1. Sliding down hill in winter on sleds or boards, in any of the 
public streets, prohibited under a penalt}' of twenty-five cents for each 
offence. 

" 2. Playing with, or knocking, a ball in the streets, within three 
fourths of a mile from the toll-bridge, prohibited, under a fine of 
twenty-five cents. 

"3. Smoking a pipe or cigar on the streets prohibited under a fine 
of twenty-five cents for each oftence. 

" Carrying fire through the streets strictl}^ prohibited, under a 
penalty of one dollar, unless it was properly secured in some metallic 
case or pan." 

[1825.] At a meeting of the town, held in September, 1825, it voted 
to accept the land on Great Island, purchased by the selectmen for 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 201 

the use and benefit of the town, at the price of one hundred and 
twenty-five dollars. This land was for the erection of a building in 
which to confine an insane person. 

At a meeting held in December following, the representative to 
the legislature was instructed " to oppose the petition of George 
Jewett and one other," unless the whole expense occasioned by its 
being granted should be imposed upon the count}'. It is probable 
that this petition was for a bridge across the Cathance River, at the 
eastern part of the town. Persons now living recollect that there was, 
about tliis time, considerable discussion in regard to this bridge, and no 
one has an}- knowledge of an}' other purpose for which a petition was 
likely to be presented at this time. 

[1829.] This year the selectmen were instructed to petition the 
legislature for a new county. 

[1832.] In 1832 the representative to the legislature was instructed 
to confer with the representatives of other towns on the subject of a 
modification of the militia law, so as to dispense with all trainings 
except the annual inspection in September, and such other meetings 
of companies as might be deemed necessary for the proper organiza- 
tion of the militia, and to request their co-operation. 

[1833.] The selectmen were again instructed by the town, in 1833, 
to petition the legislature for a new county. They were also author- 
ized to defend the town against any suit brought by the Maine Stage 
Company to recover damages for the upsetting of one of their carriages 
near James Purinton's tannery, in Topsham, on the evening of the 12th 
of January, 1833, or were authorized to settle the matter with the 
company, if judged expedient. 

[1837.] The town, at its annual meeting in 1837, voted to receive 
its proportion of the surplus revenue deposited with the State of 
Maine by the United States government, and to deposit this money in 
Androscoggin Bank, provided the bank would allow interest at five 
per cent per annum, the interest to be paid annually to the town 
treasurer. Mr. John Coburn was appointed an agent to receive and 
receipt for the money in the name of the town. The September meet- 
ing was held in the Freewill Baptist vestry, near the brick school- 
house. At this meeting the selectmen and treasurer were appointed a 
committee to consider the subject of building a town-house. 

The town also voted that the surplus revenue money should be put 
at interest and the interest divided among the school districts. This 
vote was, however, reconsidered the next year [1838], and the town 
voted to divide it per capita amongst the inhabitants, and Gardner 



202 JIISTOBY OF BliUXSWlCK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Green was chosen agent to collect and distribnte it. The money hav- 
ing already been loaned to individuals, the agent was authorized to 
borrow the same amount and distribnte it per capita, as directed for 
the surplus revenue money. Messrs. Charles Thompson, Joshua Has- 
kell, and "William Frost protested against this action of tlie town as 
illegal, and gave notice that the}' would severally hold all persons, 
and particnlarlv the agent, responsible, who should be instrumental in 
carrying the vote into effect. 

[1841.] In 1841 the town voted in favor of the proposed consti- 
tutional amendments, in regard to the election of State officers, but 
voted against an^' increase of the number of representatives. 

[1842.] In the year 1842 the town was classed, for election of rep- 
resentative, with the town of Bowdoin. Previous to this date it had 
elected its own representative. 

[1843.] At a meeting, held February 6, in accordance with an Act 
of the legislature to see if the town would consent to the annexation 
of a part of Bowdoin, agreeably' to a petition of sixty-three of the 
inhabitants of Bowdoin, the town chose Abel Merrill and Nathaniel 
AValker a committee to remonstrate against and opi)ose the proposed 
annexation. At the animal meeting in April, the selectmen were 
authorized to appoint one or more persons to sell ardent spirits for 
medicinal and mechanical purposes, and were instructed to prosecute 
all who were guilty of a violation of the law in regard to such sales. 
At a meeting held in September following, the selectmen were 
instructed to petition the legislature for a separate representation of 
the town. 

[184G.] The following by-law was adopted by the town in 1846 : 
" Any person sliding in the streets or highway in the town of Tops- 
ham, within three fourths of a mile from the Androscoggin toll-bridge, 
upon a sled, board, or an}' other vehicle or thing ; or who shall skate 
in said streets or highways, as aforesaid ; or shall knock, throw, or 
play at ball, in said streets or highways, as aforesaid ; or be accessory 
thereto ; shall be punished b}- a fine not exceeding five dollars for each 
and every offence so committed, together with costs, to be recovered 
on a complaint before a justice of the peace. 

[1847.] In 1847 the town voted in favor of amendments to the 
Constitution providing that State officers should be elected b}^ a plu- 
rality instead of a majorit}' vote, and also in regard to the State loan- 
ing its credit. 

[1850.] At a meeting held September 9, the town voted against 
an amendment to the Constitution providing for a change of the meet- 
ing of the legislature from May to January. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF TOPSTIAM. 203 

[1853.] At a special town meeting, held February 28, 18y3, the 
rei^resentative was instructed to use his greatest exertions to prevent 
any change in the territory' of the count}' of Lincoln, and the senator 
from the district was requested to co-operate with him. At the 
annual meeting the article in the warrant, to see if the town would 
choose an agent to sell liquors for medicinal and mechanical purposes, 
was dismissed. Tliis was, of course, a total prohibition of the sale of 
intoxicating liquors for an}' purpose. 

[18,'>4.] In October, 18.54, the town was called upon to express b}' 
vote its preference of a town to be the shire town of the new count}' 
of Sagadahoc, which was incorporated on the fourth day of April pre- 
vious. The vote stood : 

In favor of Topsham for shire town, one hundred and fifty-one. 
Of Bath, five. 

[185.5.] The town voted, in 1855, almost imanimously, against 
amendments to the Constitution of the State which provided that 
judges of probate, registers of probate, sheriffs, and municipal and 
police judges should be chosen by the people ; and also providing that 
the land agent, attorney general, and adjutant general should be 
chosen by the legislature. The representative was chosen this year 
from the town of Lisbon, Topsham and Lisbon being classed together. 

[1858.] In June, 1858, the town voted unanimously in favor of a 
Prohibitory Liquor Law. 

[1859.] At the annual meeting in 1859, the selectmen were author- 
ized to hire out to suitable persons such town paupers as might be 
able to perform labor, and also to bind out the cliildren of such per- 
sons to suitable individuals, who should be required to give bonds for 
the faithful discharge of their trust. They were also authorized to 
l)rovide a suitable building or buildings, in which to take care of the 
aged and of all others unable to do anything for their own support, 
and to employ some judicious person to take care of them under the 
general supervision of the overseers of the poor. 

At a meeting held in June the town voted to exempt from taxation 
for ten years all capital which might be invested in manufactures in 
the town. The town also voted, at this meeting, against "an Act to 
aid the Aroostook Railroad Company, increase the value and pro- 
mote the sale and settlement of the public lands." 

[I860.] The town concluded in 1860 to make a different provi- 
sion for its poor, and accordingly, at the annual meeting, it was voted 
tliat the selectmen and overseers of the poor be authorized to pur- 
chase a farm and to stock the same by hiring or purchasing stock, as 



204 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HA EPS WELL. 

they deonied most expedient. The town's poor were to be kept npon 
the liirm and a superintendent was to be chosen who should be under 
the direction and control of the overseers. The selectmen were also 
authorized to hire money for tlie purchase of the farm, and to give 
notes payable in ten years in equal annual instalments. 

The sum of 82, "200 was raised this year for the support of the poor, 
and Sl.2r)0 for schools. 

[1861.] At tlie annual meeting in 18Gl,the town expressed its 
choice of the candidates for the office of Postmaster, and Robert P. 
Whitney received a majority of the votes. This was an unusual, but 
at the same time eminently fitting way of securing the appointment of 
an efficient and honest officer. 'I his year, Topsham and "West Bath 
were classed together for representation. 

[18G3.] The town-house being in need of repairs, it was voted 
this year that the selectmen should ascertain what terms could be 
made with the Sagadahoc Agricultural Society, for the use of their 
hall for future town meetings. The next year, 18G4, the town 
obtained the privilege of using the Agricultural Hall and authorized 
the sale of the town-house. 

[18()r).] This year the town voted to dispense with a liquor agencj^ 

[1807.] At the September election in 1867, the town voted in 
favor of authorizing the county commissioners to effect a loan of 
$2."). 000 to complete the county court house at Bath. 

[1868.] In 1868 an appropriation of six hundred dollars was voted 
for the purchase of a new hearse. 

The nuinicii)al acts of this town, in reference to the enlistment of 
volunteers and the support of their families, as well as to all other 
matters not already given, will be found in their appropriate connec- 
tion in other ehaptei'S. 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 205 



CHAPTER V. 

GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 

At the time of the earliest occupation of these towns, the settlers 
lived far apart, and daj-s, perhaps even weeks, must often have 
elapsed without a family seeing any of its neighbors. The}' had few, 
if an}', roads, except the Indian trails, and almost invarial)ly, there- 
fore, settled upon or near some stream which might serve to them as a 
highwa}'. This accounts for the fact that the houses of the earl}' set- 
tlers fronted the water. 

EARLY CONDITION AND CIRCUMSTANCES. 

The earh' settlers of Topshara were nearly all F^nglish and partook 
of the national characteristics. Those in the vicinit}' of the New 
Meadows River were principall}^ from Cape Cod. Those between 
New Meadows and Maquoit, who constituted a majorit}' of the inhabi- 
tants of Bnmswick, were Irish. They were usually called " wild 
Irish" by the native New-Englanders.^ It is said of these earh' set- 
tlers that "the}' used to peek out through a crack or partly opened 
door, to see whether their callers were friends or foes, and that the 
same habit of peeking out through a half-open door to see whom their 
callers may be, is noticed to this day in their descendants." These 
settlers were nearly all poor, and often suffered for the necessaries of 
life. They had to work hard for their living, and dress in the plain- 
est manner. Those, however, who came into this vicinity later, some- 
where about 1750, were in better circumstances, and the appearance of 
their rich and fashionable apparel, especially the hoop in the dresses 
of the ladies, whenever they went to church or showed themselves 
abroad, drew forth the gaze and wonder of the earlier and more 
rustic settlers. 2 

The later settlers, and a few of the earlier ones, were sufficiently 
well off to be able to own slaves. The act of holding fellow-creatures, 
white or black, in involuntary bondage, was not, at that time, consid- 

^Pejepscot Papers. ^McKeen, MSS. Lecture. 



20 G HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

ered to be wrong. Andrew Dunning, who came to Brunswick in 1717 
and who died in 1735, kept slaves during his life, and his family con- 
tinued to own them for some time after his decease. Captain Benja- 
min Stone, who kept a tavern in Fort George in 1 767, and subsequently', 
had a slave named Sarah Mingo as his house-servant. After she 
obtained her freedom she kept house for Timothy Weymouth, near 
where the Congregational Church now stands. Judge Minot also 
owned slaves. Brigadier Thompson had a negro servant named Hail- 
up. It is uncertain, however, that she was a slave. As late as 1765 
there are said to have been four slaves in Brunswick and no less than 
fourteen in Harpswell. Captain Nehemiah Curtis owned two or three, 
one of whom Avas a female. 

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 

Nothing is known concerning the social relations of the ver}' early 
settlers. During the period embraced b}- the Indian wars, the charac- 
ter of the people differed materially from what it afterwards was. 
Instead of gayety and dissipation, a melancholy spirit prevailed. 
Almost the only topic of conversation with the people w^as in regard 
to their troubles with the Indians and the individual difficulties of their 
situation. Their chief relaxation consisted in singing psalms and dog- 
gerel rhymes. The only news that reached them was of cruel mur- 
ders, b}' the savages, of their friends and acquaintance, or else of 
the wonderful escapes and marvellous exploits of the latter. Some of 
these accounts of personal adventure with the Indians have come 
down to us and will be noticed. Even when there was no open war 
with the Indians, the latter would mingle with the inhabitxints and 
were apt to take offence, and revenge themselves by committing indis- 
criminate depredations. It cannot be denied that oftentimes the set- 
tlers wei'e to blame, and that there were many among them who had 
the same deadly hostilit}' against the savage that they had against a 
venomous reptile. The only time the}' could attend to their business 
without fear of molestation was in the winter, when the Indians 
usually retired to the interior. At these times they employed them- 
selves in getting lumber to the landings, ready to be sent to Boston 
and other markets as soon as the spring opened. In summer they 
cultivated their fields, but alwaj's with their guns within eas}' reach. 

In times of peace the Indians were in the habit of trading with the 
settlers. It is narrated that on one occasion one of the Indians, feel- 
ing in a merry mood and ready for si)ort, challenged old Lieutenant 
AVoodsidc to run a race with him, and laid down upon the door-stone 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 207 

of the fort six beaver-skins as a wager. The Indian evidently' 
expected, from Mr. "Woodside's corpulenc}', that he would decline the 
challenge. The Lieutenant, however, contrary' to the Indian's expec- 
tation, accepted it. The race was to commence at the brook under 
the hill, and the one who could get the skins first was to have them. 
At the commencement of the race the old man feigned himself rather 
more clums}' than he really was. 'J he Indian found he could keep 
up witli him at his leisure, and was quite amused at the clumsy run- 
ning of so fat a man, and continued indulging in violent fits of laugh- 
ing until at last the old gentleman began to wax warmer, to Ijecome 
more eai-nest, and to extend his steps, lie thus obtained the advance 
and took the beavers, while the Indian was exhausted with laughing 
and running. This Mr. AVoodside was a remarkabl}- stout, athletic 
man, who could face danger, endure fatigue, and accomplish nuich.^ 

During this period old Mr. Joseph Foster, of Topshani, had a large 
dog that he had trained to attack an Indian whenever he met one. 
One day, during the French and Indian War, the women and children 
were sent for safety to the block-house, near where the late Lithgow 
Hunter afterwards livetl. One afternoon while they were there, some 
of the children wanted to go to the river-side Ijerrying. As no Indians 
were known to be about at that time, permission was given them to 
go, but the dog was sent with them for safety. While the children, 
laughing and chatting, were picking berries, the big dog suddenly 
became excited, and getting between a pile of brush and the children, 
bristled up and began to growl and display his teeth as if there were 
mischief lurking in the brush-heap. Mrs. Foster was nearest to the 
brush-i)ile, and having her attention called to it by the unwonted 
fierceness of the dog, saw an Indian there. She screamed, and the 
alarm being given all the children ran up the hill toward the block- 
house, the dog protecting the rear all the way. Several years after 
the war this same Indian was in the vicinity, and referred to the inci- 
dent by saying that had it not been for the big dog he would have 
" made a great haul of pappoose." ^ 

'^ The late David Alexander's father was remarkable when a ^outh 
for his agility and uncommon strength. In muscular vigor he far 
exceeded an}' of the lads in town who were anywhere near his own 
age. One day he and another boy b}' the name of Thorn were on the 
hill near the riveyViad opposite where Mr. David Work now (1875) 
lii^s.'^iSuddenly a couple of stout Indians pounced upon them, 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 2 Dr. James McKeen's Notes. 



208 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

each Indian singling out one of the bo^'s. Their object was to run 
the lads otf into the woods, where they would be comparativel}' safe 
from pursuit. The stout resistance, however, made hy young Alex- 
ander, although a mere boy, made the Indian feel as if he had more 
than his hands full. At every step he encountered a resolute resist- 
ance, and although a powerful Indian he was making slow progress. 
The boj's' outcries at length attracted the attention of the settlers up 
and down the river, and his father being first to comprehend the true 
state of things outstripped all others in going to the relief of his son, 
guided parti}' b}' the voice of the lad and partly by the zigzag trail of 
the furrowed earth which was a conspicuous mark and was made by 
the boy's stubborn obstinac}^ and resistance. The father at length 
came in full sight of his son and was hastening to his rescue when the 
Indian, letting go the lad, fired, killing Mr. Alexander, who fell 
instantly dead. The son, the moment he saw his father fall, ran. and 
the Indian, fearing pursuit, desisted from attempting his recapture. 
The inhabitants of the neighborhood having provided themselves 
with guns, and guided by the Alexander boy. started off in pursuit. 
They found Mr. Alexander dead, j Pursuing farther they came to the 
apparently lifeless body of the lad Thorn. His comparatively feeble 
resistance had enabled the Indian to carry him off to a greater dis- 
tance, but hearing the gun and apprised by the Indian who had just 
shot Mr. Alexander that they were in danger of being captured them- 
selves, the}^ knocked the boy in the head and scalped him. The boy 
was found still alive and eventuall}^ recovered. It is said that he 
afterwards died at Farmington from a curious accident. Coming in 
one da}' to dinner and the meal not being ready, he sat down in a chair 
near the wooden ceiling (there were no lathed and plastered rooms 
then) and tipping his chair back leaned against the partition just 
under where a hog's head (what was called a ' minister's face ') was 
suspended by a nail in the ceiling. The jar broke the string, and the 
hog's head fell, the nose, it is said, hitting the unfortunate man on 
the very spot where he had been scalped in his boyhood. The con- 
cussion caused his instant death.' ^ 

" Not far from this time (time of IMofRtt's death, — 1747) four men 
were killed, all at one time, a few rods from the old Flagg house, just 
beyond Joseph Foster's. One of these was a friendly Indian, the other 
three were white settlers. They were going to look at a field of coi n to 
see if it had been molested. The bodies were all found near together. 

^Dr. James McKeen's Notes. 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 

Upon the day of the funeral of these men it was reported th 
Indians intended lying in wall>4br the funeral procession, and 
and scalping or making prisoners of them all. In consequenc 
bodies were not buried in the ground northwest of Joseph Fostt 
the old graveyard in the woods, but were carried up b}- water to 
Point, and buried there. The bodies were none of them mut 
except that of the friendly Indian, which was hacked all to piece 

Duiing this period of anxious care and oft-renewed stnft 
tradesmen and their families nsed to live a good portion of lb i ■) 
in the fort or garrisons. Invalids, especially-, often made then 
dence there. 

The early settlers were men accustomed to track the pathless f -;. > 
and often to spend their nights with nothing over them save tin 
tering canopy of the heavens. They were fond of hunting, and . 
ranged over large tracts of land in pursuit of game. In this ^ 
they became acquainted with localities quite a distance off. 
Thomas Wilson was a famous hunter. On one occasion he 
party, consisting of Stephen Titcomb, Robert Gower, James H !v 
Robert Alexander, and James McDonnell, all of Topsham, thi 
the wilderness to the place now called Farmington, the territo 
which they thoroughly explored. Some of them afterwards Sf-Mf. 
there. '-^ John Dnnlap, son of Reverend Robert Dnnlap, was a nott' 
hunter. The following narrative, written by him, illustrates the 'I-'! 
gers and sufferings to which these early settlers were exposed : — 

" When a young man at the age of 18 years my father lost his 
cow. He lived near the old meeting-house, and I found her de; ■ \, 
Mair Brook. So dependent was the family on this useful dom iS 
that the loss seemed almost irreparable. So great was the distre- .. c 
the family that I resolved with myself, that if industry and perse - 
ance would effect anything, I would never be poor. This resoli'.' 
remained by me and was continually urging me on to exertion. 1 ■ 
my father and served some time as a soldier in Fort George, 
soon found that this compensation but ill comported with my res . 
tion, — but little was left after contributing to the absolute necess ' e 
of my father's family. I immediately concluded upon some o'l 
business. This town was then in its infancj', and nothing that c< '; 
satisfy my ambition and desire of wealth presented itself, and I « 
eluded to try my chance in hunting in the wild wilderness. I acc< 
ingly took my gun and made several excursions in pursuit of bea ( • 

iDr. McKeen's Notes. 2 History of Farmington, p. 9. 

11 



210 HISTORY OF BliVNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HABPSWELL. 

I was siicecssfiil, and found that if the business was well followed that 
there would be a good prospect of making mone}'. I accordingly 
extendeil my range further into the wilderness, and the further I went 
the more was I encouraged. It was a very hazardous undertaking. 
I was exposed QXGxy night to the wolves which were contiuualh' prowl- 
ing around inc, and nothing but my fire, which tliev feared, deterred 
them from encountering me. While I kept a brisk lire I feared no 
liarm. 1 have been several times to the heads of the Kennebeck and 
Penobscot. I used to go in the month of March, sometimes the last 
of Fel)ruar3', and would be gone about forty days, M}" return home 
was always the most fatiguing, from carrying an immense pack of 
about two hundred iH)unds. The beaver-skins I took in one of these 
excursions usu:illy turned me about two hundred dollars. Sometimes 
when I returned home, I was so altered that the family did not know 
me. I once lost my hat imnr.Hliately after I left home, and the effect 
of the wind and weather, and having a long beard, not having shaved 
while gone, gave me really a frightful appearance. 

"The most eventful tour I ever took was with one Robert Spear. 
"We left this town together, determiued on a cruise to the I'enobscot, 
and to its rise. It was in the month of March, and the ground was 
covered with deep snow. We took with us each a gun, amnninition, 
four ounces of salt, and of bread what was equal to a dozen biscuit, 
and each a pair of snow-shoes. AVe commenced travel, and made the 
best of our way to the Kennebeck and Penobscot. We passed some 
rivers and many small streams which were frozen over. On our 
arrival at the I'enobscot, we divided. Mr. Spear took the north side 
of <he river, and 1 took the south. We were to proceed up the river 
to its source, and there wait seven days for each other. I traversed 
the woods, and frequently met with small streams which had been 
flowed by the beaver, and generally met with good success. After 
ten or fifteen days I arrived at the source of the river, and there I 
spent seven long anxious days, listening continually to hear the foot- 
steps of m}- companion. My nights were long and dreary in the 
extreme. The day I spent in wandering about, killing what 1 could 
find that was profitable. At the expiration of the seven long days, 
seeing notliing of Spear, I resolved to return home, and had travelled 
one or two days, when the thought occurred to me about what account 
I should give INIr. Spear's family on my return. As I was a single 
man, I concluded to return, and if possible, find him. 1 travelled 
along down on tiie north side of the river, looking for some vestiges of 
human beings. What had become of Spear I could not imagine. 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 

Whether he had fallen into the hands of the Indians, or h; 
devoured b}- wild beasts, I had no means of ascertaining. ]M 
was the whole time vacillating between hope and fear. Aftet 
been travelling a number of days, and had been looking and \\> 
a pole stuck up in the middle of the river in the snow arrcs 
attention. I at once concluded it must be placed there 1' 
human being, and thought I would go and see if there w< 
tracks. I repaired immediateh- to it, and on it found a piece ( 
bark with writing upon it, to inform me that Spear was sick c 
on the bank of the river. It is impossible to describe my feeli _ 
how long it had been there, whether he was dead or alive, — 
sand conjectures passed over my mind. I concluded to seai- 
immediatel}' fired my gun, which was in about a minute answe 
followed the direction of the report, and in a few minutes foui 
Spear lying under a log with some bark laid upon it, which a 
him but a scanty shelter. He was suffering from an acute rh( 
fever. He seemed overjoyed at my appearance. What to do 
I was at a stand. For this complaint, and indeed for an}-, 
nothing to administer; I built a camp, built him a good fir' . jv 
stayed by him, doing ever^-thing for him I could. Necessil. . tl 
mother of invention, suggested one application after another 1^: 
pains were extreme, and his spirits almost exhausted. I at.J.Mi;'' 
concluded to dig awa}" some snow, get some good turf, greei! '<•, 
could find it, heated b}- the fire, and appl}' it to the part of the b^ i 
most aflfected with pain, 'ihis proved a luck}' expedient, he .u- 
better, and after a while he was able to start for Fort Halifax, 
after a tedious travel, we arrived. I left him and came home, 
followed in about a month." ^ 

These early settlers were not only accustomed to the chas( 
means of obtaining a livelihood, but were also obliged to draw 
of their subsistence from the water. Fishing was with them a 
sity as well as a means of amusement. The catching of stni 
shad, and salmon was the constant occupation of many, wl 
served as a means of relaxation from their ordinary' avocations . 
few. Captain David Dunning probably belonged to this latter •••>='■ 
Salmon were formerly caught in dip-nets at the foot of Fishing K' 
Island, or Shad Island, 'as it is now called, and also in set n( ' 
Middle Rock, or the rock upon which the pier of the bridge 
These set nets had corks attached to them, so that the atte 

Pejepscot Papers. 



'212 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AXD IIARPSWELL. 

oouKl toll l>.v tlio sinking ol" the corks when a salmon was caught. 
One (.la\ a uKin was sitting on Middle Kock watching his net, while 
Captain Dunning was catching sahncni at the falls above with a dip- 
net. The man on tlic rock observing the corks on his net to sink in 
the water, drew in the net, and with it tlrew in Dniuiing. still alive. 
It appears that the latter, in reaching over to dip up a salmon, had 
shpped, ami falling into the river had tloated down until he caught in 
ihe not. Two other versions o\' this stt>iv are given. In one account 
he is represented as having t'allen into the water from a ladder and 
being caught in his own net. In another, the accident is given as 
fust narrated, but Captain Dunning is representeil as drawing himself 
out of the water b\ the aid of the net.' 

Going to meeting was, in the last eentmy, an event of considerable 
interest. Meeting-houses were well tilleil and in some cases it was 
thought neeessarv to shore them up. All went to the same meeting. 
Ministers appeared with their large white wigs and eonnuantled more 
awe than just respect. Xearly every one walked to meeting, and in 
some instances women would walk four or live miles and carry a child. 
Some of those who lived at a ilistance from the meeting-house owned 
a horse, a saddle, and a pillion, which would accommodate a man, his 
wife, and one child, and often two children. In the summer boys 
and gills both went barefooted. When Avithir b.gnt of the meeting- 
house, the girls would step into the bushes at the side of the road and 
put on their stockings and shoes, which they carried with them. The 
boys, however, usually went barefooted into the meeting-house. All 
the people carried their dinners with them, and in snuuner ate them 
in the woods near by. In the winter the meeting-house was their din- 
ing-room. The men usually resorted to the neighboring inn for their 
luncheon and grog. In the winter season many carried foot-stoves 
witli them. There were separate seats in the meeting-house provided 
for colored people, and they were never allowed to sit in the same pew 
with white people. It is said that Deacon Dunning had a negro lad 
for a servant of whom he was very fond, and whom he always took to 
meeting with him. As the boy at tirst was too young to sit in the 
seats provideil for persons of his race, and as it would not do to allow 
him to sit in the deacon's pew. he had to take his seat on the tloor of 
the aisle beside the pew. • 

8ermous were lengthy in those days, which often made it necessary 
for the parson, alYer a pause, to exclaim, '• Wake up, my hearers! " 

^ Field Book o/t/w curvet/ o/ BakcrMoicn, in Pejcpscot Papers. 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 

Parson Millf;r was, however, relioved from this task at length 
Mr. G. CoornbH. who, with repeated raps with his rattan on tl 
of his pew, would make the meeting-house ring. At the east hj 
house, Deacon Snow, who wore a white wig, sat under or in J 
the pulpit, and "lined out" the hvmn, so that ever}' man | 
might have an opportunity to sing. 'I'his was the common pr:i( 
One of the established institutions of those times was the b' 
tithin^-m;n. It was their dutv to ]>reserve order during n 
services, and Ui enforce the observance of the Sabbath. Tin 
remarkable of all the men who ever filled this office was Mr. f 
Graves. He was born ami attained his majority in Topshiii 
possessed a strong, muscular frame, and was quite tall. lb 
large, strongly marked face. As far as his knowledge extend 
reasoning powers vfitm good, and he could express his thougli 
conciseness anrl energ}'. He was a tithing-man for many 
In the old first meeting-house in 'J'opsham, his pew was near t 
side door. It was a wall pew with a large window. From b 
lie could look the minister in the face, or turning around. <ould 
the passers-by on the different roads in sight. He always \\- 
him a remarkably long whipstock and lash. If he chanced to s] 
ing religious services, any "descendant of Helial, strolling ab 
sitting on the fences,' or in an}' wa}' desecrating the Lord's d; 
felt it incumbent upon him to leave the church and adminis 
necessary reproof. He hesitated not, also, if need were, to tl 
the culprits with both the administration of the law and of hi 
He was an object of dread to all Sabbath-breakers. He did u 
sider, moreover, that his care was restricted to the oversight of 
beings onl}-. During his twenty-five 3ear8 in office, he tan 
owners of dogs to be sure and see them locked up before the\ 
selves went to meeting. Occasionally, however, some unhu 
would escape from his confinement and would follow his in.i 
meeting. As surelj' as such an event happened, Mr. Graves w 
on the watch, and if the dog came within his reach, it would rec 
smart a stroke from him as his arm and whip could inflict. I^ 
no difference whether it was in prayer-time or in sermon-tir. 
whip was sure to descend if the dog came within reach. P^ven 
the singing the yelling of the dog might be heard exceeding evei 
voice of the chorister or the double altos of his choir." Mr. 
was so perfectly serious and solemn in his manner and so fim' 

^ James Curtis' s Journal, in Library of Maine Historical Society. 



214 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

belief that it was his boundeu duty thus to disturb the services, that 
the ministers were great!}' at a loss to determine in what manner to 
interfere. Remonstrance would not only give offence, but would be 
useless ; while without some interference, the evil was sure to continue 
if it did not become increased. It was a hard matter for Mr. Graves 
to give iv-|,,his place in the old meeting-house and go to the new one. 
He got I, tively over the struggle, however, and bought a pew in the 
new builtiing. This time it was noticed b}- every one that he chose a 
pew the very farthest from the door, at the northern extremity of the 
house. The window at his pew faced the hearse-house only. There 
were noiv no tithing-men, and no culprits to watch, but Mr. Graves 
never fo got or forgave the canine desecrators of the solemnity of the 
Sabbath. It was remarked at the time that he had taken the back- 
most pew of all, because he thought his services would nb longer be 
needed. This, however, was not so. 

The dogs took much greater liberty in the new house than they had 
taken in tlie old, though they seldom got so far up the aisle as Mr. 
Graves "^ pew. On two occasions, however, when he was nearl}'' 
eighty ;. ars of age, his old enemies " traversed the whole length of the 
aisle, ri , if to defy the old lion in his lair and tr^- his mettle. But he 
was up lo them and in service-time too. The ruling passion was too 
strong, even with the hearse-house his only perspective. He gave the 
dogs 11 good sound thrashing, and their loud yells and ^-elpings in- 
stantly, of course, arrested all devotional feelings, although Mr. Goss 
kept siraiglit on with his prayer." The narrator ^ of the above con- 
cludes his account as follows : " I was present at the time, and no doubt 
many others now living were witnesses." 

During the early days of the society of the First Parish of Topsham, 
when it used the old meeting-house at the east end of the town, the 
choir was large, and for a time was led by a Mr. Nichols, a shoemaker 
in Brunswick, who was a very fine singer. It was afterwards led by 
a Mr. Ripley, and still later by a Mr. Blanchard. No instrumental 
music was made use of in those days. At one time, probably about 
1821, an attempt was made to introduce a bass-viol, but the project 
was thwarted by Mr. AVilliam Randall, an influential member of the 
society, who declared that he would n't " hear a fiddle in God's house." 

In those old times people were better church-goers than now, even 
if the standard of morality was no' higher. In those times almost 
ever}' one attended religious services on Sunday', some walking sev- 

^ The laic James McKeen, M. D. 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 

eral miles, while others, licling from a greater distance, would, 
winter time, drive to the house of Mr. Alexander Rogers, who ii 
near by. This was absolatel}' necessary if they needed 1 
warmed, as the old church was never heated, even in tin 
severe weather, save b}^ the fervor of the parson's theme :ii 
little foot-stoves carried by the ladies. It was never consic'^^vei 
to start for church from Mr. Randall's until Mr. John Grains. ^^ 
from his exact regularit}' in attendance, was called " the cldck ' 
seen to pass. 

After the close of the Indian wars Brunswick and Topshhm 
gressed rapidl}^ in wealth and importance. Agriculture becrmr 
chief emplo3'ment of the people, though a few were engaged in ., 
ing, — carrying wood and lumber to other markets. As the pro ^j 
of the town grew better and better, the proprietors became 
encouraged and assisted the purchasers of their lands by takins. 
pay in lumber or such products of their labor as coulS be sparer 

As previously mentioned, the earlier inhabitants travelled mj; \\ 
foot, thotigli a few owned horses and did their visiting on hor ■' 
Indeed, nearly everything that a man could not transport hinv 
carried in that manner, and the saddle-bags were made cji 
enough to hold veal, mutton, and produce of all kinds. ■*^\r. 
meeting-house and at every retail store there was a horse-blotJ ' 
three steps, for the convenience of persons when mountin<c ; 
steeds. 

It is uncertain to whom belongs the honor of owning the fir 
wheeled chaise. Judge Minot of Brunswick, and Robert Pa. 
Topsham, who were contemporaries, each owned one prior to iln 
lution. Robert Patten, very likely, bought his soon after his m 
in 17G8, although a ride in his "shay" may have been one >: 
inducements to his fair lady-love to wed him. Mr. James Ci"; ' 
1830 wrote in his journal th^t fifty ^-ears previously (1780), . 
he was twelve years of age, " there was not a wheel carriage iio^ ■ 
a sleigh in Brunswick." 

There is, however, no question that Judge Minot owned on 
vious to that time, but as Curtis lived at New Meadows, ai 
judge at Mair Point, the former may never have seen it. Abcui 
year 1790, Captain William Stanwood, Captain John Dunlap 
Benjamin Stone each owned a chaise. ~ These chaises are des 
as clumsy, lumbersome vehicles, without springs and very heavy 

The first balanced two-wheel chaise in Brunswick is said to ; 
been owned bv William Alexander. . Professor Cleaveland once t 



216 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

this cliaise to journey in to Boston, having first measured it and tested 
its strength in order to be assured that it was a safe vehicle. 

WagO"s were not introduced until about the 3'ear 1816 or 1817, and 
there hall been but two or three carts, in Brunswick at least, previous 
to that date. The late Captain Peter Jordan, who lived at New- 
Meadows, stated that he had the first w^agon at the eastern part of 
Brunswick. He said that at the time of his purchase it was considered 
a great luxur}-, but that it was in reality little better than a cart. It 
was very heavy and was clumsily built, and as the body rested directly 
upon the axles, without the intervention of springs of any kind, the 
rider was apt to be jolted about not a little. 

During the early part of the Revolutionary War, nails were so high 
that many used wooden pegs for shingling, boarding, and flooring 
their houses. ^ At this time such luxuries as carpets were unheard of 
here The first one ever made in Topsham (for they were all home- 
made at first) wa's made in 1799, by Miss Margaret Rogers (the late 
Mrs. ISathaniel Green). This carpet was made of small squares of 
cloth about ten inches in diameter. These squares were alternately 
light ar Jl dark colored, and each one had some figure upon it, either 
an oak-.eaf, a heart, or two hearts joined. A light-colored figure was 
iJways imt on a dark square and vice versa. In 1800, at the time 
when tlie death of Washington was commemorated at the old meet- 
ing-house in Topsham, this carpet was borrowed to cover the rough 
platform which was built up in front of the pulpit, and upon which 
were seated the poet of the occasion and the dignitaries of the day. 
There was one other carpet in town at this time, belonging to the wife 
of Doctor Porter, but as it was fastened to the floor she objected to 
having ic taken up.^ 

Weddings in those days were so similar to each other and differed 
so litt e from the present fashion, except in the amount of display* 
attendmg and the sports following them,* that it seems unnecessary to 
go into details concerning them. Three occurrences of this kind, 
however, were so peculiar as to demand special mention here. The 
first occurred in 1783 or 1785, and the facts have been deposed to 
under oath. Mr. William AYalker, of Falmouth, and Miss Sybil 
Staples, of Topsham, had long been affianced and were anxious to be 
married. The day was fixed upon, and Reverend John Miller, of 
Brunswick, was requested to officiate. The wedding was to take 



^ McKeen. MSS. Lectures; also James Curtis' s Journal. 
^ Diary of the late Dr. James 3IcKeen. 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 

place in Topsham, either at the residence of the bride's parent- 
the meeting-house. "The course of true love ne'er runs sn 
There was no bridge across the river at this time and a sud !< 
unusual freshet prevented all crossing at the ferry, so that M. . 
was unable to keep his appointment. The bride and groom, 
mined not to dela}', were equal to the emergenc}'. By some 
communication was established with Mr. Miller. The bridal 
took their place on the Topsham side at the ferry-landing, 
the bridegroom and bride had joined hands, Mr. Miller, on the O] ■ 
shore, lifted up his voice, and in a speech heard distinctly acr 
river, pronounced the twain to be one flesh. ^ 

The following marriage certificate was copied verbatim fi* 
original, now in the possession of Mr. J. L. Douglas, of Bat 
shows the ancient form of marriage of the Friends, which ha 
slightly modified, and is in use b}^ this society at the present ti".i< 

" Whereas, Cornalas Duglas of Harpswell, in the County oi, ( ; 
berland, son of Elijah Duglas and Phebe his wife, and Ann; ■ 
Daughter of Edward Estes and Patience his wife, both of th( :•'' 
sd town And Count}- and Provence of the Massachusetts V 
newengland, having declared their intentions of taking Eich ( 
marige, before two publick meeting of the people Called quali 
Harpswell and falmouth, acording to Good order used amongst 
and Procedeing thirein after Delibaratc Consideration, they aL; 
earing Clear of all others. And haveing Concent of parents and Re 
tives Concerned, ware appro A'ed by sd meeting. Now these 
csrtif}' all whome it ma}' concern, that for accompleshing tl 
Intentions, this 10th day of the 11th month called november. .ip 
domi seventeen hundred and sixt}' seven, they the sd Ct '■!; 
Duglas and Ann Estes, appeared in a publick assembl}- of the, > 
said people, And others met together att their publick meeting i 
att Harpswell, aforesaid. And he, the said Cornalas Dugla; 
solom maner, takeing the said Ann Estes hy the Hand, Did ' 
Declared as follows : friends, I Desire j'ou to be m}' witnesses, 
take this friend, Ann Estis, to be my wife, promising throuc 
Lord's assistance, to be unto Her a true and Loveing Husband >: 
it Shall pleas the Lord hy Death to sepperate us. And then anc 
in the said assembley, the said ann Estis did in like manner Decl 
foUoweth : friends, I Desire you to be my witnesses, that I tak 
friend, Cornelas Duglas, to be my Husband, promasing throuj. i. 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 



218 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

Lord's assistance, to be unto liim A triio and Loveing wife, until' it 
Shall pleas the Lord by Death to sepperatc us. And as a further con- 
formation theirof, the said Cornelas Duglas and ann Estis did then 
and their, by these I'resents, set their hands, she according to Cus- 
tom, assuming the name of her Husband, 

" Cornelas Duglas. 
Ann Duglas. 

" And w. , whose names are bearunto Subscribed, being present at 
the Solomn'zing of Said marrige and Subcribtion in manner afore- 
said, as witnesses, have allso to these Presents Subscribed our names, 
the Daye and year above writen. 

" Joshua Babb, Elijah Duglas, 

Natha-tiel Pinkham, Patience Estes, 

liOGEl, TOOTHAKER, LEMUEL JONES, 

oideon toothaker, john barker, 

Than'iful Jones, John Barker, Jr., 

Sakah Pinkham, Elizabeth Duglas, 

Plkanor IIais, Wait Jonks, 

J-ARY Uais, Sarah Estes, 

^iKTY WEBER, ElENOR ESTES, 

Ab.,gail Rodex, Marcy Jones, 

CATHRiNE Pinkham, Rachel Jones, 

Sarah Pinkham." 

The other wedding to which reference was made is remarkable only 
for the roincidence of the relationship. On September 28, 1825, in 
the Friends' Meeting-IIouse, in Durham, Elijah and Reuben Cole, 
of China, tn-in brothers, were married to Elizabeth and Mary Jones, 
daughters of Edward Jones, of Brunswick, and twin sisters. 

In the last centuiy all, both men and women, except the few more 
wealthy ones, wore home-made garments. The men wore cloth of a light 
blue color, not fulled. Some few of the older men wore knee-breeches. 
Shoe-buckles were generally worn, and many of the men and even 
boys wore their hair long and done up in a queue behind. Mr. Dean 
Swift, when a bo}' of ten, had a queue six or eight inches long. James 
Curtis writes in his journal that in 1780 " not one man in ten had a 
pair of boots. Parson Miller attended meeting at the east meeting- 
house with a good pair of blue buskins hauled up over his breeches 
knees." 

'1 he dress of the ladies was as changeable, if not as complicated, as 
at the present da}'. The skirt of a lady's dress was composed of but 
two breadths, one in front, and one behind, with a small gore on each 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 

side. Skirts were ver}- short, except for part}- dresses, which h;i 
hind breadth made into a long train for the house. This train a 
when preparing for the street, would pin up to her waist. The ^ 
were made very short and full, such as we now call hahy waists. 
sleeves were short, and there was a broad band went ore 
shoulders. The neck was covered with a white muslin neckti 
which was fitted to the neck and shoulders, and came down umli 
band of the waist. The arms were covered with long whi* • ki< 
which came nearly to the elbow. The hair was arrano-ed in vi 
modes, but the favorite wa}^ was to comb it all on top of the head .';. 
confine it with a large high-top comb ; some would puff and roll ' 
hair, but in every case powder was considered indispensable, 
said that one Patience Wallace, a A'oung girl living on Small l' 
was going to a party one night, and having no powder, fl ir, or 
to dust her hair with, she took some unslacked lime. 'Duriii 
evening she danced, and as she got heated the perspiration si.. 
the lime, which entirely destroyed the hair. She never thereaft( 
any haii", but had to wear a man's cap on her head, both in doo) 
out.i 

Mr. Curtis also wrote in the journal referred to that "in 
days, women would collect in groups for the purpose of braiding * vo< 
it being a hard, laborious work. When at length a carding-mi'i . 
machine was heard of, it was hailed with an enthusiastic welcome, ; • 
must have been as great a relief to the women as when, at an c.ti . 
date, water-power was applied to grain-mills, before which ti 
would take two women to grind or turn a corn-mill. Cotton was 
three shillings per pound, and such was the labor of carding, spii 
weaving, etc., that cotton and linen cloth was worth fifty ct 
yard, and a man must work half a month in the best of the seas 
a pair of shirts made of this coarse cloth." About 1780 " the w 
fulling-mill was in North Yarmouth, and the cloth was ordinary, 
one knew or thought that the qualit}' of wool could be improved. 

" Houses were built for convenience and not for show, and ceiiw 
were just high enough to clear a tall man's hat. Chimue3S were 
erally topped out above the ridge-pole. Fireplaces were from 
to nine feet between the jambs, and more than a proportionable i 
which would receive a log which it took two men to handle. ] 
family was provided, however, with a good strong hand-sled, on 
to remove the logs to the fireside, which was done with conven 

i This description was given by a Mrs. Price, aged ninety-two years. 



220 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

as the Sills of houses were laid close to the surface of the earth. In 
1780 not one house in ten in Brunswick had a crane in the chimney, 
being supplied with long trammels and what was called a lug-pole, a 
stick -'cross the chimney about four feet up, and there were more than 
six wooden mantel-trees to an iron one. 

"In 1780 there were not more than two or three painted houses in 
Brunswick. 

" Bears were frequently seen. The hideous cry of the wolf was 
commonly- heard from our forests, and their ravages were not infre- 
qu( nt. Every family kept a large dog, some two, but commonl}' a 
large rnd a small one, which did not fail to annoy every traveller that 
passea with their yelping. This practice of keeping dogs was proba- 
bly th'i result of the great utility of that animal in the French and 
Indiar war. 

" Ev'f ry Sony old woman was deputed a witch, and spirits were 
freqae.it V seen, and much feared, children having been brought up to 
hear su i stories as an evening amusement, terrifying as they were, 
which b id a lasting and pernicious effect." A great many superstitious 
beliefs ,verc rife at this time, among which was one that toothache 
could be cured b}' cutting off one's finger and toe nails, and a lock of 
ne's hair, and placing them in a hole bored in a tree with an auger. 
About the year 1850 a tree was cut on Oak Hill in Topsham, and was 
sawed at one of the mills. Near the centre of the log was found a 
lock of hair, and as Artemus Ward would have said, " a large and 
well-se ?cted assortment" of the corneous extremities of the fingers 
and toes, doubtless placed there many 3'ears previousl}' b}" a believer 
in thi? remedy for the toothache. 

It is also stated in Curtis's Journal that "farming was done in a 
st^de ery different from the present. A tolerable crop of corn was 
obtaired by a shovelful of manure in the hill, but it must be hilled or 
bankec up to a great height. The following crop was generally r3'e, 
flax, r barley. The land was then, not stocked down, but left to 
prodi ce hay, and to be seeded by Providence or chance. 

"Calves were snatched from the cows at eight or ten weeks old, 
without any previous care to introduce a substitute for milk, and 
turned out to hay or grass, to rend the air with their cries till starva- 
tion should teach them the use of such coarse food, and which they 
would not fail to learn before flesh and strength were quite exhausted. 
Probably, however, not more than three out of four got up ' May Ilill,' 
as it was then called. 

"Potatoes were raised at a great expense. The ground being 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 

broken up, but not harrowed, a large hole was made by cutting , 

piece of the sod the whole depth of the ploughing. Into the b-. 

of this hole was thrown a shovelful of dung, if so much cou i 

spared, then a scant}- portion of seed, which lay far below the si = 

" c. 

of the ground, over which was made an enormous hill which '• 

receive considerable addition at hoeing. In this wa}-, with doub • 

necessary labor, something like half a crop was obtained. A • 

ciency was, however, generally raised. As it was not knowi- 

potatoes would save the lives of calves in the spring, or be c ' 

use to pigs after wintering, any surplus was frequently lost. 

" Hogs were generally kept over two winters, and at two and , 

years old would commonly weigh over two hundred, but would s, 

go as high as three hundred. 

" Scarce a bushel of wheat was raised and bolting:-mills we> 

i 
known." ^ 

Oil lamps and even tallow candles were for man}* 3-ears uiik >< 
It is related that when Reverend Jonathan EUis came to Top', a,., 
late as 1788), he spent his first night at Esquire Merrill's _ ' 
retiring for the night, Mrs. Merrill lighted a pitch-pine knot fV)' . 
and showed him to his room up stairs. Finding no other place 
his light, Mr. Ellis stood it up in the fireplace and in a few m ' ■ 
the chimney was all ablaze. 

The manner of cooking at that time was not very different fror;i i 
of to-day, though it differed in some respects. One of the piin 
dishes was rather peculiar. It consisted of a piece of fresh beef ^ 
with hulled corn and beans added. Every family had bakea - 
and brown bread on Sunday morning and noon. The rj^e and -.u 
corn bread was generally made in great troughs and then ba 
iron kettles in a brick oven. From a half-dozen to a dozen 
were usually made at one time. Doughnuts, instead of being 
with molasses, were sweetened with maple sugar, which w?s . 
abundant in those days. 

All kinds of liquors were freely drank, though West Indu^ . 
was the most generall}^ used. Various kinds of fancy drinks " 
also made, prominent among which was a winter beverage (;■ 
flip. It was made of spruce beer, rum, sugar, and water, 
all taverns it was customar}' to keep two iron rods, called pc . 
heated in the coals. When flip was called for, the beer won J 
drawn, into which would be plunged a red-hot poker. The 

' This Journal is in the Library of ihe Maine Historical Society. 



222 insTOBT OF Brunswick, top sham, and habpswell. 

sugar, and water would then be added. Half a pint of rum to a 
quart of beer was considered to be the right proportion. This 
beverage was deemed delicious by all who indulged in it. Punch 
was the summer beverage. It was made in about the same man- 
ner as it is at present in those places where its use is indulged 
in, — of rum, sugar, and water, flavored with the juice of a lemon. 
Some of the citizens were too fond of these beverages for their 
own welfare. There was one such man named Andrews, who 
was ver^' fond of making rh3mes and equall3' fond of his punch or 
flip. One day a load of goods was brought from Maquoit to Bruns- 
wick village, and Andrews volunteered to assist in unloading. While 
doing so, a barrel of rum fell out of the cart, and striking his leg, 
fractured it. He was taken into a store and a surgeon sent for. His 
ruling passions displaj'ed themselves even in his agony, for while 
waiting for the doctor he composed the following rhj-me : — 

" By a sudden stroke my leg is broke, 
My heart is sore ofTeuded ; 
The doctor 's come — let 's have some rum, 
And then we'll have it meuded." 

Some of the customs of these times were so discreditable to the 
towns that it is with reluctance that any mention is made of them. 
Of this character were the quarrels between the students of the col- 
lege and the rowdies of Brunswick, who were designated " Yaggers." 
T' ^ latter were almost invarial^ly the aggressors. At times it was 
necessary for students, if alone, to go armed. There was an equal 
disaffection between the "Yaggers" and the rowdies of Topsham, 
and this fact was often a matter for rejoicing to the student. It is 
pleasant to know that a better feeling now prevails, and that such 
quarrels are events of the past. The^' would never have occurred had 
a proper police force been sustained, and the laws been enforced. 

AMUSEMENTS. 

In the earliest period of the settlement of these towns, but little real 
amusement was known to the citizens. Near the close of the last 
century, however, balls and parties, huskings and apple-bees, came 
in vogue, and served to enliven the otherwise monotonous life of the 
people. From the number of dancing-schbols which have been kept 
in Brunswick and Topsham, it is reasonable to suppose that the citi- 
zens of these towns were fond of this method of relaxation from care, 
and that their dancing parties were well attended. The earliest dan- 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 223 

cing-sehool kept in either town is believed to have been the one taught 
by a Mr. Allen, in 1799, in the Godfrey House, in Topsham. 

The amusements of the college students -at a somewhat later date 
were generally confined to themselves, and were apt to give occasion 
to other feelings than those of merriment on the part of the citizens. 
Students' pranks have been altogether too numei'ous to admit even of 
their enumeration in this connection ; nevertheless, the following is 
introduced, not ov\y as being one of the earliest occurrences of the kind, 
but as affording a fair sample of all. Such tricks, if they did not afford 
amusement to those of the inhabitants immediateh' affected by them, 
yet served as good topics for general conversation for quite a while. 
The following anecdote is given in the words of another, himself 
a student and xery likely an eye-witness, we dare not sa}' a par- 
ticipant. 

" A countrj'man bound to Portland with a twohorse team, laden 
with butter in firkins, beans in bags, and three dead hogs (for it was 
cold weather, being the first of the spring term), drove up to the 
tavern that stood near the college, and put up for the night. In the 
morning when he got up, his cart and load were gone. Search was 
made in all directions. They followed the wheel-tracks to the col- 
lege, and there lost them. About the middle of the forenoon some 
one espied the vehicle on the roof of North College, the wheels astride 
the ridge-pole, laden ready to hitch on to. Who put it there and how 
they effected it was a mystery' ; Init it was a deal of work for a good 
many hands to get it down by taking the cart to pieces." ^ 

Of public amusements, such as caravans and circuses, theatrical 
performances, concerts, lectures, etc., the number is so great as to 
admit of but limited notice. 

Mr. Dean Swift sa^^s that the first public exhibition in Brunswick 
or vicinity was given in the year 1798. One McGinness, an English- 
man, gave a Punch and Jud}' show in the northeast chamber of the 
dwelling-house on Maine Street, now owned and occupied by Mrs. 
Rodney Forsaith. The exhibition was well attended, everybody was 
satisfied, and Mr. Swift says it was really quite a good show. 

According to the same authorit}', the first caravan was exhibited here 
about the year 1818 on the lot now owned' by the town, back of the 
Post-Office. This was followed, in the year 1825, by one which exhib- 
ited on the same lot. In 1829 a caravan, owned by Macomber & Co., 
exhibited near the Tontine Hotel. In 1836 there was a combined 

1 Kellogg, Sophomores of Raddiffe. 



HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

iv ...•■gerie and circus. In 1843 Raymond & Co. gave their zoological 
\:i:.''>!tion, and in 1845 Rockwell & Stone's New York Circus was 
:—■ vtted near the Univcrsalist Church, on Federal Street. Since 
' time entertainments of this kind have been of more frequent 

• irencc; 

,'. 1824 a ^Ir. Taylor gave an exhibition of ventriloquism at Stod- 

■ .1 Hall. Tlie first tlieatrical performance was that given in 1828, 

e week, at Nichols Hall, by a company of comedians from the 

. ont Theatre, Boston. The entertainment the first evening con- 

• of Tobias's comedy of "The Honeymoon" and the farce of 

Young Widow." The price of achnission was fifty cents. 

; -en under twelve years of age were admitted for half price. 

Ji: J first public concert of vocal music of which we find any record 

;:^ f>iven at Richards Hotel, July 28, 1836, by Mr. and Mrs. G. 

ws and Miss A. Woodward of Boston. It is quite probable, 

er, that concerts were given at an earlier date b}' the Ha3-dcn 
V, a musical organization in existence as early as 1825. Of 
■ars concerts have been of too frequent occurrence to call for 
r notice. 
i...! first instrumental concert was probably that given hy the 
•• . liwick Brass Band, March 1, 1844. 

first regatta ever given on the Androscoggin River took place 

er 12, 1870. There were four races for the championship of 

V . and for silver goblets. The first race was for six-oared boats, 

miles ; the second, for wherries pulled by the students, one mile ; 

■; lidrd for single shell wherries, two miles; the fourth for double 

-'I'.M )}oats, two miles. 

iburlesque May trainings of the students of Bowdoin College 

■ •■,:'\ ^ji'operl}' be classed under the head of amusements. The first 
'.I'vi -ed in 1836, the corapan}' appearing dressed in the most gro- 

'. costumes, and with arms and equipments of not the most 

ved patterns. The following year the company again made its 

(,.; iirance. Tlae cannon of the Brunswick Artillery Companj', to 

nliout fort}' of them belonged, having been concealed, the com- 

marched over to Topsham'and took the pieces belonging to the 

lam Artillery Company. Similar annual trainings by the students 

V . kept up for many j'ears, the last one occurring in 1855 or 1856. 

:.t :,jse fantastic processidte, the students generally personified public 

> or characters of ficlwn. Sometimes, though not often, they 

;»! ijji.ed costumes in ridicule of some worthy citizen of the town. 

.'■ a- frequently they illustrated in a laughable manner some event of 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 225 

a local character. The causes which led to the appearance of these 
fantastic trainings in the first place will be given in the chapter upon 
the niilitar}' history of the town. 

In Topsham, public entertainments have not been of frequent occur- 
rence. The reason for this is obvious : Brunswick, being the larger 
town and in such close proximity to Topsham, offers the better field for 
securing a full attendance upon such occasions. Of fairs, levees, 
school exhibitions, private dramatic entertainments, concerts hy local 
singers, etc., Topsham has doubtless had her full share. Few travel- 
ling shows have, however, exhibited there. 

About 1832 a caravan exhibited on the high land above the present 
Free- Will Baptist Meeting-House. Much curiosit}' was excited as to 
the elephants passing over the bridges from Brunswick, fears being enter- 
tained that they would break through or else refuse to walk over them. 

About the year 1850 a company of Indians from the State of New 
York gave an exhibition at the Court House, illustrative of the Indian 
mode of life, and of warfjxre. It was the first exhibition of the kind 
in the vicinity, and it attracted a large audience. 

Harpswell has alwa3's been obliged to content hers?lf with amuse- 
ments of a purely local character. The location of the town, and the 
scattered situation of its inhabitants, ofier little inducement to pro- 
prietors of travelling exhibitions to exhibit there. But what the 
citizens lose in this way is probably made up by a greater degree of 
sociability and b^' more varied home amusements. 

LECTU RES. 

Public lectures, either gratuitous or otherwise, have been of quite 
frequent occurrence in these towns, and especially in Brunswick. 
Mention of orations and lectures delivered upon piiblic occasions will 
be made under the head of Public Celebrations. 

The earliest known course of lectures was given bj- a Miss Prescott, 
in 1825. The subject was " English Grammar," and the tickets were 
three dollars for a course of forty lectures. In 1826 .John Cleaves 
83'mmes, a believer in an interior world, access to which was open to 
vo^'agers in the southern hemisphere, gave a course of three lectures, 
which was well attended, and commanded respect anil interest, as 
Mr. Symmes was not considered a charlatan, however erroneous might 
be his theory. 

In the summer of 1832, or about that time, through the influence of 
the distinguished Doctor Reuben Dimond Mussey, a professor in 
the Medical School, Doctor Sylvester Graham, noted for his theory of 



226 HISTORY OF BEVKSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARFSWELL. 

vegetable diet to the exclusion of animal, gave a course of lectures on 
his specialt3'. Tliey were given in the Congregational Church, and 
were fulh' attended. The doctor was an attractive lecturer, and his 
theorv gained man}' adherents. The meat-market ran low, and 
butchers feared for their calling. Some reall}- feared that their occu- 
pation was gone. 

About this time also. Professor Esp}-, of riiiladelphia, an admirable 
lecturer, and eminent in his specialty", gave a ver^- interesting course 
upon tlie theorv of " Storms and Meteorology." He was called the 
" Storm King." Professor Smyth gave a course on " Electricity." 
Professor De la Mater, of the IMedical School, gave his regular course 
on " Hygiene," as a Ivceum course, at which the medical class 
attended. Doctor Benjamin Lincoln, of the class of 1823, and then 
professor in the Vermont Medical School, gave a course on " Vege- 
tal)le Life." Single lectures were also given b}' Professor Packard, 
P^benezer Everett, PLsquire, Reverend Mr. Adams, and Professor 
Cleavelaud. The most of these were free lectures, delivered under 
the auspices of the Brunswick and Topsham Athen:eum. They were 
given in the Tontine Hall. 

In March, 1833, a Mr. Wilbur, of Newbur^'port, Massachusetts, 
delivered a course of lectures on "Astronomy" ; and in the following 
August, RcA-erend Mr. Farle}' gave a lecture before the Brunswick 
and Topsham Athena?um, at Keverend Mr. Titcomb's meeting-house, 
on the subject of "True Enterprise" In 1834 Mr. John INIcKeen 
gave a course of lectures before the above-mentioned society, upon 
the History of Brunswick and Toiisham, and soon afterwards jMr. C. 
Hamlin gave a lecture at Pike's Hall, on " Steam Enginery." In 
the winter and spring of 1 836 Professor Packard delivered a lecture 
on the subject of '• Primar}- Schools," and Doctor Adams gave a 
course of lectures on " Ph3'siology." The above lectures were given 
before the Atheuivum. 

In 1843 a lyceum was organized, and lectures were given b}' the 
following gentlemen : Reverend L). C. Haines, on " Education" ; Pro- 
fessor Packard, on " Nationality" ; R. H. Dunlap, Poem, "A Defence 
of Poetry." 

The course was continued in 1844, by l''rofessor Goodwin, on 
" Machiavelli " ; Professor Smyth, on " Explosions of Steam Boilers" ; 
Reverend Mr. Bailey, on " Reading" ; Wm. G. Barrows, Esquire, on 
" The Saracens" ; John W. Davis, on " American History" ; Reverend 
Asahel Moore, on " Popular Education" ; Colonel T. L. McKenny, on 
" Origin, History, and Character of the Indians." 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 227 

In 18'j7 a l^-comii was organized by members of the Unitarian Society, 
and lectures were <lelivercd by Reverend Doctors Sheldon, of Water- 
ville, and Peabody, of Boston, Mass., and by Professor C. C. Everett, 
of Brunswick. Reverend Mr. Stebbins, of Portland, Thomas H. Talbot, 
Esquire, of Portland, and by Reverend A. D. Wheeler, D. D. 

In 18.")!J a course of lectures was given at the Congregational 
Vestry, by Professor Paul A. Chadbourne, on "Natural History 
as related to Intellect"; by Augustus C. Robbins, on "Rags and 
Paper"; by Reverend Cyril Pearl, of Baldwin, on the " Past, Pres- 
ent, and Future of Maine"; and by Professor Egbert C. Smyth, on 
" Walking." 

In 1860 a course of six lectures was given by Professor Chad- 
bourne on "Iceland and the Icelanders"; "Natural History as 
related to the Fine Arts, on General Principles of Classification, 
etc."; "General Description of Invertebrates"; "The Relations of 
Natural History and Religion." 

In 1802 there was a course of fi-ee lectures. A record of two only 
has been preserved : the first by Reverend Doctor Ballard, on " Com- 
mon-Sense " ; and the second by Professor Packard, on the "Acadians, 
or French Neutrals." 

Topsham, not being the seat of a literary institution, does not 
show so large a list of lectures, though its citizens have usually con- 
stituted a fair proportion of Brunswick audiences. A lyceum was 
inaugurated in Topsham in 1842, but no record of any lectures has 
Iteen kept, except of one in December hy Reverend Paul S. Adams, 
and one in January, 1843, by John W'. Davis, P^squire. In 1850 
Reverend Amos D. AVheeler gave a lecture at the Court House on 
tlie different methods of reckoning time. 

In 1859 lectures were delivered before the Topsham Farmers and 
Mechanics' Club by Warren Johnson, A. M., Topsham; Reverend 
Wm. A. Drew,- Augusta; Reverend H. C. Leonard, Waterville ; and 
l)y Reverend S. F. Dike, of BatL; Doctor N. S. True, Bethel ; Pro- 
fessor Paul A. Chadbourne, of Bowdoin College; A. G. Tenney, 
Esquire, Brunswick ; Reverend H Q. Butterfield, Hallowell. 

CELEBRATIONS. 

The first observance of any public event in either of these towns, of 
which any account has been preserved to us, was that of Washington's 
death, the observance of which, in accordance with a resolution of the 
national Congress, took place on February 22, 1800. But little is 
preserved of the proceedings of that day in Brunswick. The only 



228 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWF.LL. 

spectator now known to be living was at that time but eight j'ears of 
age. A procession of citizens was formed in front of what was after- 
wards the residence of the hite Doctor Lincoln ; the}" were escorted hy 
boj'S under the leadership of JNIr. David Dunlap, and proceeded to the 
old west meeting-house, where a eulogy was delivered b\' Doctor Page. 
The eulogy has not been preserved, but the closing words are said to 
have been, " If Washington is dead, we can thank our God that we 
have an Adams in the chair." 

In Topsham, a procession was formed at the house of Captain 
Alexander Rogers, and moved to tlie old east meeting-house in the 

following order : — 

Marshal. 

Military Officers 

(in uniform, with side arms draped in mourning). 

Soldiers of the Revolution. 

The Orator. 

Civil Officers of the United States. 

Selectraeu. 

Citizens. 

The exercises at the meeting-house consisted of music, a prayer, 
music, an elegy, and the singing of an anthem. *•' Tlie whole attended 
to with decency, order, and decorum." The elegy was delivered I)}' 
the Reverend Jonathan Ellis. The following introductory lines are 
given as a specimen of his muse : — 

"Ye who have often heard his praises sung 
In strains sublime by mauj' an abler tongue, 
Now hear my grief-taught muse her grief impart, 
A grief deep felt hj every patriot heart, — 
Our Washington 's no more." 

There was no observance of the occasion in Ilarpswell, the citizens 
of that town attending the exercises in Brunswick. 

The first observance in this vicinity, of the anniversary of the 
Declaration of National Independence, toolv place in Topsham, in 
1805. Samuel Willard, then a tutor in Bowdoin College, delivered an 
oration " at the request of the Federal Repulilicans of BrunsAvick and 
Topsham." 

The following year, 1806, the Reverend Jonathan Ellis delivered 
an oration at the Court House, before the members of the same 
political organization. 

No account has been found of any other celebration of this day 
prior to 1825, although it is known with tolerable certaint}- that such 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 229 

celebrations were had almost every j^ear during the first quarter of the 
century. In the year 1825 the citizens assembled on July 4, at one 
o'clock, p. M., at the "FalstatT Inn," Brunswick. Here Charles Pack- 
ard, Esquire, delivered " an appropriate and verj' interesting address." 
and concluded by reading the Declaration of Independence. A pub- 
lic dinner, enlivened with a variety of toasts, was then partaken of. 

March 4, 1829, the inauguration at Washington of General Jackson 
as President of the United States, was duly celebrated in Brunswick. 
" Father" Stetson writes in his diary, on this day, " Great parading 
in our wide street, guns fired, bells rung, boys mustered." 

July 4, 1830, was celebrated b}- a procession of 3-oung men, escorted 
by the Light Infantry Company. An oration was delivered at the 
meeting-house on the hill, by Mr. Webster Kelly, of Topsbam. It 
was followed by a dinner at the Tontine Hotel, furnished b}' Mr. 
Elijah P. Pike. The festivities of the day were marred I)}' a fatal 
accident. The boys in their patriotic zeal had obtained a swivel about 
eight inches in length. This the}' had filled with paper wadding, but 
without any bullet. The force of its discharge was sufficient, how- 
ever, to cause the. death of Mr. Theophilus Miller, who was accident- 
ally hit by the wadding. 

On Juh" 4, 1836, the members of the Young Men's Temperance 
Society, of Brunswick, together with other friends of temperance, 
assembled at Stone's Hall, and formed a procession under the escort 
of the Mechanic Volunteers. The procession embraced a large num- 
ber of the temperance people from different parts of the town, includ- 
ing a portion of the Temperance Society of Bowdoin College. A 
compau}' of 3'outh, named the "-Juvenile Guards," formed the rear 
rank. At half past ten a. m., the procession moved up Maine Street 
to the Congregational Church, where the following exercises were 
held : — 

" National Hj-mn, hy the choir. Prayer, b}' Keverend Asahel 
Moore. ^ 117th Psalm; tune, Old Hundred. A Declaration of 
Independence, written for the occasion by Mr. Alonzo Garcelon,^ 
member of the Senior Class of Bowdoin College. Address, by Mr. 
Andrew Dunning. Temperance hymn. Benediction. ' The services 
were interesting and the audience was large and attentive.' " 

The Fourth of July, 1842, was celebrated in Brunswick with 
unusual eclat. At ten o'clock, a. m., a procession formed near Wash- 
ington Hall, under the direction of Colonel Estabrook, marshal of the 

1 Methodist. — Bowdoin, Class of 1835. 2 j^oy; a physician in Lewiston. 



230 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

day, marched tlirongli the A'arious streets, and entered the Congre- 
gational Church at eleven o'clock. The escort was formed by the 
Mechanic Volunteers. The order of exercises at the church was as 
follows : — 

A voluntary on the organ ; singing by the choir ; reading of Scrip- 
ture by Eeverend Doctor Adams; reading of the 136th Psalm, Avith 
responses by the audience ; prayer ; reading of the Declaration of In- 
dependence, by George C. Swallow ; singing by choir and congrega- 
tion ; oration by Washington Gilbert ; benediction. After the bene- 
diction, the audience separated, and, the procession being re-formed, 
the}' proceeded to the grove near the town-house, where a collation 
had been provided under the superintendence of Mr. William 1^. 
Field, Senior. The band enlivened the scene with appropriate music, 
and all seemed to enjoy the festival. 

In the course of the afternoon, the young ladies of Brunswick 
received their friends in the Tontine Hall. The 30unger misses 
assembled at the house of Ebenezer Everett, Esquire, and passed the 
afternoon in a pleasant manner. In the eA^ening there was a display 
of fire- works. 

In 1843 the Young Men's Temperance Society of Brunswick cele- 
brated the return of the anniversary of National Independence b}' a 
procession, of which Captain John A. Cleaveland was the chief mar- 
shal. Public exercises were had at the church on the hill. There 
was music by the band, a prayer, an original ode sung by the choir, 
and an oration delivered b}' Reverend George Knox, of Topsham, 
Avhich was followed 1>y more music, a poem by Mr. Albert AY. 
Knight, and an original ode was sung by the choir. 

In 1845 the day was celebrated in Topsham by the .Temperance 
Society-. The procession marched to the Unitarian Meeting-IIouse, 
where an address Avas delivered b}' M. B. Goodwin, of the Senior 
Class of Bowdoin College. After the exercises, there was a dinner at 
the Washingtonian House. 

Probably the celebration of the Fourth of July which was attended 
with the most eclat of an}' that ever occurred in either of these towns 
Avas that in 1854. 

At ten A. jr. a procession Avas formed in the folloAving order: — 

Marsliiil. 
Bowdoinliam Artillery, \ 

Fire Compauios of lininswick, C as escort. 
Fire Company of Topsliaiu, ) 

Band. 
Aid — Chief Marshal — Aid. 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 231 

Marshal — Fire Companies from Abroad. 

Marshal — Committee of Arrangements. 

President of the Day and Chaplain. 

Vice-Presidents. 

Orator, Poet, and Reader. 

Marshal — Selectmen of Brnnswick and Topsham. 

Marshal — Fire Wards. 

Marshal — Superintending School Committee of Bnniswick and Topshara. 

Marshal — United States Officers. 

State Officers. 

Marshal — Clergy. 

Members of the Bar. 

Town Officers (present and past) of Brunswick and Topsham. 

Marshal — Officers of Bowdoin College. 

Students of same. 

Marshal — Agent and Overseers of the Cabot Manufacturing Company. 

Operatives of the same. 

Marshal — Schools of Brunswick and Topsham, with their respective 

Teachers. 

Marshal — Preceptor and Pupils of Topsham Academy. 

Marshal — Strangers. 

Marshal — Citizens of Brunswick and Topsham. 

Marslial — Flokal Procession of the Young Ladies of Brnnswick and 

Topsham, in carriages. 

Marshal — Juvenile Temperance Watchmen Club. 

The procession, after passing through tlie ])rincipal streets, entered 
the church upon the hill. Here Professor R. D. Hitchcock offered a 
prayer, and the Declaration of Independence was read by Professor 
II. II. Boody, after which Ex-Governor Robert P. Dunlap, the presi- 
dent of the day, introduced to the audience Mr. William P, Drew, 
the orator of the da3^ The oration was followed b\' a poem by Rev- 
erend Elijah Kellogg. In the afternoon a trial of fire-engines for the 
prize, a silver trumpet, took place at the upper mills. The prize 
was awarded to Androscoggin No. 2, of Topsham, which played a 
stream of one hundred and seventy- four feet and some inches. Atlantic 
Companj^ No. 2, of Portland, was so unfortunate as to burst their 
hose at each trial. An exhibition of fire-works, which would have 
been a fine one, was marred by a shower which hurried it to a close. 
The festivities of the day closed with a ball at the Tontine Hall, under 
the direction of Protector Engine Company No. 4, of Brunswick. 

In 1860 the day was observed in a similar way. William P. Tucker, 
tutor of Bowdoin College, read the Declaration of Independence ; and 
Augustus C. Robbins, Esquire, of Brunswick, delivered an oration. 

Doubtless the day has been occasionally observed in Harps well, 



232 HIbTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

but no account of any special celebration has been obtained. The 
day is often chosen for Sabbaih-school picnics. 

On Monday, August 16, 1<S58, a public meeting was held at the 
depot in Brunswick, to celebrate the successful laying of the Atlantic 
cable. General Abncr B. Thompson called the meeting to order. 
Albert G. Tenney, P^sqnire, was elected chairman, and Daniel Elliot, 
secretar}-. The messages between the Directors of the Atlantic Tele- 
graph Company-, and between the Queen of England and the President 
of the United States, were then read. A volunteer choir sang an ode, 
speeches were made by A. G. Tenney-, Eeverend John S. C. Abbot, 
Reverend Amos D. Wheeler, D.D., of Topsham, Honorable Charles 
J. Gilman, Reverend Aaron C. Adams, of Manchester, New Hamp- 
shire, Honorable Ebenezer Everett, Reverend Doctor Ballard, and 
Reverend George E. Adams, D. D., and the exercises were concluded 
by another ode from the choir. The depot and telegraph office were 
illuminated, as were also the houses of many of the citizens of Bruns- 
wick and Topsham. 

February 22, 18G2, the anniversary of Washington's birthday was 
celebrated in the Congregational Church in Brunswick. Reverend 
Doctor Wheeler, of Topsham, read the hj'mn, " M3' country, 'tis of 
thee " ; Professor Whittlesey read selections from the Scriptures ; Rev- 
erend Doctor Ballard read the prayers for the occasion, from the 
Episcopal Collection. Washington's Farewell Address was then read 
b}' Reverend Doctor Adams, a hymn to the tune of " St. Martin's" 
was then sung by the choir, and the benediction pronounced. 

On Saturday, April 15, 1865, upon the reception of the news of the 
assassination of President Lincoln, a public meeting was held at the 
church of the First Parish in Brunswick. Honorable Marshall Cram 
presided. Reverend Doctor Wheeler, of Topsham, made a prayer, which 
was followed b}' addresses from Reverend Doctor Ballard, Honorable 
Charles J. Gilman, Reverend T. J. B. House, Reverend Doctor 
Adams, A. G. Tenne}', President Leonard AV^oods, Reverend Mr. 
Baldwin, Professor C. F. Brackett, and Warren Johnson. A resolu- 
tion was passed expressive of great grief at the calamity' which had 
fallen upon the nation, and of faith in the stability of the government. 
The pulpit and choir gallery were appropriately draped in mourning, 
as were also man}' stores and private residences. All the tlags were 
at half mast. 

On Wednesday, April 19, 1865, a union meeting of the different 
rehgious societies of Brunswick was held in the INIason Street Church, 
at 12 M., in commemoration of the death of the late President of the 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 233 

United States, Abraliam Lincoln, whose funeral services were then 
being held at Washington, 1). C. The exercises were as follows : — 

A portion of Scripture was read by Reverend A. D. Wheeler, D. D., 
a hj-mn by Reverend J. T. B. House, a prayer by Reverend Doctor 
Adams ; a second bymn was then read by Reverend Doctor Wheeler, 
who delivered an appropriate discourse. Prayer was then ottered by 
Reverend Mr. House, a national hymn sung by the choir, and the bene- 
diction pronounced by Doctor Adams. The church was appropriately 
draped with mourning. 

April 19, 1875, the anniversary- of the battles of Concord and Lex- 
ington was celebrated in Brunswick, by the display of flags, ringing 
of bells, and a national salute fired by a detachment of the Artillery 
Company, of Bowdoin College. 

Memorial Day has also been observed annuall}^ in Brunswick 
and Topsham by the decoration of the graves of the fallen heroes of 
tlie Rebellion, and frequently by a public address. 

PUBLIC MEETINGS. 

A meeting of the surviving soldiers of the Revolution was held 
October 5, 1825. Philip Owen was chosen chairman, and John Given 
secretary. A vote of thanks was passed to Honorable Peleg Sprague 
of Hallowell, Honorable John Anderson of Portland, and Honorable 
Edward Everett of JMassachusetts, " for their generous and able pleas 
l^efore the Congi'ess of the United States, in behalf of themselves and 
companions in the perilous services of the Revolution." 

On April 23, 1827, a citizens' meeting was held, " for the relief of 
the Greeks." Speeches were made by Honorable Robert P. Dunlap 
and Professor Thomas C. Upham. The amount of one hundred and 
sixteen dollars was contributed. 

In 1833 a meeting of the citizens of Brunswick was held on the third 
of July, for the purposes of taking measures to extend an invitation to 
President Jackson to visit the town while on his proposed tour through 
New England. 

The antislavery agitation commenced in this vicinity by the appoint- 
ment at a public meeting in January, 1838, of Professor William 
Sm^'th and David Dunlap, Esquire, of Brunswick, and Reverend 
Thomas N. Lord and Reverend Edwin R. Warren, of Topsham, as del- 
egates to the Maine Antislavery Society, to be held in Augusta. At 
the meeting of this society Professor Sm3-th was chosen its secretary. 

In November, J 838, Mr. Codding, the general agent of the above- 
named society, delivered several lectures in Brunswick upon the sub- 



234 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

ject of slavery .and its abolition. The antislaveiy cause met with 
much opposition in Brunswick. 

A meeting was held October 27, 1838, " to take into consideration 
the measures at present pursued bj' the Abolitionists," at which both 
the friends and foes of the measures were present. 

An attempt was made to introduce some resolutions wliich had been 
prepared prior to the meeting b}' opponents of the cause. This action 
was warml}- opposed b}' Professor William Smyth, Avho said they "had 
not come together to pass resolutions prepared to our hand without 
deliberation on our part," and that the call for the meeting implied 
that they were to " deliberate, examine, discuss." Hisses and " Down 
with him ! " were heard in different parts of the house, but he con- 
cluded his remarks without any regard to them. He was followed and 
warmly sustained by General John C. Humphreys, and the meeting 
adjourned without transacting any business, to meet again on the 
following Tuesday evening. 

At the adjourned meeting General A. B. Thompson offered resolu- 
tions to the following effect : — 

Against any interference with slavery by the people of non-slave- 
holding States. Admitting the right of free discussion, but against 
the exercise of it and against an}' unlawful opposition to it. That the 
opinions expressed in these resolutions were in accordance with the 
sentiments of the vast majorit}' of the citizens of that community. 
Mr. Adams spoke in opposition to the resolutions, though his remarks 
met with frequent interruption. The resolutions were adopted b}^ a 
vote of one hundred and sixty-three to one hundred and seventeen. 

On "Wednesday, October 31, the citizens of Brunswick and Tops- 
ham met at the Congregational Church in Topsham to consider the 
action of the meeting held the previous evening in Brunswick. 

The meeting was opened by a strain of pithy, pungent remarks 
from Doctor James McKeen, in reference to the late meeting in 
Brunswick. Addresses were also made b}' John INI. O'Brien, Esquire, 
Mr. Codding, and others. The meeting was highly interesting in its 
character, and cheering to the friends of free discussion and of equal 
and impartial liberty. It was agreed to call another meeting of the 
citizens of the two villages, to assemble in Brunswick on the Friday 
evening following, and a committee was raised for that purpose. 

In accordance with this arrangement, a call was issued on Friday 
morning, inviting " the friends of free discussion and the right of the 
people freely to assemble for the purpose of discussing any subject in 
morals, politics, or religion, in which they feel an interest," to meet 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 235 

at the Second Baptist Meeting-House, in Brunswick, on that evening, 
to give such expression of their sentiments in relation to this right as 
in existing circumstances miglit appear suitable and necessary. The 
house was well filled. Professor AVilliam Smyth addressed the meet- 
ing at some length, reviewing the action of the former meeting, and 
taking strong ground in favor of free speech. Professor William 
Smyth, Doctor James McKeen, and Major Xahum Perkins were 
appointed a committee to prepare business for the meeting. They 
reported the following resolution : — 

" Resolved, That freedom of thought and of speech is the natural 
right of every human being ; and that our Federal Constitution 
sacredly guarantees its protection to every citizen of this Eepublic." 

Brief remarks were made by John M. O'Brien, Esquire, in favor of 
the resolution. He was followed by Mr. Codding, who addressed 
the meeting at some length. A vote was then taken upon the resolu- 
tion, which was almost unanimous in its favor. Resolutions were 
then passed, that while the meeting would express no opinion either 
for or against the principles and measures of the Abolitionists, that 
they have a perfect right to hold and utter and defend their senti- 
ments, and " that as good citizens they should patienth^ bear with 
each others' supposed mistakes and errors, not doubting but, in the 
end, from the collision of mind with mind in open, fair, and manly 
discussion, the truth on every important subject will shine forth clear 
as the noonday, commanding the united assent of all." 

A public meeting was held October 20, 1853, at the Congregational 
Vestry, to consider the importance of ornamenting the village witii 
shade trees. Doctor Isaac Lincoln, Charles J. Oilman, John L. 
Swift, Hugh McClellan, George W. Carlton, Joseph McKeen, Jr., 
Valentine G. Colby, Francis Owen, William M. Hall, and Augustus 
C. Robbins were chosen a committee to obtain the necessary funds 
and to superintend the transplanting of trees throughout the village. 
One hundred and thirty-two dollars and sixty-one cents was raised and 
paid out for transplanting trees, etc. Thirty cents was the average 
price paid for the trees. 

On Saturday, June 14, 1856, a public meeting of the citizens of 
Brunswick and Topsham was held, to give expression to the feelings of 
these communities in regard to the wanton attack on Senator Sumner 
by Representative Preston C. Brooks in the Senate Chamber in Con- 
gress. The meeting was called to order by Doctor Isaac Lincoln. 
Reverend Leonard Woods, D.D., was chosen to preside. Speeches 
were made by President Leonard Woods, Honorable Charles J. Gil- 



23G JIISTOliY OF liRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

man, Ebenezcr Everett, Esquire, and Kevereud Mr. Jaquis, and an 
address given by Keverend .lohn S. C. Abbott. Spirited resolntioiis 
were ottered by Professor William Smyth, which Avere unanimously 
passed. The meeting Avas a large and earnest one. 

The question of petitioning for a city charter began to be agitated 
by the citizens of Brunswick in the latter part of the year 1857. 
On January 7, I808, a meeting of citizens was held at McLellan's 
Hall to consider the matter. The meeting voted that the citizens of 
the village ought to ap[)ly for a charter, and Daniel Elliott^, A. G. 
Teuney, and A. C. Robbins were elected a Committee of Correspond- 
ence in regard to the matter. Ebenezer Everett, Joseph McKeen, 
Richard Greenleaf, Benjamin Eurbish, and Charles J. Noyes were 
chosen a committee to draft a charter to be presented to the legislature. 

A second meeting was held Januar}' i6. A. G. Tenney, Daniel 
Elliott, Benjamin Eurbish, A. B. Thompson, and Thomas Skolfield 
were elected a committee to obtain signers to a petition. The meet- 
ing agreed to accept the whole town in the petition for a charter 
instead of the village, if it was generally desired. 

A third meeting was held Eebruary 13th, at which it was voted to 
embrace the whole town in a petition for a charter if the town would 
so vote. 

A charter was granted by the legislature, to take effect if accepted 
by the whole town at its tirst meeting. It was not accepted by the 
town. 

Erom 18GI to 18G5 inclusive, nearly all the public meetings held 
hereabouts had reference to the civil war then going on. The tirst 
one of wliich any record has been preserved was held at White's 
Hall, in Topsham, on April 23, 18G1. It was to encourage the rais- 
ing of a company of volunteers. Erancis Adams, Esquire, was chosen 
chairman, and Sandford A. Perkins, clerk. Speeches were made by 
Reverend Amos D. Wheeler, D. D., Reverend George Knox, and 
others. Captain Edward W. Thompson marched over with his com- 
pany of lirunswick Volunteers, and addressed the meeting. AVilliam 
Whitten, George A. Rogers, and Erancis T. Littlelield were chosen 
a committee to solicit subscri[)tions, and two hundred dollars was 
subscribed on the spot. Some patriotic resolutions were also adopted. 

On ]\Iay 2, a meeting was held in Brunswick, at which a beautiful 
silk tlag was presented to the Brunswick Volunteers by ]Mrs. Arabella 
Greenleaf, in behalf of the ladies of the town. Captain Thompson 
responded for the company. 

A meeting was held in the depot, in Brunswick, on the afternoon of 



GENERAL AXD SOCIAL. 237 

October 17, and another on the evening of the same day, at which 
speeches were made liy Colonel L. D. M. Sweat, and C. C. Woodman, 
Esquire, of Portland, Honorable Charles J. Oilman, of Brunswick, 
and J. T. Oilman, of Bath. 

On the nineteenth of July, 1862, a meeting was held at the depot in 
Brunswick, which was opened with a prayer by Reverend George E. 
Adams. Speeches were made by Professors Wliittlesey and Cliamber- 
lain, ofBovvdoin College, and by General Oliver O. Howard, U. S. A. 

July 25 a meeting was held at McLellan's Hall, and speeches were 
made Ity Honorable Charles J. Oilman, Professors Chamberlain and 
Whittlesey, Reverend Doctor Ballard, John M. O'Brien, ICsquire, and 
J. T. Magrath, of Bowdoin College. 

On the 2'Jth a meeting was also held, at wliich speeches were made 
by Reverend'Doctor Ballard, J. M. O'Brien, Esquire, Reverend Doctor 
Tenney, of P^llsworth, Reverend Doctor Adams, A. G. Tenney, and 
by a Mr. Temple, of Bowdoin College. 

Another meeting of the same kind was held August 30, at which 
speeches were made bj- John M. O'Brien, Esquire, and A. G. Tenne}'. 

September 1, a meeting was held in the meeting-house at Grows- 
town, where speeches were made by Honorable Charles J. Oilman 
and A. G. Tennc}-. 

On the next day two meetings were held, — one in the afternoon, in 
the Baptist Meeting-House at New Meadows, at which speeches were 
made b}' Charlton C. Lewis, of New York, and by Honoral)le Charles 
J. Oilman ; the other was held iu the evening at McLellan's Hall, and 
was addressed bj'^ Honorable Josiah IT. Drummond, and J. T. Oilman, 
Esquire, of Portland, and In* Reverend Mr. Rugg, of Bath. 

On September 8, 18G3, there was a public meeting at the Bruns- 
wick depot, which was addressed by Honorable F. O. J. Smith, of 
Portland, on the unconstitutionality of the Conscription Act. This 
could with more propriety be termed an rmti-war meeting. 

In Januar}^ 1864, a meeting of citizens was held at the Congrega- 
tional Vestry in Brunswick, in favor of giving aid to the freedmen. 
Several speeches were mad(^, and a committee was appointed to solicit 
aid. They issued circulars in regard to this o])ject, and reported sub- 
sequently that the}' had received and forwarded to the P>eedman's 
liureau eleven boxes of clothing, the estimated value of which was 
$1,000. 

Several meetings were held in the summer of 18G5, in Topsham, 
for the purpose of taking action in relation to offering inducements to 
the trustees of the State Agricultural College to locate that institution 



:?;>8 ins-ioNY OF nI:r^s^\^ICK, Tni\^iiAyr, .wn //.i/;/'mi'7;/,/.. 

in 'l\)[)-;li;im. Sutlii'uMit t'uiuls woro obtiiiiKHl, Init the triistoos deonu'd 
it I'xpvHliiMit to Itu'iito tho (.'olK'iio ;it Oroiio. 

Ill 1S('>(;, siMiio time ill July, :i nuH'tiiii:' ot" the oitizons of liinnswii'U 
\v;is lu'lil to t:iUo mensiuvs for funiishiiiii- i\'u\ [o tlie sntfoivrs l>v tlio 
rorthiiul lire. A roliof (.'ommittoo wms elioson. luitl siii)[>lii's niul 
inoiu'v wore sent l>v it to tho eity authorities. 

Doulitless niauy other nieetin<is of the eitizens of these towns have 
been held Itesides those whieh are lu're mentioned. Some others are 
mentioned in other eonneetions, and liiere are some, doubtless, of 
whieh no rei'ord has been fmuid. 

'That i>ur citizens lia\e ••dways been eminent for their eultivation of 
the moral and social virtues, uo less than for their zeal for improve- 
ment in knowledge, is ovitlent from the attention they gave to the 
formation of 

ASSOCIATIONS, 

The number of which, of various kinds and for various purposes, in 
r>runswiek and vicinity, formed from time to time during the present 
century, is so large as to admit oi' but brief mention in these pages. 

AoKioiLTiiuAL AND Mkcii ANu Ai, ASSOCIATION'S. — The carlicst 
association of this kind was the ^Ikoiianics' Association, of Bruns- 
wick, which was tormcd August S, ISl'J. The first ollicers were, 
.lames l)erbv, president; l>enjamin Furbish, vice-presi<ient ; Theo- 
dore 8. jNIcLellan, secretary ; Ezra Drew, treasurer. The object of 
the society was " the promotion o[' l)nsiuess and the imiu'ovemeut oi' 
intellect." 

On April II, 18,")4, the Saoaoauoc Agkiovltikai, ano IIohtioul- 
riKAi. 80CIKTY was incorporated. Though not a town society, it is 
mentii)ned here because all its buildings and grounds are situated in 
Topsham, and most of its meetings have been held there. The llrst 
meeting of this society was held in Bath, at the City Hall, duly 1, 
18o4. At this meeting a code of by-laws was adopted and perma- 
nent otHcers elected, and the meeting then adjourned to the tenth of 
August following. At this latter meeting it was voted to hold a fair 
that autunm. at such time and place as the executive otHeers oi' the 
society might determine. Some of the principal otticers, however, 
declineil serving, and no fair was held that season. The society held 
its meetings annually at liath for several years, but had, at tirst, a 
hard struggle for existence. In 18."),") INIr. Francis T. ruriuton, of 
ro[)sham, was elected its president. Though not nominally, yet in 
reality, he was the tirst person to serve in that capacity. In the 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 2o0 

Miilnrnn of ISoo the fociet}' heUl its first fair in the old town-house in 
TojishHiii, and Keverend Amos D. Wheehir, of that town, delivered 
an address. 'J'he exhibition was a marked success. Since tlien 
.iiinnal exhil>itions have been held, and the condition of the society 
lias steadily improved. It now ranks among the very best of the 
agrieultui'al societies in the State. It owns upwards of nineteen acres 
of land, a large two-stor}' building, in which the exhibitions are held, 
a dining-hall, stable, and other buildings. The society is free from 
debt, and has a large membership. 

September 10, 1774, a grange of The I'atrons of IIi;.«p.am>uv was 
organized at Topsham, and aiioiit the same time one was organized in 
Brunswick. Both are in a flourishing condition. 

CHAIMTA [JLE A!^SOCI ATIOXS. 

The oldest association for charitable and social purposes is Uxiteo 
Lonor:, No. 8, of Fijef: and Accej'ted Masons The charter 
for this lodge was granted b}- the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 
December 14, 1801. The charter members were Jacob Brown. Wil- 
liam Fairfield, James Kogers, Daniel llolden, Ziba Eaton, Samuel 
Snow, Jonathan Snow, David Patterson, James McLellan, and Joshua 
VAwry. 'V\\(i first master was Jacob Brown. 

The lodge was established in Topsham, holding its first meeting 
under the charter, February 20, 1802, at the house of Mr. Gideon 
Walker. The record furnishes no clew as to the exact place of meet- 
ing after that above mentioned, it simpl}" reading " Mason's Hall " ; 
and although a committee was raised at the first meeting ''for the 
|)iirposri of hiring a hall and furnishing furniture, clotliing, etc.," no 
jecord of the report of that committee is f<jund. In 1804 a committee 
was chosen to " draw a draft" (for a new hall), and on February 12, 
180.">, it was " voted that there be a committee chosen for the ])U)posc 
of nuikiiig all the necessar}- arrangements for building a Masouic Hall 
and to carry the same into effect. " 

On May 27, 180«;, a committee was chosen to complete a Masonic 
Hall, and September 23, 180(;, it was "voted that the secretary be 
empowered to subscribe five shares for United Lodge for the purpose 
of building a hall" ; and the new hall was dedicated January 1, 1807. 
The lodge was evidently not at that time full owner of the hall, as a 
vote passed March 17, 1807, provides " that the lodge take all indi- 
vidual shares and pay for them, when the lodge is in capacit}' to do 
the same." This hall was in the building now known as the Franklin 
Family School. Several public displajs are recorded while the lodge 



240 HISTORY OF BliUKSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND ILIBPSWELL. 

was located in Topsliam. On June 24, 1806, the Festival of St. 
John the Baptist, a •'procession formed (under direction of David 
Patterson, as marshal), and moved to Mr. Daniel Owen's hall, at 
Brunswick, where thirtv-one Masons, together with five musicians, 
dined and then returned." 

On June 24, 1808, the Festival of St. John the Baptist was cele- 
brated bv United Lodge and Solar Lodge of Bath. Jacob llerrick 
delivered an address at the new meeting-house in Brunswick. 

In 1810 the question of moving the lodge to Bnmswick was consid- 
ered, and in 1814 it was voted to petition the Grand Lodge for per- 
mission to remove it. The answer to this i)etition was as follows ; — 

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 
June 10, A. L. 5816. 

" On the petition of the officers and members of the United Lodge, 
situated at Topsham, voted that United Lodge have leave to remove 
from the town of Topsham to the town of Brunswick, of which the 
officers and members will take due notice and govern themselves 
accordingly. 

" John Foley, Grand Secretary.''^ 

"Boston, June 29, A. L. 5810." 

The above is a correct cop}' of the indorsement on the charter. 

On June 24, 181G, a procession being formed, the lodge was joined 
by the ollicors and members of Freeport and Solar Lodges, and by 
tlie District Deputy (irand Master Oliver Bra}', Esquire. Tlie pro- 
cession, preceded b}- a band of music, marched to the meeting-house 
in Brunswick, where an oration was delivered b}' Robert Pinckney 
Dunlap. The procession was again formed, moved to Washington 
Hall, and partook of a bountiful dinner provided l)y Kobert Eastman. 
The lodge did not return to Topsham, but met in Washington Hall. 
from this date until January 16, 1817, when a new hall, on Mason 
Street, was dedicated. Onh' Masonic visitors were present at this 
ceremon}-. Robert P. Dunlap delivered an oration, and the fraternity 
afterwards "partook of a sumptuous dinner" at the house of the 
master. Doctor Jonathan Page. In Jamiary, 1822, this lodge was 
incorporated into a bod}' politic, " with all the privileges usually 
gianted to other societies, instituted for purposes of ciiarity and 
lieneficence." In the year 1844 the Masonic Hall was enlarged and 
refurnished at considerable expense. This hall was over the Mason 
Street School-house, and the whole building (and land) was in 1872 
sold to tlie town for an engine-house. The lodge moved from the 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 241 

hall on Mason Street, October 3, 1872, into spacious rooms in the 
third story of the new building, known as " Lemont Block," on the 
corner of Maine and Pleasant Streets.^ 

The following anecdote comes in naturally in this connection. 
Earl}' in tlie century a man came to Brunswick, who claimed that he 
was a Free Mason when he was not one. The deception was at once 
detected, but a few of the members of that fraternit}' determined to 
have some sport with the man, and at the same time give him a lesson 
that would be likel}^ in future to deter him from attempting to gain a 
clandestine admission into other lodges. He was told that it was the 
custom of the Masons there to initiate all strangers before admitting 
them to the lodge, and that no exception could be made in his case. 
He consented to submit to the ordeal, and a room over Schwartkins's 
shop was at once prepared for the ceremon}'. The details of the 
initiation have not been preserved, but it is known that he was 
anointed with loater in such quantity that it ran down through the 
floor on to the table at which Schwartkins and his family were at dinner. 
After the ceremony was finished the candidate was asked whether it 
was similar to wliat he had pi-eviousl}' experienced when he was 
admitted to the fraternity. He replied, " It resembles it some, but 
you use a great deal more water here." 

The Buuxswick Humane Society was organized May 2, 1820. 
This was, as its name would indicate, a benevolent societ}', its object 
being to make gratuitous provision for the sick and destitute, of 
bedding and clothing, as far as it was able ; and to assist such desti- 
tute children as manifested a desire to attend the Sabbath school, 
with suitable clothing. The meetings of the society' were held at the 
residences of members. During the first 3'ear there were weekly meet- 
ings at which the time was occupied in making or repairing such gar- 
ments as the}' were able to pi-ocure for the above purposes. After the 
first year the meetings were less frequent. 

In March, 1822, the societj* contributed clothing, bedding, etc., 
" to students who had suffered in consequence of the fire on March 
4," and it was at this time voted " that the sum of thirty dollars be 
delivered to Reverend William Allen to be expended in such articles 
as he shall judge proper for indigent students." 

The last meeting recorded was held October 30, 1834. 

During its existence this society did a good work in relieving the 
wants of the poor and adding to the comfort of the sick. 

^For the foregoing account we are indebted to Ira P. Booker and to L. H. Stover, 
Secretary of United Lodge. 
16 



242 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

The Pejepscot Lodge, No. 13, Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, was chartered Ma^' 2, 1844, and was instituted June 13, of the 
same year. The charter members were Gik's Bailey, John S. Gush- 
ing, John D. Coburn. Leonard P. Merrill, William H. Morse, and 
Horatio Hall. 

The first officers were, John S. Gushing, N. G. ; Wm. H. Morse, 
y. G. ; Jos. Lunt, 2d, T. ; L. P. Merrill, Sec. 

A hall was leased for five years of John S. Gushing, over his store 
on the corner of Maine and Pleasant Streets. It was neatly and 
elegantly furnished. The carpets, draper}', curtains, etc., were of the 
best material, and the regalia compared favorably with an}- in the 
State. There were fort^^-two members the first year, and in 1849 the 
number had increased to eighty-six. In December of that year the 
hall, which the lodge had occupied for five years and six montlis, was 
destroyed by fire together with its contents, including nearly all of the 
books and papers belonging to the lodge. 

After the fire, the lodge held its meetings in a room over the store 
on the corner of Maine and Lincoln Streets, now A. T. Gampbell's 
store. 

The lodge did not flourish after the fire as it had done previously, 
and the number of its members grew less each 3'ear, and finally, in 
1858, the charter was surrendered. From that 3'ear until 1875, there 
was no lodge of Odd Fellows in Brunswick. 

In the fall of 1875 the old lodge was revived, and on the evening 
of October 6 there was a public installation of otlicers. Grand Mas- 
ter ►Stone was the installing officer, and the following were installed 
officers of the lodge, Frank Johnson, Noble Grand ; Ed. Beaumont, 
Vice-Grand ; R. B. Melcher, R. S. ; W. F. Tyler, P. S. ; E. T. 
Gatchell, Treasurer. 

The Ladies' Soldiers Aid Society was organized September 16, 
18G2. It lasted during the civil war. In 1863 a series of public 
tableaux was given by it for the purpose of raising funds. 

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 

Of the numerous associations of a literary and scientific charac- 
ter, which have existed in either of the three towns, the Nucleus 
Club, of Brunswick and Topsham, deservedly" takes the highest 
rank. It was instituted April 7, 1820, and existed under the 
name of the Nucleus Club until about 1832, when its name was 
changed to that of the Brunswick and Topsham Athenaeum, and 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 243 

under that name it flourished for some 3'ears longer, wlien it was 
disbanded. 

In the 3-ear 1830 the constitution, by-laws, and rules of the club 
were printed, together with a list of its members at that time. 

The exercises at the regular meetings of the club were a discussion 
of a subject which had been proposed, and accepted b3" the club, at a 
previous meeting, a lecture, dissertation, or such other performance as 
may have been pro^■ided for by the superintending committee or b}' 
the bj'-laws. 

On the evening of each anniversar}^ an address was delivered by the 
president, and a poem or dissertation hy some member, previousl}' 
appointed by the club for the purpose. 

The bj'-laws provided for " a superintending committee," whose 
dut}' it was to select subjects and assign them to different members 
for discussion ; to procure lecturers ; purchase apparatus ; and to 
have the general superintendence of all matters not otherwise pro- 
vided for. 

Standing committees were also chosen annually, for the considera- 
tion of the subjects mentioned in the list given below. Tlie club pos- 
sessed quite a large library, which was procured by purchase and by 
donations. When the club disbanded the books were distributed by 
lot among the members. 

The following is a list of the officers and committees in 1830 : — 

John C. Humphreys, President; James Carj-, Vice-President ; Fran- 
cis D. Gushing, Secretnry ; , Librarian. 

Library Committee. — A. B. Thompson, John Coburn. 

Superintending Committee. — Ebenezer Everett, John Coburn, Wm. 
Smvth, Charles Weld, John McKeen, Samuel P. Newman, Alpheus S. 
Packard, Elijah P. Pike, and Abner B. Thompson. 

On Chemistry. — Parker Cleaveland, Geo. E. Adams, Geo. W. 
Holden, A. S. Packard, and Joseph McKeen. 

Political Economy and Civil Polity. — Robert P. Dunlap, S. P. 
Newman, C. Packard, R. T. Dunlap, M. E. Woodman, S. Veazie, 
C. Thompson, and P. O. A Id en. 

Literature and Belles- Lettres. — S. P. Newman, E. Everett, and 
R. P. Dunlap. 

Banking and a Circulating Medium. — E. Everett, Thos. G. Sand- 
ford, N. Hinkley, N. Perkins, and A. B. Thompson. 

Electricity and Magnetism. — Wm. Smj'th, I. Lincoln, James 
McKeen, and L. T. Jackson. 

Navigation and Commerce. — A. B. Thompson, S. Veazie, W. 
Frost, John Dunlap, and N. Hinkley. 



244 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HABrSWELL. 

Astronomy. — C. Weld and James McKeen. 

AgricaUure. — David Dunlap, John McKeen, Natli. Dunning, and 
G. W. Ilolden. 

Subjects connected icith the Business and future Prosjjects of the Vil- 
lages of Brunswick and Topsham. — John Coburn, J. C. Humphrej's, 
F. D. Gushing, Dennis Gillett, J. S. Gushing, R. Forsaith, C. Water- 
house, John Owen, and Jos. Dunning, 

Mathomatics and Surveying. — E. P. Pike, Wm. Smyth, and 
R. D. Dunning. 

Hydrostatics and Mechanics. — P. Gleaveland, J. Caiy, Joseph 
Griffin, N. Houghton, L. T. Jackson, J. W. Moore, L. T. Gushing, 
J. R. Larrabee. II. ]M. Prescott, J. Stinehfield. and E. P. Pike. 

Public Schools. — John McKeen, Geo. E. Adams, N. Perkins, Asa 
Dodge, and J. B. Gleaveland. 

Poads and Canals. — Gharles Packard, John Goburn, Joseph 
McKeen, M. E. Woodman, and G. Thompson. 

History. — A. S. Packard and G. Weld. 

The Pytiionian Society was organized in January, 182.5. Its 
object was debating, composition, and friendly and -social intercourse. 
Only ])ersons desirous of cultivating literar}'^ tastes b}' reading and 
discussions were invited to join. Dissertations were required from 
each member in turn. 

Its anniversary was observed every 3'ear in January, at which time 
officers were chosen, and an address delivered by the president ; some- 
times there was also a poem, and always a supper. 

The society had a small but select library', which was distributed 
among its members when it was disbanded, which was about 1853, 
having had an existence for upwards of twent^'-five years. 

The average membership was small, perhaps fifteen or sixteen. 
We are unable to give a list of its members, but it is worthy of remark 
that John S. Gushing was a member for upwards of twent3'-five years, 
he having joined it the first year of its existence and continued an 
active member until he removed from town in 1852. The constitu- 
tion, bj'-laws, and a list of members of this organization were once 
printed, but no copy has been obtained and it is doubtful whether one 
now exists. 

In the winter of 1829-30 the Brunswick Lyceum was formed. It 
originated in the following manner. The Washington Fire Glub had 
baen accustomed to hold its annual meeting and to have an address 
delivered, in the winter season. This year the address was by Pro- 
fessor A. S. Packard, on the organization and importance of lyceums. 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 245 

This address was favorably received, and tlie club voted to call a meet- 
ing of the citizens to hear the address and to consider the propriety 
of forming a lyceura. A meeting was held in the Universalist Church 
on Federal Street (now Dirigo Hall, on Oilman Avenue) , and a lyceum 
was formed Committees were chosen to provide dissertations or 
essaj's on the particular subjects of which they had charge. Several 
lectures were given, but the societ}' lasted onl}' for a short time. 

The Brunswick and Topsham Athenaeum was the NurJeus Club 
under a different name. It received this name about 1832. This 
societ}' was in existence in 1836, but no later reference to it has been 
found. At a meeting of this society in Ma}', 1833, a committee was 
chosen to inquire into the practicability of building a railway from 
Brunswick to the tide waters in Casco Bay. 

In November, 1842, the Brunswick and Topsham Lyceum Soci- 
ety was formed. It was in existence in 184.5, perhaps later. The 
society- not onl}' provided lectures, but public discussions were held by 
it in the Maine Street Baptist Church in Brunswick. 

The Castalian Society of Brunswick was in existence in 1845: 
Nothing more is known concerning it. The name would indicate that 
its object was to encourage a taste for poetr}'. 

The Brunswick Linn^ean Society, organized in May, 1845, was 
formed at the suggestion of Professor Cleaveland, the object being to 
"• acquire a systematic knowledge of natural history." Meetings were 
held once a week at the residences of its members. At each meeting 
a dissertation was read by. some member, and various subjects were 
analyzed. During the summer, botanj' was the subject of stud3^ At 
other times, ornithology, concholog}^ entomology, ichth^-olog}', mete- 
orology, mammalog}', physiolog}', and geolog}*. 

In the summer, excursions were made. July 1, 184G, the society 
went to Harpswell Island to visit a grove of the mountain laurel. 
The next summer an excursion was made to Merry meeting Bay, in the 
steamer " Rough and Read}'." Other excursions were made at differ- 
ent times to localities of interest in the vicinity. 

Each anniversar}' was observed in a fitting manner. The first by 
an excursion and picnic to Harpswell Island. The second by a social 
meeting, with invited friends, at Common's Hall, at which an oration 
was delivered by W. G. Barrows, a poem liy O. F. Dunning, and an 
original ode by A. W. Knight. Upon the third anniversaiy a social 
gathering was held at the Brunswick Seminary, an oration was deliv- 
ered by H. K. Craig, and a poem by A. W. Knight. 

In 1848 a number of lectures were delivered before the society (not 



246 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

public) by Professor Cleaveland, G. C. Swallow, A. "NY. Knigbt. 
Oliver Stevens, S. J. Hnnipbrey, L. P. Merrill, W. G. Barrows, and 
Doctor J. D. Lincoln. 

The society flourished until the spring of 1849 (a period of four 
years), when it was " voted not to assign any regular parts during the 
summer, but to come together in a social way once a fortnight and 
occasionally for a walk." Meetings were thus held for a short time, 
when they ceased altogether. 

The average membership of the society was from twenty-five to 
thirty. 

A Towx History and Natural History Society was organized 
in Brunswick, March 30, 1870, by the choice of A. G. Tenney, chair- 
man, and John Furbish, secretary. Apart from creating an interest 
in its members for the objects for which it was formed, this society 
resulted in a lailure. 

Debating societies and Ij'ceums of minor importance have also 
existed in various parts of each of these towns, but they do not call 
for particular mention here. 

MUSICAL SOCIETIES. 

The first musical society in this vicinity was the Hayden Society, 
formed about 1825. 

This was followed in 1829 by the Mozart Society. This society' 
was formed for the cultivation of musical tastes and for social inter- 
course. Its meetings were held at tlie Tontine Hotel, ISIaine Hotel, 
and at Robert Orr's office. It embraced members from Toi)sham as 
well as from Brunswick. Robert Orr, General Abner B. Thompson, 
James McKeen. M. D., John H. Thompson, and Benjamin Dennison 
are known to have been members. 

About 1844 the Brunswick Brass Band was formed. It was 
probably the earliest band formed in this vicinity. It consisted of 
fifteen members and was in existence five or six years. AVilliam R. 
Field, Jr., was the leader during the last year of its existence. 

The musical organizations of a later date have been too numerous 
to admit of mention here. 

MORAL ASSOCIATIONS. 

In 1826 the Peace Society of Brunswick was organized. It 
continued in existence for seven years, perhaps longer. Nothing- 
has been ascertained in regard to its membership or its meetings. 

March 20, 1838, the TorsiiAM Antislavery Society was organ- 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 247 

ized. James McKeen, M. D., was elected president; David Scrib- 
ner, vice-president ; and Joseph Barron, secretar}'. The whole 
number of members was fift3'-eight. Their constitution required 
them to meet quarterly" for the purpose of discussing the subject of 
slavery. 

.About 18'io the Liberty Association of Brunswick was fonned. 
Nothing has been ascertained in regard to this societ}-, but judging 
from its name, it was probabl}' a political societ}'. 

PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATIONS. 

The earliest society of this kind, not including insurance companies, 
etc., which appear in another connection, was the Bruns"wick Watch 
Association. This was an organization of citizens voluntarih' asso- 
ciated together to secure the village against fire during the winter 
season, when it was difficult to obtain water. At that time, there 
being no suction hose, -the engines had to be filled b}' buckets. 

The association was formed January 14, 182G, a meeting of citi- 
zens being called for this purpose. At this meeting Joseph McKeen, 
Parker Cleaveland, Caleb Gushing, Richard T. Dunlap, Abner B. 
Thompson, and Benj. Weld were chosen a committee to prepare a 
system of rules for regulating the watch. They reported, and the 
association adopted, the following 

BY-LAWS FOR THE WATCH. 

1. " The watch for each night shall consist of four citizens, two of 
whom shall remain at the place of rendezvous, while the other two are 
out upon dut}'. 

2. " The watch shall so divide themselves every night, that each 
half shall perform dut}' in that part of the village in which they reside, 
so far as tliis may be practicable. 

3. "The watch shall make ^ve rounds of the village during the 
night, the rounds commencing at ten o'clock, ha'f past elevett, one 
o'clock, half past two, and four o'clock. 

4. " Each round shall be divided into two parts, viz.„ one j)cirt, 
commencing at the place of rendezvous, shall proceed up Main Street 
to the Academy, thence returning b}' the meeting-house to the store 
of Joseph McKeen, Esquire, pass through Cross Street to Federal 
Street, thence down the same to School Street, through that to Pleas- 
ant Street, proceeding up that street to the house of Captain John A. 
Dunning, and thence return to the place of rendezvous. 

" The other part, commencing at the same place of rendezvous, shall 



248 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

» 
proceed clown INIain Street to the In'idge, thence through Bow Street 
to Mill Street, and up that street to the house of Mr. B. Wells, thence 
back through Mill Street to Main Street, thence through Mason 
Street to Federal Street, up that street to the house of Mr. C. Water- 
house, thence back through Centre Street to Main Street, and thence 
to the place of rendezvous. , 

5. " The watch will proceed on their rounds without causing any 
unnecessary noise or disturbance to the inhabitants. In case of Jzre 
they will give the most prompt and effectual alarm. 

G. "One member of the committee, in the afore-mentioned order 
of their names, will superintend the watch, as expressed in the sub- 
joined list of the watch. 

7. " Every member of the association who may be necessarily 
prevented from watching in his turn, shall furnish a suital>le substitute, 
who, if not a member of the association, shall be approved by the 
committee for the week, or instead thereof, he shall pay the sum of 
one dollar ; and the name of the substitute shall be presented, or the 
money paid to the committee for the week, as early as twelve o'clock 
of the da}' preceding his turn to watch. 

8. " Each watchman, when out on duty, shall carr}' a watch-pole ; 
and the poles during the da}' shajl be deposited at tlie place of rendez- 
vous, together with lanterns, to be used when necessary. 

9. " The names of those who may be delinquent, or fail to com- 
ply with the by-laws established, shall be communicated by the com- 
mittee to the association at the close of the season." 

The by-laws were printed in sheet form, together with the " Order 
of the Watch," which gave the names of the members and the dates 
upon which they were expected to watch. The place of rendezvous 
was, at first, the coiinting-room of Farrin & Dunning. In 1827 it 
was at Barker and Rogers's Inn. 

The Executive Committee in 1826 were: — 

Joseph McKeen, Parker Cleaveland, Caleb Cushing, Richard T. 
Dunlap, Abner B. Thompson, Benjamin Weld. The association 
contained , at that time one hundred and thirty-one members, some 
of whom were professors in college, and nearly all of whom were 
amongst the most esteemed citizens of the town. 

The expense of the watch was paid by voluntary subscription the 
first year, but afterwards it was assessed by the committee upon the 
citizens, according to the amount of property they had exposed to 
fire. Hot coffee, bread, butter, cheese, and cold meats were furnished 
the watch at midnight. The watch-poles which were carried by tlie 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 249 

watchmen were about three feet long, with a hook at one end. The 
poles were used to walk with, and the hooks were used to catch into 
the clothing of an}' culprit who sought to escape from the watch by 
running. 

A " Watch Book" was kept at the rendezvous, in which the watch 
each morning recorded any interesting event which occurred during 
the night. A book containing the records from January 1st to March 
31st, 1827, is the only one we have been able to find. It contains no 
record of historical value, but has much of a humorous character, as 
the following extracts will show : — 

" January 6th. Nothing material happened during the night. 
Found one light in a dangerous position (viz. at the head of a bed in 
a chair) ; two fires badl}' taken care of, and some courting on hand, 
people up late." 

'•January 30th. On the fifth watch saw a 3'oung man returning 
home from particular business. Detained him awhile, demanded his 
business for being out so late ; he gave us good satisfaction ; we let 
him go b}' pacing one bottle of wine." 

'' February loth. First round, half past twelve o'clock, met Hannah 
S. and Geo. AV"., all was well." 

" March 4th. One thing is deserviiig of particular notice, viz., not 
a hundred rods distant a fine lady was observed to be sitting in the 
lap of a fine gentleman, and as our respected major and squire would 
say, ' all as fine as silk.' " 

The watch was continued for several winters and then given up. 

In 1849 a similar watch was established upon a modified plan. 
John M. Hall was appointed superintendent of the watch. The 
watch for each night consisted of six citizens, who were divided into 
three parties of two eath, and it was so arranged that four persons 
were on the watch at all times through the night until daylight. 

The watch was discontinued at the end of the season and was not 
afterwards revived. 

In 1852 and 1853 a watch, consisting of six citizens appointed 
each night b}' the justices of the peace and selectmen, was kept in 
Brunswick. The chamber of the engine-house on Pleasant Street 
was used as the watch-room, where the watch met at nine o'clock 
each evening and organized themselves for the night. 

TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES AND TEMPERANCE REFORM. 

The first movement toward the suppression of intemperance in this 
vicinity, and possibly as early a movement as any of the kind in the 
State (then District) of Maine, was in the year 1813. 



250 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

On the second da}^ of April of that year a societj' was formed 
under the title of The Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswkll 
Society for the Suppression of Intemperance. The constitution 
of this society at first limited its exertions to the single object of 
restraining intemperance, but b}' an amendment adopted at its first 
anniversarj' in 1814, it was provided that the efforts of the society 
should also ])e directed against other immoralities. 

The following extracts from the constitution, as published in 1814. 
will show the character of the organization and .the nature of its 
work : — 

" Article 2. The object of this society is the suppression of vice 
and immorality, and the encouragement of reformation and virtue. 
The accomplishment of this design is to be sought b^' admonition and 
persuasion, and b}' promoting a faithful execution of the laws." 

Article 7 provided for a ''Board of Council." Among the duties 
of this board were the following: "To make communications to other 
similar societies ; to receive communications from them ; to collect, 
combine, and digest facts and general information relating to the gen- 
eral purposes of the societ}" ; to devise wa3-s and means for the further- 
ance of these purposes, and at each annual meeting to report to the 
society their doings ; a digest of the facts and general information 
which they may have collected, and such measures as they may judge 
suitable for the society to adopt and pursue." 

The eighth article provided that each member of the society should 
make it an object to discountenance and prevent as far as may be, b}* 
his own example and influence, every kind of vice and immorality. 

April 27, 1814, Professor Cleaveland delivered an address before the 
society. A copy of the constitution and a copy of Prof. Cleaveland's 
address may be found in the library of the Maine Historical Society. 

That there was need enough of a movement in favor of temperance 
at this period is evident from a statement made by a competent person, 
of the amount of spirits of various kinds that were sold in Brunswick 
between November 1, 1826, and November 5, 1830. From this state- 
ment it appears that in 1826 more than 12,000 gallons of liquor were 
sold. In 1830, owing to the temperance reform, the amount had been 
lessened one half. 

The second temperance movement commenced in Brunswick about 
the year 1826. The subject was brought before the people by a lec- 
ture on temperance by some gentleman from Massachusetts. Some of 
the citizens of the place became interested in the subject, foremost 
amongst whom was Professor Packard, then a young man. The first 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. _ 251 

movement made after the lecture metitioned above was the meeting- 
together of the traders of the village to consult on measures for pro- 
moting temperance in Brunswick. This meeting was held at the old 
stage-house kept b^' Russell Stoddard, and consisted of all the grocers, 
tavern-keepers, and victuallers in the village. Various plans were dis- 
cussed, but, about the close of the meeting, one of the oldest traders 
arose and submitted a plan and resolution. The resolution was as 
follows : — 

" Resolved, That hereafter the retailers of spirits in this village 
charge four cents per glass and six cents per gill for all New England 
rum drank in their places of business, instead of three cents per glass 
and five cents per gill, as heretofore ; and be it further resolved, that 
we add one cent per glass and one cent per gill to the price of all' other 
liquors sold at our places of business." 

This resolution was probably- not adopted, as it is said that the 
patrons of this trader found much fault with him, complaining that 
he had always made more profit by his sales than the other traders, 
because when he drew his liquors for them " he placed his large thumb 
in the measure so that they did not get more than three fourths as 
much for a glassful as the}' did at other stores." A good wa^', surely, 
of compelling men to drink moderately ! 

The lecture and meeting referred to did good b}^ attracting attention 
to the subject, though no real measures were taken to prevent the 
spread of intemperance. In 1828 the surveyors of highways were 
instructed b}' the town of Brunswick to use no ardent spirits at the 
expense of the town. It is extremely doubtful, though, whether this 
vote was due so much to the growth of a temperance sentiment in 
town as it was to a desire for retrenchment of expenses. 

The second organization for the purpose of promoting a temperance 
reform was known as The Temperance Society of Brunswick. It 
was organized on the twenty-third of November, 1830. The funda- 
mental article of its constitution, or '' the pledge," was as follows : — 

" We agree that we will not drink ardent spirits, nor furnish them 
for others to drink, except when they are pi'escribed by a temperate 
physician as an indispensable medicine." 

The society was at first quite small, there being in January, 1831, 
only twenty-seven members. The number soon after increased to 
eighty, and in the year 1835 there was a total membership of four 
hundred and sixty. Man}' of the members were so liberal in their 
interpretation of the pledge as to suppose the}^ might drink wine or 
strong beer without violating it, and as a natural consequence, after 



252 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

a while, i\\Q\ disregarded the pledge altogether. Others, however, 
adhered firmly to their pledge, and remained ever after strictly tem- 
perate men. The society conthiiied in existence until about 1842. 
Those, however, who adhered strictly- to the spirit of the pledge had 
previously left the ranks and joined other organizations. It is said of 
those who remained that it was customar}'^ with them to drink wine at 
their meetings. However that may be, it is a matter of record that 
the Washington Temperance Societ}*, in 1841, i-equested the clergy- 
men of Brunswick not to take up any contribution in their meetings 
for the old temperance society, on account of the bad influence of its 
example. 

We have been miable to find any records of the society, and cannot, 
therelbre, give a list of its officers or any of its transactions. A copy 
of the pledge, containing one hundred and thirt^'-five names, is in our 
possession. Among the signers are the names of professors, clergy- 
men, lawyers, ph^'sicians, and other prominent men as well as those 
of humbler citizens. The names contained in this list were obtained 
as earl}' as 1833, possibly earlier. 

In 1834 the Brunsavick Total Abstinence and Charitable Soci- 
ety was in existence and was probably organized that year. 

In 183.") the Youxg Men's TEMrERANCE Society, of Brunswick, and 
the Temperance Society of Bowdoin College, were formed. There 
was also one other in addition to those already mentioned as formed 
in 1830 and 1834, making five temperance societies in existence in 
Brunswick at this time. From the " Annual Report of the Directors 
of the Cumberland Count}^ Temperance Society' " we obtain the 
names of all the officers of these five societies, but no clew is given as 
to which societ}' a given set of officers belongs. 

Of one society Doctor S. P. Cushman was the president, and Pro- 
fessor A. S. Packard the secretaiy. Of another. Reverend George 
Lamb was president, and James Elliot, secretaiy. Elder John 
Bailey was the president, and Jonathan Snow the secretaiy, of a 
third. Of another, Ezekiel Thompson was the president. Of the 
last, John S. Grows was the president, and Samuel Holb rook the sec- 
retar}'. Tlie total membership of the five societies numbered nine 
hundred and thirty-four. 

About this time, as early at least as 1836, the Topsham Temper- 
ance So(jiETY was formed. This was the first society of the kind 
amongst the people of that town, with the exception of the one 
formed in 1813, which included citizens of several towns. 

The Washington Total Abstinence Society of Topsham was 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. 253 

fjrmed on the seventh of June, 1841. In November of the following 
3'ear, there were one hundred and thirty-three members. Meetings 
were held weekly, and a good degree of interest was manifested. 
The officers, in 1842, were Samuel W. Swett, president ; Nathaniel 
Qnint, vice-president; Charles J. Harris, secretarj- ; Cj'rus M. Puring- 
ton, treasurer and collector ; E. Sawyer, Charles Barron, and Henry 
C. Haynes, prudential committee. We have been unable to obtain 
any further information regarding this societ3\ 

The Washington Total Abstinence Society of Brunswick was 
formed on Wednesday, June IC, 1841, fourteen persons affixing their 
names to the pledge. From this small beginning the society grad- 
ually increased in numbers, and in May, 1842, there were five hundred 
and eighty members. The officers chosen at the time of the organiza- 
tion of the societ}' were General John C. Humphrey's, president ; 
Moses Towns, vice-president ; George W. Carleton, secretaiy ; 
Colonel A. J. Stone, treasurer. 

AVeekl3- meetings w^ere held, at first, in the "Red School-House" 
on School Street, afterwards in Humphreys Hall, and still later (in 
1842) in Washington Hall, in the old tavern which stood on the 
site of the present post-office and engine-house. 

During the first j'ear the society held occasional public meetings, at 
which addresses upon temperance were made and the pledge offered 
for signatures. One of these meetings was held in the Congregational 
Church, and w^as addressed by William H, Hawkins, of Baltimore. 
After the address one hundred and one persons came forward and 
signed the pledge of total abstinence. Meetings were also held at 
New Meadow's and Growstown, and in Harpswell. Freeport, and other 
towns in the vicinity, under the direction of delegations from the 
Brunswick societ}'. 

The society decided bj- a unanimous vote that moral suasion and 
not coercion should be the method b}' which its members sliould seek 
to reform the intemperate and to prevent the sale of ardent spirits. 

On the twent^'-second of Februarj', 1842, Washington's birthday was 
celebrated b}' a public meeting which was addrsssed by Keverend 
George E. Adams and Reverend Mr. Hillman, after which the society 
partook of a supper at Washington Hall. Dean Swift furnished an 
appropriate banner. 

On the fourth of March, 1842, Reverend Mr. Thompson delivered an 
address before the societ}" at the Congregational Church, the members 
marching in procession to the church, escorted by Captain Newman's 
company of militia. 



254 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

The society existed for several 3'ears, precisely how rnany we are 
unable to state. 

In 1841 the selectmen of Brunswick voted not to license any innhold- 
ers, " unless they pledge themselves in writing, in the most solemn 
and positive manner, that they will not keep liquors in or abont their 
premises to sell or to give away." The}' were also, at the annual 
meeting of the town, directed to prosecute all persons selling liquors 
without a license. The}^ were led to the adoption of these measures 
in consequence of the growth of the sentiment in favor of temperance 
reform which was promoted by the temperance organizations. 

The Martha Washington Society of Brunswick was organized 
on the seventeenth of March, 1842. A number of ladies, feeling the 
importance of aiding the cause of temperance, met at tliat time and 
formed a society'. Meetings were held once a fortnight. In Jul}' 
following the society numbered two hundred and seventy-five members. 

The societ}' not only labored for the reformation of the intemperate, 
but rendered substantial relief to worthy destitute families. 

The Young Men's Washingtonian Society of Brunswick was, 
as its name would imply, an association of young men for the promo- 
tion of the cause of temperance. It was formed in April, 1843. 
The oflticers at that time were M. B. Bartlett, president ; C. P. Stetson, 
vice-president ; A. W. Knight, secretary ; and E. A. Dunlap, treasurer. 

In 1845 the True Washingtonian Temperance Society of Tops- 
ham was formed. Nothing more than this fact has been ascertained 
in regard to it. It was probably formed b}' those who, though tem- 
perate, could not conscientiousl}' join a strictl}' total-abstinence 
society. 

In 1846 the popular feeling in regard to temperance had become 
sufficiently powerful to enable the town of Brunswick at its annual 
meeting to pass the following resolve : — 

" liesoJvf'd^ Tliat the traffic in intoxicating liquors as a beverage is 
injurious and unnecessary, and that, therefore, said traffic ought to 
cease ; that the selectmen be directed to take all legal measures for its 
suppression in this town, and that in so doing the town will sustain 
them." 

On the seventeenth of February of this year a public temperance 
meeting was held in Brunswick, at which a committee, consisting of 
sixtj'-three prominent citizens of the town, with John F. Hall as chair- 
man, was chosen to devise means for suppressing the sale of intoxi- 
cating liquors. This committee issued a circular letter to each retail 
dealer in liquor in the town, requesting him to relinquish the traffic. 



GENERAL AND SOCIAL. ^bb 

These letters had the effect of inducing some to abandon the sale of 
liquor, though many still persisted in it. 

In the fall of 1849 the Sawaoook Division op the Sons of 'Pem- 
PERANCE Mas instituted in Topsham. It lasted for several j-ears, and 
accomplished much good. 

The Brunswick Division, No. 142, op Sons op Temperance was 
instituted on the fifth day of February, 1850, by the Sawacook Divi- 
sion of Topsham. The charter was surrendered on the twenty-third 
of November, 1852. 

Brunswick Division, No. 20 (Sons of Temperance), was instituted 
March 22, 1858, by the Grand Worthy Patriarch. 

In August, 1859, it was voted to admit "lady visitors." On the 
thirtieth of September, 1860, there were seventy-eight members, and 
one hundred and nineteen ladj' visitors. During the three months pre- 
vious, sixteen members had been expelled, eight had withdrawn, five 
had violated the pledge, four had been admitted, three suspended, and 
three resigned. The division broke up in the fall of 1862. 

Temperance Watchmen. — A temperance society with the above 
appellation was organized in the yetxv 1850 or 1851. Its members 
were required to watch for, and report to the society, all violations of 
the law of the State, prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors. The 
ceremonies of the society were simpler than those of most other 
orders, and the expenses were less. 

Pejepscot Division, No. 13, of Juvenile Temperance Watch- 
men, of Brunswick, was organized in the fall of 1851, and in the course 
of two or three months there was a membership of about fifty. Weekl}'- 
meetings were held, at which were debates, declamations, and other 
exercises of a like character. In the autumn of 1852 a fine banner 
was presented to the society by lady friends. It is now in the posses- 
sion of Mr. Fessenden I. Da}', of Lewiston, who was the treasurer of 
the club. The founder and first president of the club was Mr. George 
W. M. Hall. The club gave a public exhibition on the fifth of Janu- 
ary, 1854. 

A Temperance Society was organized in Topsham, on the nine- 
teenth of January, 1857. It had no other title than " The Temperance 
Societ}'." Sixty-two persons signed the pledge. David Scribner was 
chosen president; Joshua Haskell, vice-president; William Whitten, 
secretary-; vSandford A. Perkins, treasurer; Humphrey P. Mallett, 
William Barron, Eben Colby, committee. 

The Cadets of Temperance, a society of young men under 
eighteen 3'ears of age, was formed in the spring of 1859 or 18G0. 



256 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

There were two divisions of tlie cadets, one in Brunswick and the 
other in Topsham. 

The Bowdoin Temple of Honor and Temperance, No. 5, a 
subordinate society of the Good Templars, was instituted in Bruns- 
wick, August 29, 1806. The society was located in Brunswick, but 
contained some members from Topsham. 

The Joshua Nye Lodge, No. 12(), op Good Templars was organ- 
ized on the eleventh of April, 1870, and is still in existence. 

The Reform Club was organized in 1871. It has held a number 
of public meetings which have been addressed by prominent temper- 
ance men from abroad, and which were productive of much good. 
The organization is still in existence and in a flourishing condition. 

No account has been obtained of an}' associations in Harpswell 
except temperance societies, though without doubt there have been 
some others. Besides the Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell Tem- 
perance Societ}' already mentioned, there was in 1842 a Washingtonian 
Society, with a membership of over two hundred, upon Sebascodegan 
Island, and thei-e is now a reform club of about forty members on 
that island. 

Other associations not given in this chapter, such as religious 
societies, military companies, etc., will be mentioned in their appro- 
priate places in other connections. 



FIRES AND FIRE COMFANIES. 257 



CHAPTER VI. 

FIRES AND FIRE COMPANIES. 

Conflagrations have been of rather frequent occurrence in 
Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, considering the population of 
tlie towns. The first-named town has suffered b}' far tlie most and 
the Latter the least from this cause. The following account of the 
different fires that have occurred in these towns is obtained mainly 
from the accounts given at the time in different newspapers, from the 
records of the fire companies, and from private journals. It is believed 
to be as full and accurate as is possible from the data to be obtained. 

LIST OF FIRES IX BPtUNSWICK. 

[1671.] The beech woods, where the pine plains now are, were 
destroyed by fire.^ 

[167G.] A house and other buildings, near where Pennell's Wharf 
now is, were fired b}' the Indians. It had been occupied 1)\' a Mr. 
Wakel3', who was killed and his bod}' cast into the flames. i 

[1G90.] This year the whole settlement was destro^'ed by the 
Indians. 

[1722.] The Indians destroj'ed nearly all the settlement. Among 
the houses burnt were those of Thomas Tregoweth and James Thorn- 
ton. The latter was the father of Matthew Thornton, one of the 
signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

[1735.] A block house, probably the one at Maquoit, was acci- 
dentally burned. 

[1737.] The house of Andrew Dunning was accidentall}' destroyed 
b}' fire, and his widow lost her life. 

[1770.] Deacon Samuel Stauwood's house, which occupied the 
ground where Mrs. Joseph McKeen's house now stands, was burnt. 

[1777.] There was a fire in some house, not known, which was 
caused b}' hot ashes in a barrel. 



^ Traditional. 
17 



258 JUS Ton Y of Brunswick, topsiiam, and habp swell. 

[1798.] The store of Stone & Veazie was burnt. It was a two- 
stor}- building. 

[1805.] A two-story dwelling-house, b}- whom occupied or owned 
is unknown, was destroyed b}- fire. 

[1809.] On April 30, an extensive fire on the plains near the 
colleges. On June 29, at 11a. >i., the Gun House, on Center Street, 
was burnt. A new one was at once built on the same spot. 

[1810.] In Januar}-, da}- unknown, 9.15 p. m.. Captain Richard 
Tappan's house, store, and barn, and the house of Colonel William 
Stan wood. Deacon John Perry's house was torn down to prevent the 
spread of the fire. At midnight Secomb Jordan's house, near Pollard 
& Green's tanner}-, was burnt. The thermometer at the time indi- 
cated —10°. 

[1814.] Samuel Page's house and James Jones's blacksmith shop 
were burnt. 

For the next eight j'ears there has no record been found of an}- fire. 
It is hardly to be presumed, however, that so long a time could have 
elapsed without some such occurrence. Newspapers at that time gave 
but little attention to such items, and they may easily have failed to 
be recorded in private journals. 

[1822.] On March 4, the principal college building was burned 
about three o'clock in the afternoon ; the whole of the woodwork was 
consumed by seven o'clock in the evening. The fire was undoubtedly 
accidental. $1,000 was contriluitecl by the citizens to aid the suf- 
ferers, and the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts, also gave voluntary 
assistance. 

[1823.] On February 12, the house of Mr. Benjamin Orr, occu- 
pied by the Misses Tappan, was destroyed. In IVIarch. James Nelson's 
house, near the landing, was burnt. September 4, a fire arose in the 
woods of Washington Bowker, near Rocky Hill, and made such 
alarming progress that it soon came within a mile of the village, 
where, however, its progress was fortunately stayed. It destroyed 
nearly every building for four miles in length and one in breadth. 
Twenty' buildings were burnt in all. amongst which were the houses 
of Andrew Toothaker, Lenmel Morse, and the AVidow Donglass. 
There was also a great loss in woods, fences, sheep, and cattle. 
Among the sufferers were two widows. One of them, possibly Mrs. 
Doiigla.s.s, " passed through a scene of peculiar anguish. After nearly 
exhaustina: her strength in frnitless efforts to save her house, she was 



1 ClcarelantV s Joiirnal. 



FIRES AND FIRE COMPANIES. 250 

compelled to bear awa^' her sick son, with only the assistance of small 
children, to a place of safety." Jt is handed down as a tradition, 
that this fire was cansed by a bo}- setting fire to a hornets' nest, in 
revenge for the Jiornets having stung him. 

[1825.] On Tuesda}- morning, March 28, the store of Jotham 
Stone, occupied b}' Ammi R. West, was destroj'ed b}' fire, together 
with all his goods, valued at $2,000, his account books, and six hun- 
dred d<jllars in bank-notes, partly insured. This is the first instance 
met with in this town where an^' damages were covered b}' insurance. 

December 1, the post-office caught fire, but was only slightly dam- 
aged. 

On December 13, occurred what is known as the " Great Fire." 
Thirt3-three ^ buildings were biirnt, among which were the two fac- 
tory buildings, five dwelling-houses (occupied by eleven famihes), 
two stores, two saw-mills, one grist-mill, and a number of mechanic 
shops. The thermometer showed the temperature at the time to be 
— 13°. Man}- persons were badly frozen. The fire bi-oke out in the 
then new factory building. The total loss was estimated at S'JO,000. 
There was an insurance on the fjictor^' of §1,800. 

At a town meeting in Brunswick, held on the twent3'-second of De- 
cember of this year, it was voted that a committee of fifteen persons be 
appointed to solicit aid for the relief of the sufierers by the late fire, 
and to distribute what might be collected. This committee appointed 
a subcommittee of three, to ascertain the actual loss sustained by the 
citizens, exclusive of that of the factor}' comi)any and of property 
which was insured. In their report it is stated that fifty-seven heads 
of families had lost $13,918, sixt^'-eight persons had been deprived of a 
shelter, and more than fifty persons had been thrown out of emplovment. 
$1,044 was contributed b}- the citizens for the relief of the sufferers. 

In consequence of the frequency' and severity of fires at this time 
a citizens' watch was established soon after the last-mentioned fire, and 
all citizens were requested to have holes made in the shutters of their 
houses and stores, in order that fires might be more easil}^ discovered. 

[1826.] On November 3, of this j'ear, the following advertisement 
appeared in the columns of the Baptist Herald: — 

" Wanted, a Smart, Active Boy to set fires and burn brush on 
Brunswick plains. A college-learnt lad would be preferred ; one who 
has little else to do, and can afford to work verj- cheap. Apply to 
Doctor Shame, next door to the House of Correction." 

1 A. C. Raymond's Diary. 



260 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

No record of an}' fires has been found for this 3'ear, but it would 
seem from the foregoing advertisement as though some parties had 
been kindling fires in the woods for purposes of mischief, and that the 
college students were the ones suspected. 

[1827.] In the night of November 7, the stage tavern, kept by 
Charles M. Rogers, was burnt. Several travellers who were passing 
the night there had barely time to leave their beds and get out, 
unclad, into the deep, newly fallen snow. 

On December 27, the house of Theodore S. McLellan was burnt. 

At some time this 3'ear, the exact date not known, the store of 
Colonel Jesse Pierce was partially destroyed b}' fire. After the 
flames were subdued a Ixeg of powder was taken out of the building, 
the outside of which had been scorched by the fire. 

[l.s2'J.] On July 2G, the house of Stephen Sawj'er was destroj'ed 
l)y fire, together with most of its contents. Loss about eight hundred 
dollars ; no insurance. 

[1830.] On March 9, J. Nelson's cabinet shop was burnt. 

[1833.] At midday on January 11, the store of John McKeen was 
burnt. The contents were mostly saved. The building was esti- 
mated to be worth between six and seven hundred dollars, on which 
there was an insurance of four hundred dollars. 

[1834.] August 7, of this 3'ear, the lightning struck Captain Given's 
barn and burned it, together with three other barns and ten cattle. 

On October iQ, the old west meeting-house was burned b3' an incen- 
diar3'. In consequence, the town, at a meeting held November 15, 
ai)pointed a committee to legall3' investigate the matter, in order that 
the incendiaiy might be punislied, and voted a reward of one hundred 
dollars for the detection of the otfender. 

[1835.] The Dunning house, on the west side of Maine Street, on 
the hill, nearly opposite the meeting-house, was burned either this 3'ear 
or (possibly) in 1834. The building was two stories high. 

[183G.] On February 17, at half past two o'clock, a. m., the 
college building known as Maine Hall was totall3" destroyed b}' 
fire. 

On September 26, the drying-house, near and belonging to the 
factor}', was burned. 

On November 7, the new two-story building of Messrs. Stone & 
Morse, near the corner of Maine and Bow Streets, was burned. It was 
occupied b3' John L. Swift, tailor. 

[1837.] This year Messrs. Stone &, Morse were again sufiTerers 
from fire, their store being burned on May 11. 



FIRES AND FIRE COMPANIES. 261 

[1838.] On May 3, a " factoiy and picking machine was burnt." 
The newspaper account does not state what factory it was. 

[1841.] August 14, a portion of the McKeen woods was destroyed 
by fire. December 17, the toll-bridge burned. At some time this 
year, date unknown, the grist-mill at the Lower Falls was burned. 

[1843.] The house of Thomas Crowell, two miles from Bruns- 
wick Village, was burned on July 23 or 24. 

[1845.] On March 27, a destructive fire occurred, at which property 
to the value of $7,000 was destroyed. No other particulars in regard 
to it have been ascertained. 

On September 24, there was a slight fire at Humphrey's Dye House. 

On October 3, at four p. m., the "Growse" house was burned. 
Loss, two hundred dollars. Fully insured. 

On October 13, a two-story house at Mair Brook, owned by Mrs. 
Garcelon, William R. Field, and George AVoodside, was destroyed. 
It was unoccupied. Loss, six hundred dollars. Fully insured. 

On October 19 (Sunday), between twelve and one o'clock at night, 
the houses of Stephen Harris and Joseph Badger were burnt. They 
were Insured for $2,450. 

On December 26, a school-house on the Portland road was destroyed 
by fire. 

[1846.] On February 12, Humphrey's Dye House was burnt. On 
February 18, Major Willett's house, near the factory, was partially 
destroyed. Parti}' insured. The fire was extinguished by the Force- 
Pump Water Works. The fire was the work of an incendiary. 

In September, Nichols's store. No. 7 Hinkley Block, was slightly 
damaged b}' fire and the goods injured by water. Insured. 

[1847.] On April 14, the woollen-mill of Whitten & Meder was 
partial I3' destroyed. Loss, three hundred dollars. Insured. 

On November 13, a saw-mill was burned. 

[1849.] On May 3, the woollen factory of AVhitten & Meder 
(owned at the time wholly by William Whitten) was again attacked 
by fire. The total loss was between $6,000 and $7,000. Insured for 
$4,200. 

On December 2, three buildings on Maine Street, beginning at the 
northern corner of Pleasant Street, where Lemont Block is now, were 
destroyed b}' fire. John S. Gushing occupied the corner store, and 
lost everything. The second story of this building was occupied b}' 
the Odd Fellows, who saved nothing. In the second building was a 
tailor's shop ; and in the third, a shoe store. The second story, of 
these buildings was occupied by different individuals for offices. 



262 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

[IHr.l.] On March 12, the bookstore of Nathaniel Davis was 
burned at half past twelve o'clock in the night. July 30, a Mr. Cob- 
belt's house was destroyed I)}' fire. 

[1852.] On June If), ]\Ir. Larrabee's barn at New Meadows was 
burnt ; and at four o'clock in the morning of the twenty-sixth of the 
same month, a tannery was burnt. 

[18.')3.] The liuilding on the corner of IMaine and Mason Streets 
was destroyed by fire in Fel)ruary. Lorenzo Day and James Gary 
built one on the same spot that fall. 

[1854.] On Saturday afternoon, January 14, one of the mills on 
Shad Island took fire. The fire had made considerable progress before 
it was discovered, but by the untiring exertions of the fire companies, 
assisted by the company from Topsham, the flames were soon subdued. 
The mill was owned by the Granite Bank Compau}' of Exeter, New 
Hampshire, whose loss was estimated at $.300. It was used b3- Mr. 
B. E. Parkhurst as a match-box manufactory. His loss was about 
three hundred dollars, but was partially covered by insurance. The 
machinery in the mill was the property of Messrs. Byam & Pearsons, 
of Boston, was only partially injured, and was probably insured. 
Jul^- G, the house of Ghristopher jMitchell, on the Portland road, 
was burned. No insurance. 

[1855.] On March 7, a loaded freight car Avas burned near the 
depot. The loss was estimated at $3,000. April 19, there was a fire 
at Garleton's gum factory. Aiuount of damage not stated. 

On June 25, the freight and engine houses of the Kennebec and 
Portland Kailroad Company were destro^'ed b}' fire about nine o'clock 
r. M. The contents of the buildings were saved. 

On July 1. an old stable on School Street, the house and stable 
belonging to the Misses McLellan, and the Stoddard house, corner of 
Federal and School Streets, were destroyed by fire. The buildings on 
the " Stoddard lot" were owned In* General R. T. Dunlap, and were 
not insured. The loss on theui was about six hundred dollars. The 
McLellan house was partially insured. 

[185G.] On May 17, Miss Narcissa Stone's steam-mill on Pleasant 
Street was burned. It was uninsured, and the loss amounted to 
$1 ,600. This fire is supposed to have l)een the work of an ineendiar3'. 
In November the house of Isaac Varney, near the depot, was burned 
to the ground. 

On December 10, the Washington Hall building and Parshley's 
store were destro3'ed b}' fire. The former was occui)ied l\y the barber 
shop of E. Eaton, hy Johnson & Goddard's confectionery shop, and 



FIIiES AND FIFE COMPANIES. 2()3 

b}- four families ; and the hall was used by the Brunswick Light In- 
fantiT as their armory'. The building was owned l\y General R. T. 
Duulap and S. Thompson. Dunlap's share was uninsured. Thomp- 
son was insured for five hundred dollars. P^aton's loss was some over 
fifty dollars. Johnson & Goddard were fully insured. The loss to 
the Infantry Compan}' was about eight hundred dollars. 

Parshley's store was occupied in the basement b}' Mr. II. A. Thomp- 
son, and in the second stor}' b}' two families. Parshley's loss was 
about five hundred dollars in excess of his insurance. The whole loss 
due to the fire was estimated at $3,000. 

[IS.')?.] In the spring of 1857 the town-house was burnt. It was 
the work of an incendiary. On September 29, the Kennebec and 
Portland Railroad depot burned down. A great man}- papers and 
considerable baggage were destroj'ed, though some of the baggage and 
freight was saved. John A. Cleaveland lost one hundred and twent}'- 
five, William R. Field four hundred, and Doctor Haley twent3'-five 
dollars. The loss to the company' was about $7,000. They were un- 
insured. One trunk that was burned was said to contain jewelry' to 
the value of three hundred dollars. This fire was thought to be the 
work of an incendiary. 

On October 20, Darius Newman's shop, and on October 23, James 
SpoUett's shop on Pleasant Street, were burned. October 30, Leon- 
ard Merrill's house, at the Landing, was partially destro^'ed. No- 
vember 22, Jotham Varney's building, occupied by W. J. Harmon 
& Co. as a billiard and refreshment saloon, was burnt. December 
15, about four o'clock a. m., the Bourne mill, in the cove, was burnt. 
It belonged to R. T. Duulap, C. J. Gilman, A. B. Thompson, and 
Ward Coburn. 

[1858.] Februarj' 25, there was a fire in the picking-room of the 
factory. 

[1859.] At one o'clock a. m., on July 15, the barn, shed, and 
back part of the house of the Misses T, and J. Hinkley, on Maine 
Street, which was formerly' owned and occupied by Reverend John S. 
C. Abbot, were burned. The buildings were insured. The fire was 
supposed to be the work of an incendiary. 

On Jul}^ 20, four or five acres of swampy- land, near Rockj- Hill, 
were burned over. 

In August there was a fire in the woods south of the McKeeu Road, 
and also on the Plains. 

[I860.] On September 16, the house, barn, shed, etc., of Mr. 
Hiram Campbell, on the Bath road, burned down. 



2G4 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

[1862.] June 27, the McKeen Store, occupied I13' D. B. Libb}-, 
and b}^ Joseph McKeen, treasurer of Bowdohi College, was destro^'ed 
b}' fire. The more valuable books of the college were saved, though 
many papers were lost. Henry Bowker's house and H. A. Thomp- 
son's store were slightly damaged by this fire. 

On August 5, Gideon Kincaid's house, barn, and shed were burnt. 

[1863.] At eight o'clock p. m., on December 2, the stable attached 
to the dwelling of James Hall was destroj'ed by fire. Insured. 

[1864.] July 27, the house and barn of Calvin Cooper, one mile 
from the village, on the Bath road, was burned, together with its 
contents. 

About midnight of August 12, the house of AVashington Stanwood, 
near Muir Brook, was consumed b}* fire, together with the out-build- 
ings and contents. It was occupied b}' Emer}' Hersey. Buildings 
insured for five hundred dollars. 

At ten o'clock p. nt.. on October 14, one of Humphrey's steam- 
mills (the most southerly' one) was consumed b}' fire. Tlie loss was 
estimated at $5,000. Partialh' insured. Lumber valued at $1,000 
and not insured was also destroyed by this fire. 

October 20, Captain Nathaniel Badger's barn was burned, together 
with his horse and carriages. 

[1865.] On the tenth of April the barn of the poorhouse was 
fired by an insane person. The loss was about seven hundred dollars. 
Insured for two hundred dollars. 

At eleven o'clock p. m., on Ma}- 3, the grocer}- store of R. Crockett 
& Co. was entirely" burned. Partially insured. 

On September 26, the picking- room in the cotton factory toolv 
fire, but the flames were soon subdued and but little damage was 
done. 

[1866.] At half past eleven p. m., on March 7, a loaded freight 
car was burned on the track near the depot. 

In the night of June 23, a car loaded with hay took fire near the 
depot. 

At three o'clock a. m., on December 22, Forsaith & Dunning's 
house and out-buildings, and the house and stable occnpied by G. B. 
Tenney, were burned. The loss of Messrs. Dunning & Forsaith was 
estimated to be $2,000 over and above the insurance to each. Tenney's 
loss was estimated at about five hundred doUars more than the insur- 
ance, and the house occupied by him was valued at seven hundred 
dollars more than its insurance. This fire was supposed to be the 
work of an incendiary. 



FIRES AND FIRE COMPANIES. 265 

[1867.] On April 16, the stable of W. A. Campbell, including 
four horses, three top-buggies, and one open buggy, one Concord 
■wagon, four single sleighs, one double sleigh, six single harnesses, 
one double and one team harness, fifteen robes, an express wagon, and 
a hearse ; also the barn of J. Lufkin and that of the double house 
belonging to Albert C. Otis and Mrs. M. G. IVrerryman, were all 
destroj-ed b}^ fire. Campbell's propertj', exclusive of building, was 
estimated at $3,250. He was insured for $2,000. The stable was 
worth five hundred dollars, and was insured for two hundred. The 
other parties were all fully insured. 

At half past five o'clock a. m.. on November 2, Jotliam Varney's 
building, containing Haley's apothecar}' store and York's barber shop, 
was burned. No insurance. 

[1868.] On February 15, the woodshed of the poorhouse was 
consumed by fire. Estimated value, one hundred and fifty dollars. 
Uninsured. 

At half past nine o'clock p. m., on June 29, an engine-house of 
the Androscoggin Railroad Company was burnt. 

About midnight of September 2, the barn and a i)ortion of the 
house of Waitstill Mei-ryman was burned. It was occupied by D. S. 
Perkins. Merryman was insured, but Perkins was not. 

On November 26, the house of Harvey Stetson was partially con- 
sumed by fire. The loss was estimated at eight hundred dollars. No 
insurance. 

On December 4, a house below Mair Brook was slightly injured by 
fire. 

December 5, the house, barn, shed, and several cords of wood, 
belonging to Captain Jesse Coolidge, on the river road to Rocky Hill, 
about one and a half miles from the village, were burnt. The loss 
amounted to $2,200. Insured for $1,000. 

[1869.] At four o'clock a. m., January 21, Mr. Robert Bowker's 
house was partially' burned. Full}' insured. 

At seven o'clock p. m., on January- 29, Charles Cobb's tool shop, 
on Cushing Street, was destroyed by fire. The loss was about four 
hundred dollars. No insurance. 

At ten p. M., on May 9, Moses Freeman's house and shed, on the 
Bath road, were burnt. Ever3'thing was lost, even to the clothing of 
the inmates. House insured. At twelve o'clock p. m., John Snow's 
house, a mile and a half from the village, was burned. 

[1870.] On the evening of July 19th, a farm-house on the estate 
of Captain Larrabee at New Meadows was burned. 



26G HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, T0PSIIA3I, AND HARPSWELL. 

[1871.] At six and a half o'clock a. m., on February 17th, there 
was an extensive conflagration at the cove, with the following loss : — 

Colby & Co.'s sash aud blind, saw, shiugle, and clapboard mill, two 

planers, etc., estimated at $10,000 

Wing's grist-mill, estimated at . 2,000 

Coburn's saw-mill, estimated at 5.000 

Bletheu, Booker & Given, tools, machinery, etc. .... 1,000 

David Dennisou, plug-borers, etc 400 

Edward Stone's sash and blind mill, 4,000 

William Whitten's mill, cai'ding-macliines, etc. .... 4,000 

Sundry others 2,000 

Total loss .$35,400 

The shore-string of the toll-bridge was burnt, and one span and 
one abutment spoiled. 

On the morning of May 20th, Samuel Gammer's house at Maquoit 
was injured b}' fire ; loss estimated at two hundred dollars. 

[1872.] At two o'clock a. m., on April 3d, the Portland and Ken- 
nebec Kailroad bridge across the Androscoggin took fire and was 
entirely destroyed. 

[1873.] On March 16th the farm-house of Horace Philbrook, with 
its contents, was entirely consumed hy fire. 

July 14th, two miles of woods at New Meadows were burned. The 
fire caught from a locomotive. 

At fifteen minutes past eight o'clock a. m., of August 8th, fire was 
disco\'ered in the stable of the Weld house on Federal Street. The fire 
was chiefl}' confined to the stable and woodshed, which wei'e a total loss. 
The L attached to the main house was slightly damaged by fire and 
water. A portion of the lilirary of Reverend Doctor Woods was 
burned and many valuable historical documents were destroyed. The 
loss on the buildings was about $2,200, on which there was an insur- 
ance of $1,300. The loss to the library was estimated at $1,000, but 
this was a low estimate. There was no insurance on the library. 

At nine o'clock a. m., on October 31st, fire broke out in a house on 
Bow Street, occupied b^' a French famih\ It was speedily extin- 
guished and but slight damage was done. 

[1874.] At half past five p. m., on May 15th, Benjamin Dunning's 
house was partiallj" burnt. It was insured. 

At three o'clock a. m., on July 19th, the High School-House was 
damaged b}' fire to the amount of $1,.500. It was supposed to be the 
work of an incendiary. 

In the night of November 28th the soap factory of Levi F. 



FIRES AXD FIRE COMPANIES. 267 

Andrews, in East Brunswick, was destro3-ed hy fire. Tlie loss was 
eight hundred dollars ; no insurance. 

In the forenoon of November 30, the house and barn, with their con- 
tents, of Martin Eaton was consumed b}' fire. There was no insurance, 
and the family was left destitute. 

[1875.] In the night of March 3d the old Hunt house on the 
Maquoit road was burned, together with the adjoining barn. 

In the morning of August 6, the house of Charles J. No_yes, occu- 
pied by Miss Estabrook and Mrs. Cutler, was somewhat injured by 
fire, but not consumed ; insured. 

[1876.] On April 27, a large fire occurred on the Commons, near 
the Harpswell road. 

September 15, at one o'clock a.m., the Bradford Cobb house on 
Pleasant Street was totally" destro^'ed. Loss, 82,000 ; insurance, 
$1,500. 

November 6, at one o'clock a.m., the barn and L of the Melcher 
house on Noble Street were burned. Two horses were burned to 
death. 

On December 5, Stephen Walker's house on the River road was 
destroyed. Loss, six hundred and twenty-five dollars ; insured. 

The following is a resume of the list given aboA^e : — 

There have been, during the time from 1671 to 1877, at least one 
hundred and twenty- occurrences of fire in town. This would make 
an average of a little over one fire every two 3'ears. Probably a cor- 
rect average would be about one fire a year. 

Of the one hundred and nine fires in which the season is stated, 
twenty-six occurred in the winter time, twent3'-seven occurred in the 
spring, twent3'-five occurred in the summer, and thirt3'-one occurred 
in the autumn. 

Of the fortv-three fires in which the time of day is stated, thirteen 
occurred between 6 a. m. and 6 p. m., and thirt3' between 6 p. m. and 
6 A. M. The largest number of fires occurred in the month of Decem- 
ber (12), and the least in Januar3' (6). 

LIST OF FIRES 'IN TOPSHAM. 

Though the town of Topshara has sutfered from no very extensive 
conflagration, it has had the usual experience in fires of other manu- 
facturing and ship-building towns of its size. The onh' accounts of 
such occurrences before the present century are of the burning b3' the 
Indians of the houses of Gyles, Thomas, and York, and the tradi- 



208 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

tional account of the house of Robert Patten having been twice 
destroyed b}' tire. The dates of all the above fires are unknown. 

[1801.] In March or April of this year Captain Robert Patten's 
house was destro^'ed by fire. 

[1810.] On Saturday', Jul}^ 21 , a large building, occupied hy Messrs. 
Coombs and Ilodgdon, the office of Benjamin Orr, Esquire, and three 
stables (probal)ly misprint for stores in the newspaper account) , belong- 
ing to H. Purinton, N. Green, and Messrs. T. & N. Sandford, were 
consumed by fire. 

[1826.] Saturda}-, January 14, " Sager's house in Topsham was 
burnt about three o'clock." 

On Sunda\', January 15, between three and six o'clock a.m., the 
large three-story building owned by George F. Richardson, and a 
shop owned by Daniel Dennett, were burned. The upper stories of 
the house were occupied b}' the families of Messrs. Richardson, Oliver 
Conant, and Eliphalet Br3'ant. The inmates escaped, but saved noth- 
ing. The lower storv was occupied by Major Nahum Perkins ami 
Samuel R. Jackson as a grocer}' store. Richardson's loss was estimated 
at $4,000, Perkins & Jackson's about $4,000, and S. & N. Perkins, 
in notes and accounts, about S7,000, together with all their account- 
books. Mr. Gillet lost his shop and stock, about $1,000. There was 
no insurance. It rained hard and there was snow on the roofs, or the 
greater part of the village would have been destroj'cd. 

Saturday, July 8, P. Dinsmore's tavern, owned by Captain Samuel 
Perkins, with the barns and out-houses, was destroj'ed by fire. The 
Brunswick people had to laj' planks across the stringers of the bridge 
(which was being repaired), to get their engine across. 

December 24, about 12.30 at night, the store owned by General 
Samuel Veazie, and occupied b}' Abel Merrill, Junior, was burned. 
The goods, valued at $1,900, were all consumed, together with three 
hundred and fift}' dollars in cash. The building was not insured, 
but the goods were insured for $1,500. 

[1828.] On January 27, General Veazie's house, situated where 
Mr. Woodbur}' B. Purinton now lives, was partially' Inirned. 

[1842.] July 25, a fine new ship of about four hundred tons, on 
the stocks, and nearly completed, was destro3'ed by fire at the 3"ard of 
John Godfre}-. The heat was so intense that the house of Mr. F. T. 
Purinton, a few rods distant (near the junction of Main and Green 
Streets), took fire several times, but was saved by the exertions of 
the firemen. A stable and chaise-house near, belonging to Mr. Pur- 
inton, were consumed, and a dwelling-house, occupied by Mr. Small, 
was much damaged by fire and water. 



FIRES AND FIRE COMPANIES. 269 

The vessel was valued, as she stood, at $15,000. She was owned 
by Mr. Godfrey, arid Messrs. Frost, Haskell, Perkins, and Mallet, 
the greater part of the loss fiilling, however, upon Mr. Godfrey. No 
insurance. The whole loss, including buildings, etc.. was estimated at 
not less than $20,000. 

[1843.] The woods in the eastern part of the town were burned. 
Probably what was known as the " undivided." 

[1844.] March 25, the house of Mr. Leiden Cook was destroyed 
by fire. 

[1845.] INIay 12, woods burned. 

[1850.] December 23, Mr. Rufus Rogers's mill, at the upper dam. 
was destroyed b}- fire. 

December 29, Mr. Charles Thompson's store, occupied by F. T. 
Littlefield, tailor, and C. A. Berry, harness-maker, was totall}^ con- 
sumed. The contents were saved. 

[1851.] January 20, Ephraim Griffin's stable was partially burned. 

[1854.] Railroad bridge was partially burned this year. 

[1857.] December 3, at a quarter before two o'clock in the morn- 
ing, Mr. Alfred White's store was destroyed by fire. 

On the 9th, about eleven and a half o'clock in the forenoon, the 
old Court House (Academy) was burned. It was owned at the time 
by Charles Thompson, Joshua Haskell, AY. B. Purinton, William 
Dennett, and Warren Johnson. 

On the 17th, John Flagg's house was totally consumed. 

[1858.] January 11, the Walker house suffered slightly from fire. 
It was supposed to have been set on fire by an incendiar3\ 

[1859.] In August some woods were burned. 

[I860.] February 18, the old store of F. T. & W. B. Purinton, 
on Main Street, was burnt. Dunlap's paint-shop, also, at the same 
time. It was thought to be the Avork of an incendiary. 

April 23, at one o'clock in the night, the house, barn, and sheds, 
with their contents, of Mr. F. W. Dearborn caught fire, and were 
consumed. The house was unoccupied at the time. Loss $1,800. 
Partially insured. 

Ma}- 30, John F. Blondell's house, four miles from the village, 
with barn, sheds, etc., and from forty to fifty cords of wood belonging 
to Messrs. William and Charles T. Patten, was destroyed b}' fire. 

[1862.] April 2, John Preston's house, barn, and sheds on the 
mill road, together with eight cords of wood, one half ton of hay, and 
two fowl, were consumed by fire. Insured partiall}-. 

[1863.] August 25, at one o'clock at night. Maxwell & Jameson's 



270 niSTOh'Y OF BRUXSWICK, TOPSIIA.V. AXD HARrsWFI.L. 

blaoksuiith shop was burnt. Supposed to bo the work ot" uu ineen- 
diarv. Loss, four hundred iloUars. No insuranee. 

[l8lU.] April "Jo, the house owned by 3liss Hannah Thompson 
and her sister, and oeeupietl bv Miss Thonipsi^in and Mrs. Merris, was 
burned. No insuranee. Julv 17. tlie woods north of the t'nir grounds 
were burned. Considerable damage done. 

[180.').] Oetober 7. an old dwelling", belonging to Mr. Rufiis Kog- 
ers, was totally eousumed by fire. Oetober 1"2, Wildes P. Walker's 
barn was set on tire, but was extinguished with but slight damage. 

[I8li.'^.] April 21, at three o"eloek in the morning, the barn and 
shed of W. 1). Haskell and the barn and shed of H. P. Mallett were 
consumed by tire. Both were insured. 

July o. at ten o'clock in the evening, Perkins's saw-mill on the west 
side of the Topshani end of the toll-bri<1ge was burned. It was the 
work of an incendiary. Loss 8l,o00. No insurance. 

[1871.] May 24, in the night, a blacksmith's shop near ^Ir. Kufns 
Rogers's mill was burned. 

[187o.] April 1-i (to li)), Cornelius Gleasou's house on the old 
Bowdoinhani road was destroyed by tire. No insurance. 

April IIK the old "Fuller" Haley house was burned. It had 
been unoccupied for a long time, and the tire was undoubtedly incen- 
diary. 

[1874.] June 11, the barn and hay of Charles E. White, and lum- 
ber worth 81,000. were destroyed by tire. No insuranee. 

August 8, at two o'clock in the morning on the Mallet road, 
some three or four miles from the village, 31r. Charles I'urinton's 
house, stable, and barn were burned. Loss about $4,000. Insured 
for 62,000. 

The following is the resume of the foregoing list. 

The number of tires known to have occurred in this town is thirty- 
eight, an average of one in two and a half years. Of the thirty tires 
in which the month is given, twelve occurred in the winter, eleven in 
the spring, nine in the summer, and two in the .autumn. The largest 
number occurred in December, and none in September or November. 
Five tires are recorded as occurring in the daytime and eight at night. 

LIST OF FIKES IN HAl;{rSWELL. 

Tradition says that the lower end of Harpswell Neck was at one 
time burned over and the cinders, tlying across to Bailey's Island, set 
tire to the woods on that island, and they were all destroyed. No date 
is given of this occurrence, but it was probably' verj* early in the history 



FIRES AND FIRE COMPANIES. 271 

of the town, quite likely before its incorfKjration. Verj- few buildings 
have ever been flestroyed by fire in this town. It is said that the only 
building ever burnt on Bailey's Island was an old, dilapidated school- 
house. 

On the 23d of Januarj-. 1822, James Barstow's house on erf's Island 
■was burned to the ground. Mrs. Barstow, who was then seventy-four 
years of age and who was very fleshy, was taken out in her night- 
clothes and caiTied some distance to the house of a friend. A portion 
of the way she had to walk. She died three days after in consequence 
of the exposure. Mr. Barstow never recovered from the shock and 
exposure, and was at times insane. He died in 1826. The origin of 
tlie fire was a candle which was placed under and iu too close prox- 
imity to a shelf. 

Phineas Webber's house on Great Island caught fire, date un- 
known, from some boiling tar upon a stove. The house and contents 
were entirely destroyed. The loss was about 81,000. Insured for 
two hundred dollars. It was the first house in Ilarpswell that was 
ever insured. 

On July 4, 1868, tlie Mansion House on Ilarpswell Neck was 
burncfl. The cause of the fire is unknown. The loss was §3,000. 

TJiere have doubtless been other fires than those enumerated, but 
these are all of which we have been able to learn. 

Owing to the few cases recorded, no reHume of the fires in this town 
is needed. 

The first fire-engine in lirunswick was purchased in 1810, In' indi- 
viduals. It was a small " tub" and had to be filled b}' buckets. An 
effort was made in 1810 to induce the town to appropriate some 
amount towards the purchase of this engine, but the article in the 
warrant for this object was dismissed. In 1814 an attempt was made 
to induce the town "• to accept of the engine," but it declined so to do. 
This engine was used as late as 1847, at which time Whitten & 
Meder's factor}- was burned. This engine had no name at first, but 
was after some 3-ears named the " Mechanic." 

The fii'st fire company in Brunswick was called the Washington 
Fire Club. It was certainly formed as early as 1821, and verv likel}' 
at the time of purchase of the engine, in 1810. No records of this 
company have been found, but it is known that the meml)ership was 
voluntary, and that each member agreed to have in readiness for use, 
one canvas bag, one bed-key, and two leathern fire-buckets. In 1825 
this comi)any had charge of the engine, as is shown b}- a Ijill against 
the company for repairs to the pumps of the engine. In 1826 there 



'2r2 iii^roRY of hhunswick, topstia.v, axd iiarpswell. 

were about tiftv moinbois to tliis club, among wliom weiv Doctor Isaac 
Lincoln, Protossor Parker Cleaveland, General Kiehanl T. Dunlap, 
General Abnor H. Thompson, General John V. llum[)lnws, and Mr. 
John Coburn. 

After the "Groat Fire" in 182o, the town appointed Professor 
Parker Cleaveland, Kobert Eastman, Doctor Isaac Lincoln, Doctor 
Jonathan Page, and John Coburn a committee t«) purchase a new 
engine, and eight hundred dollars was apjiropriated for the purpose, 
with the proviso that any unexpended balance should be used for 
building an engine-house. The selectmen were also this year directed 
to increase the number of engine-men to twenty-live. This second 
engine was the •• llydraulian." It was made in Philadelphia. It had 
a suction attachment, not flexible like those of the present day, l>ut of 
straight copper tubing, with curved joints. There were i)latforms 
over each wheel, upon which three or four men stood to aid those who 
stood on the gro'uul ni working the breaks. This engine was sold in 
1852, in exchange for the •• Protector No. -1." 

No records of the llydraulian Engine Conn)any have been fountl 
})ro\ ions to its reorganization in 18-lo, but it is known that Professor 
Cleavelantl was especially instrumental in its organization, lie was 
its lirst connnander. and held the position for twenty years. He was 
always one oi' the tirst on the ground at a tire, always managed the 
hose pipe, and always stood, when duty reiiuii-ed. in the i)lace of the 
greatest exposure and ilanger. 

In the sunnner of 1828 or 1830, a force pump was erected at the 
upper dam. It was (jperated by water power, and it forced water 
from the river through pipes, into a large tank which was situated on 
the high ground west of Union Street, about where the corn-house of 
the Honorable C. J. Gilman now stands. From thence the water was 
c-arried, by its own gravity, through pipes to Maine Street, just north 
of Lincoln Street, where it tiowed continuously through a standing 
pipe, and thence along the gutter at the side of the street to the cove, 
where it entered the river. This arrangement worked well in summer, 
but wlien winter came the water froze in the gutter, the' street and 
sidewalks were overflowed and covered with ice for a long distance, 
and the experiment was abandoned. It Avas prolnibly a private enter- 
l)rise to secure the property of individuals from loss by fire, as there 
is nothing in the town records to indicate that the town had anything 
to do with it. 

The third engine in Brunswick was the ** Niagara, No. 3." It was 
purchased by the town in 1848. This engine was exchanged in 1870 



FIRES AND VI HE COMPANIES. 273 

for a largor atid iK^ttor ono, called the " Niagara, No. 3," also, but 
wliicli was really tlie fourth enj^ine. 

Tiie early iccords of Niagara Engine Company have not been 
\\)\xn(\. The only thing known about it jmor to its reorganization is 
that on the evening of June 11, 18r*5, the company- paiaded the 
HtreetH with torch-lightH. 

The records which we have seen commence in \Hi)H. The officers 
of the company at that time consisted of three directors, a standing 
committ^'C of four, exclusive of the first director, one steward, one 
assistant steward, three pipernen, one foreman of hose, five leading 
hosemen, three suction hosemen, two axemen, and one clerk. The 
latter was paid between five an^l ten dollars per year. During llie year 
there were sixt\-s<!ven nieuibeis in the company. 

The only events worthy of mention, to be gleaned from the records, 
are the following : — 

October 17, 18'>8,, the company attended the funeral of Professor 
Cleaveland. August 7, 1860, the company was presented with a flag 
\t\ Edward W. Thompson, Esquire. On December 4, of the same 
year, a flag was also presented Ity Colonel Alfred J. Stone. Trobably 
one of these was an ensign. On July 4, 18G.5, the company went to 
Lewiston to celel)rate the da^'. August 7, 1800, the company was 
disbanded, but was reorganized on the thirteenth of that month, and 
the old constitution and by-laws were adopted. 

No entry appears in the records later than the \'ear 1871. The fifth 
engine in Biiinswick was called the "Protector No. 4." It was pur- 
chased in 18.02. The town that 3'ear authorized the selectmen to dif-- 
l>ose of the two old engines and to purchase a new one. Two hun- 
dred dollars was ai)propriated, to be added to the proceeds of the 
sale of the old engines. The first l)ook of records of the Protector 
Company has not been found. From the second book it appears that at 
the first meeting, held April .'3, 1854, the following officers were chosen : 
II. M. liowker, first director; J. II. Toothaker, second director; E. 
L. McMaiius, third director ; Hiram Talbot, clerk ; John Andrews, 
steward; John Andrews, Joseph McKeen, Charles Hinkle^^, A. 8. 
Aubins, suction hosernen ; Charles E. Owen, first pipenian ; Jordan 
Snow, second pipeman ; John D. Stanwood, third pipeman. C. K. 
Lunt, William Reed, B. lioutelle, John Hinkle}', G. W. Swett, I. 
Taylor, A. Colb}', hosemen ; Curtis Harmon, A. Underhill, axemen ; 
David Bonney, James French, torch-lKjjs. 

The sixth engine in Brunswick was the "Kennebec No. 1." It 
was bought in 1875. 
18 



274 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

In 1836 the village of Brunswick was created a corporation, by an 
act of the legislature, and im^ested with power " to raise money for 
the purchase, repair and preservation of one or more fire-engines, 
hose, or other apparatus for the extinguishment of fire, for the con- 
struction of reservoirs and aqueducts for procuring of water, and 
for organizing and maintaining Avithin the limits of said territory 
an efficient fire department. The officers were a supervisor, clerk, 
treasurer, prudential committee of three, and from five to nine fire- 
wardens. 

At a meeting of this corporation, held in November. 1836, a com- 
mittee was appointed " to devise ways and means for protecting the 
village against fire." 

This committee reported in favor of building eighteen brick cisterns, 
circular, and about twelve feet in diameter and fourteen feet deep. 
They also recommended the purchase of a double-chambered engine 
for raising the water from the cisterns and conveying it to difierent 
parts of the village. How far these recommendations were carried 
out is not known. 

In 1875 the town purchased the two and a half inch iron pipe which 
had been laid by the Compressed Air Company, from the bridge to 
the railroad station. It was connected with the force pump of the 
Pulp Company, and was found to throw a powerful stream of water 
for a long distance, through two hundred feet of hose. 

The following was the condition of the fire department of Bruns- 
wick, in March, 1876. 

The number of engines was three, viz., the " Niagara, No. 3," " Pro- 
tector, No. 4," and " Kennebec, No. 1." 

The '" Niagara " was built bv Hunneman & Co., of Boston, in 1870. 
The diameter of its cylinder is five and three fourths inches. It is a 
first-class machine and is provided with folding brakes. The " Pro- 
tector" was built b}- Hunneman & Co. in 1852. The diameter of its 
cylinder is fi\e inches. The '' Kennebec" was made by Button & Son 
of Waterford, New York, in 1867. The diameter of its cjdinder is ten 
inches. There were at this time twenty-three reservoirs in good con-, 
dition. 

The first engine in Topsham was purchased about 1810 by private 
individuals. In 1813 an effort was made to induce the town to take 
c'large of it, but the town voted " not to accept " the gift. The next 
3'ear, however, it was generousl}' voted to accept it, ^'- j^rovided the 
town should never be at any expense either for the purchase or repairs.'' 
The town did, however, in 1826, vote, without any reservation, to 



FIRKS AND FIRE COMPANIES. 275 

accept and take care of this engine. Like tlie first engine in Bruns- 
wick, this one was a small affair, and ha 1 to be filled by buc.vets. 

The earliest fire compan}- established in Topsham, of which there 
is any record, was the Lincoln Fire Club. The exact date of its 
organization is not known, but the regulations of the club were 
printed in 1829. It may, however, have been in existence for some 
years previoush*. According to their regulations, the club met four 
times a year, on the first Tuesdays of January-, April, July, and 
October. Whoever was absent the whole evening was fined twent}'- 
five cents, and if any member left the meeting without the express 
consent of the club he was fined twenty-five cents also. The otlicers 
were a chairman, secretar}', and treasurer. In order to be eligible 
for membership, one must be proposed at a pre^'ious meeting and 
receive three fourths of the ballots of those present on the night of 
his election. He must also pay in the sum of one dollar as an admis- 
sion fee. Honorary members were elected in the same way, but wei-e 
exempt from all assessments and fines. 

Each member was required, within three months after his admission 
to the club, to furnish himself with two good leathern fire-buckets, 
holding at least ten quarts each. The fire hooks and ladders were 
under the control of and were probably OAvned h\ this club. From 
there being no other officers than those mentioned, it would appear 
as though this club had nothing to do with Engine No. 1 . 

At the annual meeting in 1850 the town appropriated $1,250 to 
purchase a fire-engine and other apparatus, and Nahum Perkins, 
Sparrow Chase, and Sandford A. Perkins were chosen a committee to 
make the purchase. 

The engine bought at this time was the " Androscoggin, No. 2." 
It is one of the Hunneman make, and is the only one ever bought b}' 
the town. It ranks No. 2 in size. It is one of the best engines of 
its class ever made, and the citizens of Topsham justly feel some pride 
in the good work it has done. 

The company having control of this engine was formed in 1850. 
The first meeting was held over the store of George 8. Holt on 
April 5, The first meeting for the election of officers was held April 
15, at which time Sandford A. Perkins was chosen first foreman ; 
Varius Stearns, second foreman ; John R. Hebbard, third foreman ; 
David Farrar, treasurer ; A. G. Poland, clerk ; and James Maxwell, 
R. P. Whitney, and Eben Colby were chosen as a standing committee. 
At this meeting it was voted to have a uniform, consisting of a blue 
frock with red collar, red webbing belts, a glazed cap, and dark pants. 



27G HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

The constitution and by-laws of the eompany were adopted at the 
annual meeting on the first Monda}' in Ma}'. The compan}' at this 
time numbered seventy-one. June 28, 1850, the company voted to 
purchase an ensign. December 2, of this same year, a flag-staff 
was raised in front of the engine-house. July 25, 1851, the compan}- 
voted to attend the firemen's jubilee to be held in Hallowell on 
August 6. At this celebration the companj* took the prize — a sil- 
ver tnuDpet — as being the best engine of its class present. It also 
has taken several prizes since that time, at different celebrations of 
firemen. 

On March 3, 1852, the company was reorganized by the choice of 
the following officers : F. T. Littlefield, first director ; E. E. Max- 
well, second director; D. A. Hall, third director; C. G. Jaques, sec- 
retary ; D. A. Hall, steward. The number of members was fifty-five. 

The new organization appears to have been for some reason unsat- 
isfactor}', as in August, 1853, the company was again reorganized. 

In 1857, at a special town meeting held December 28, it was voted, 
" To authorize the selectmen to pay each man (not to exceed sixty in 
number) who shall faithfully perform his duty, twelve and a half cents 
per hour for his services while at fires, so long as there may be a well- 
organized fire company in Topsham village." The selectmen were 
also authorized to offer a reward of fifty dollars for the detection of 
incendiaries. 

In 18G0 the town forbade the compan}' to take the engine out of 
town, except for fires and upon July the Fourth. 

In 1869 the town voted to buy two hundred feet of hose, and to pay 
the members of the engine company twenty-five cents per hour when 
in active service. 

There was never a fire-engine or a fire company in Ilarpswell. 
Fire-wardens are chosen hy the town annuall}", and the citizens gen- 
erall}' are provided with buckets, etc., to protect their own property. 
The population of Ilai-pswell is so scattered that an engine would be 
of no sarvice to a large majority of the people. 



COURTS AND 2 RIALS, CRIMES AND CRIMINALS, LAWYERS 277 



CHAPTER VII. 

COURTS AND TRIALS, CRIMES AND CRIMINALS, LAWYERS. 

The earliest court ever held in this vicinity was the one held, in 
1G54, at the house of Thomas Ashle}', which has alread}- been men- 
tioned. The meeting held at his house was for the purpose of organ- 
ization merel}', and there is no evidence that Thomas Purchase, who 
was appointed at that time an assistant to the commissioner, ever 
tried any cases. The laws and regulations adopted at this meeting, 
however, are sufficiently interesting to warrant their insertion here in 
a condensed form. They were as follows :• — 

1. All capital crimes, such as treason, murder, witchcraft, arson, 
rape, and adultery, were to be tried by the General Court at New 
Plymouth. 

2. All other crimes were within the jurisdiction of the commissioner 
or the assistant. Theft was punishable b}^ the restitution b}' the 
offender of three or four times the value stolen. Drunkards were 
fined five shillings on conviction for the first offence, ten shillings for 
the second, and for the third were put in the stocks. The punish- 
ment for Sabbath-breaking was left at the discretion of the assistant. 
For selling liquor to the Indians, the punishment for the first offence 
was the forfeiture of double, and for the second offence, of four times 
the value sold, or if the transgressor was a stranger, a fine of either 
£10 or £20. 

3. All fishing and fowling were expressl}' continued free to 
every inhabitant. All actions between part3' and part}' were to be 
tried before a juiy of twelve men ; but no civil cause above £20 ster- 
ling was triable in the local courts without the consent of both parties. 

From this time until the province of Lygonia came under the juris- 
diction of Masssachusetts, there is reason to suppose that all minor 
offences were tried — if tried at all — b}' Thomas Purchase, a magis- 
trate under the authorit}' of the New Pl^ymouth Colon}- (1652). In 
1660 all legal cases in this vicinity were tried at York. 

No cases of trial of persons from this vicinity, prior to 1722, have 



278 HISTOBY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

been discovered. This 3-ear the case of John Giles, of Brunswick, 
gentleman, vs. John Goddanl, of Roxburv, gentleman and cord- 
wainer, is recorded. The plaintitf let the defendant a horse, with 
bridle and saddle, at the beginning of June, 1722, and by order of the 
plaintitf, one Robert Dunning, soon after, in the same month, deliv- 
ered the said horse, at Falmouth, to the defendant, which the de- 
fendant promised to deliver to the plaintitf at Roxburj-, or to his 
order, with bridle and saddle, of value of £12; yet the defi'udant, 
though often requested, never delivered to the said i)laintitf, horse, 
bridle, or saddle. The jury brought in a verdict for plaintiff of £8 
damage, and cost of court, against the said John Goddard.' 

The next case met with occurred in 172G, when Captain William 
Woodside was tried by a committee appointed by Governor Dummer 
for cheating the Indians in trade, and otherwise defrauding them. 
Some of the charges were proved against him, and he was reipiired to 
make ample remuneration, acknowledge his fault, and give assurance 
that he would defraud them no more.^ 

Mr. John Minot was appointed a magistrate and chief justice of 
the Court of Common Sessions under George II about the year 
1730 or 1732. An old account-book of his has been preserved, which 
contains on its blank leaves an account of some cases tried by him in 
1732, which are here presented to the reader: — 

" Y ss. To TUE Sherrif of y'^ County of York his under Suerrif 
/^ or Deputy Greeting. 

" Whereas Complaint upon Oath hath bin made before me by 
Sam' Boone of Northyarmouth in ye County of York that some time 
past he had Stole and Carried away from Merry coneag neck a l)lack 
Cow with a white face and also Stole and carried away from Chebeag 
Island three Calves one being a Bull Calf the other a Stear and the 
other a heffer Calfe, which were mark'd with a Cross in the left ear 
and a slit in it and a tlower Dlue in y^ right ear — These are there- 
fore in his JNIaj'*' name to require you to make Diligent Search after 
said Cattle if they ma}- be found in your precinct and them safely to 
keep in your Custody maiking a returne of these your proceedings to 
me or some other of his Maj'" .Justice of y^ peace in said County that 
the Affair ma}' be Examined into, and the partyes with whom said 
Cattle ma}' be found may be dealt with according to law — you are 
also hereby required to Summons Moses Gatchell, Hannah Smith, 

1 York County Records, C. C. P., Vol. 7, p. 88. 

2 McKeeu, MSi>. Lecture. 



COURTS AND TRIALS, CRIMES AND CRIMINALS, LAWYERS. 279 

W™ Woodside Jas. Malcum and Eliz* Malcum to give P2vidence 
relating to this Affair hereof j'ou are not to fail given under my hand 
and Seal the 16th day of Aug*' 1732. 
" [t^oppy.] " Jn" Mixot. 

"THE RETURNE. 

" Brunswick, Aug«t 20'h 1732. 
" Having made search after the within mentioned Cattle this may 
certifye that I have found and taiken up three .young Cattle uppon 
Suspision whicli were in the hands of Cap' Will™ AVoodside which I 
have taken into Custod}'. 

" Ebenezer Stanwood, D. Sherrlff. 

"THE JUDGUEXT 

"Y 88 "Brunswick, Auk 218' 1732 

" Sam'' Boon Phnit. and Will" Woouside Defend. 

"Having issued out a warrant to search for severall Cattle that 
Sam' Boone uppon Oath Swore he lost at Chebeag Isl. &, Merryconeage 
neck and having Suinmous'd Sundiy witnesses as by said warrant will 
appear, I have Examined said witnesses uppon Oath (the}' all having 
veiw'd the Cattle) whether the}' knew them Cattle to be Mr. Boons 
which the}' all deny to have any knowledge of saving M" Malcum 
who says she remembers something of one of them but not perfecktly 
so as to give her Oath to it. I find therefore Cost for said Boon to 
pay and have ordered the Cattle to be Delivered to the said Wil"" 
Woodside again, 

" [Coppy] " Jno. Minot J. T." 

Notice of complaint of James Smith against Anthony Vincent for 
calling his wife Hannah Smith improper names. 

" The Complaint of Hannah Smith against Will™ ]\[ackness in 
behalfe of our Soveraign Lord the King that shee goes in Dainger of 
her Life." 

"The Complaint of Will™ Mackness against James Smith and his 
wife Hannah that he lives in dainger of his Cattle and Substance that 
they will be destroyed by them they using threatening words to kill 
their piggs &c. and that they will burn his house. 

" [Signed] " John Minott." 

No other records of Judge Minot's cases*have been met with. 
At the October term of the Court of General Sessions in 1743 the 
selectmen of the town of Brunswick made a complaint against Isaac 



280 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

Snow, "in manner following, viz., that Isaac Snow of Brunswick 
aforesaid, husbandman, the thirtieth da}' of August, 1743, at a legal 
town meeting held at Brunswiclc aforesaid, was chosen one of the 
constables for said town for the year 1743, who was legally- notified 
thereof, but refused either to take the oath of a constable or to pay 
the fine for not serving as a constable." After a full hearing by the 
court the case was decided in favor of the defendant, and the com- 
plainants were charged with the costs. 

At the April term of the same court, in 1744, committees were 
appointed l)y the court " to inform against and prosecute the violators 
of an act made in the seventeenth 3'ear of his Majesty's reign, entitled 
' an act to prevent the great injur}' and injustice arising to the inhab- 
itants of this province by the frequent and very large emissions of bills 
of public credit in the neighboring goverimients.' . . . And Messrs. 
William Woodside, Peter Cooms, David Dunning, Samuel Ilinkley 
and James Thompson, Inhabitants of the Town of Brunswick in said 
County, Avere appointed by said Court to the oflSce aforesaid." 

At the April term of the Court of General Sessions for Cumberland 
Count}', in 1765, William Hasty, of Harpswell, was fined ten shiUings 
" for sailing his coasting schooner in Quohog Bay to the open sea, the 
space of three miles, on the Lord's day." At the same term of court, 
William Blake, of Harpswell, was fined ten shillings, and costs, £1 5s. 
4d., for neglecting to attend public worship for the space of two 
months. 

About this time, probably the next year, John Orr, of Mair Point, 
accused Captain AVilliam Woodside of cheating the Indians " by sell- 
ing them brass rings for gold rings," and the case was informalhj tried 
by the judges of the Court of Sessions in a dining-room at Falmouth. 
Woodside was acquitted, made friends with Orr, and having just 
obtained his commission as a justice of the peace for Cumberland 
County, he " stood treat " for the court. 

In those old times physical punishment was often made use of 
towards oflfenders. The whipping-post and the stocks were found in 
every settlement and generally in close proximity to the meeting-house. 
These implements of the law were, doubtless, at the time they were in 
vogue, of great service in restraining the evil-intentioned from com- 
mitting many misdemeanors and minor crimes, and although the ob- 
jections to their use are many and serious, yet one is tempted to believe 
that their occasional use fnight be fraught with good even in these 
days. The punishments by means of these implements were inflicted 
by the constables, in accordance with the sentence of the selectmen, 



COURTS AND TRIALS, CRIMES AND CRIMINALS, LAWYERS. 281 



when there was no justice of the peace, or other magistrate, to give 
sentence. Pettj' crimes, in which the damage did not exceed forty 
shillings, came under their cognizance. No account has been pre- 
served of an}' stocks or whipping-post in Topsham. The only refer- 
ence in regard to Harpswell is the indictment of that town, in the 
April term of the Court of Sessions for 1769, " for not being supplied 
with stocks against the Peace of the Lord, the King and the law of 
the Province." The selectmen appeared, and after a full hearing, the 
attorney for the king decided he would not further prosecute. Possi- 
bly the selectmen promised to provide these necessary- instruments of 
correction thereafter. 

Frequent allusion is, however, made to the stocks in the Brainswick 
records. In the latter town they are said to have stood a short dis- 
tance back of the old west meeting-house. 

The whipping-post was about a foot square, sharpened at the top 
like a picket, and the sharpened part was painted red. 

At the time stocks and whipping-posts were used, many towns had 
also a ducking-stool, and at one time all towns in Massachusetts were, 
by law, required to have one. No account, however, has been found 
of any in this vicinity. This implement of punishment consisted of 
an upright post, with a cross-piece, from which was suspendetl a seat. 
The arm could be swung out over the water, and the occupant of the 
seat could thus be easil}' ducked. It was used more especially for the 
punishment of scolding v)ives. 

The following description of the stocks actually used in Brunswick 
is from the pen of a former minister of Harpswell : " They consisted 
of two upright posts of oak, set in foot-pieces of the same material, 
and strongly braced. Between them was secured a thick plank, set 
on one edge, rising up a short dis- 
tance from the ground. The posts 
above this were grooved, and in 
these another plank was inserted, 
which could be raised or lowered. 
In the lower edge of this were arched 
holes, just large enough to fit a per- 
son's legs above the ankle. In the top edge of this plank were hollows 
to receive the wrists, while another came down upon it to secure them. 
The criminal was made to sit on the ground and place his legs in the 
hollows of the lower plank, when the upper one was let down by the 
constable, and locked with a ke}', as a door. Sometimes this was 
the onl}' punishment ; at other times both hands and feet were put in, 




282 HHiTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

when the officer, putting the key in his pocket, left the prisoner 
exposed to sun, wind, and rain." ^ 

The onl}^ person in this place known to have been punished b}' being 
put in the stocks was one Jenny Eaton. When Deacon Stan wood's 
house was torn down, Mr. James Dunning found an old document pur- 
porting to be a decision upon the trial of this individual. She had 
permitted the embrace of a man named Rogers, on the promise of some 
sugar, tea, and coffee. The man failed to keep his word, she averred, 
and she therefore entered a complaint against him, and the case was 
tried before Esquire Woodside. The plaintiff could not prove the 
charge, and the magistrate gave the following verdict : "That Jenny 
Eaton be stretched upon the public stocks and rotten eggs thrown 
at her b}' the passing spectators for abfaming the character of an 
innocent man.""^ 

Some time, probably between 1752 and 1770, one Ann Conner 
committed suicide by hanging herself from a pine-tree. The magis- 
trates ordered (old Roman law) that she be buried where four roads 
met, and a stake be driven through her body. It was done on the 
Harpswell road a little way south of the college. It is said that, 
although it was in force at that time, this was probably the only 
instance when the law was put into execution in this country.^ 

Cumberland Count}' was set off from York County in 1760, and, as a 
matter of course, a new county court was soon established. The first 
grand jurors drawn for this count}' from Brunswick were Isaac Snow 
and John Orr ; from Harpswell, Thomas McGregor and John Hall. 

At the June term of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, 
held at Pownalborough in 1777, Mr. John Merrill, of Topsham, took 
his place on the bench as one of the justices. He officiated in that 
capacity as late as 1783, but no records of any cases tried before him 
have come to hand. 

In 1783 James Hunter, Esquire, George White, John Reed, Wil- 
liam Malcom, all of Topsham, and John Lemont, Esquire, Samuel 
Lemout, Esquire, William Swanton, George Andrews, and Stephen 
Sampson, the two latter blacksmiths, all of Bath, were bound over to 
the court to answer to the charge of breaking open the jail at Pow- 
nalborough, and for rescuing two prisoners who were lawfully com- 
mitted. They, were tried, and each sentenced to pa}' a fine of six 
shillino-s and costs. 



1 The Sophomores of Radcliffe. Kellogg. 2 Pejepscot Papers. 

8 Pejepscot Papers. McKeen , MSS. Lecture. 



COURTS AND TRIALS, CRIMES AND CRIMINALS, LAWYERS. 2^3 

At the Ma}- tenn of the court for Cumberland County, the next 
3'ear, Isaac Rolf, of Brunswick, was sentenced ^o pay a fine of £7 10s., 
and to receive five stripes on his naked back, for stealing five sheep. 
If he returned any of the sheep, " the owner was to restore him back 
one fold, the fine being treble value of the property stolen." 

In 1796 a Commissioner's Court was held in an old red school- 
house, which stood near the lower end of the Mall, in Brunswick. It 
was held to consider the respective claims of the Plymouth and Pejep- 
scot proprietors. Governor SulUvan and other distinguished persons 
were present. This building was afterwards moved away and placed 
on the bank of the cove, near the building where General A. B. 
Thompson afterwards had an office, and which is now a factory 
boarding-house . 

In 1800 terms of the Court of Common Pleas for Lincoln County 
were appointed to be holden in Topsham, and on the ninth of Septem- 
ber of that year the court opened there for the first time.^ It is said 
that this first court was held in an unfinished house belonging to a 
Mr. Sprague, the Court House not being finished until some time the 
next year. Mr. James Wilson, father of the James Wilson now liv- 
ing, gave the land for it, for a term of jears. Few cases of impor- 
tance, affecting the citizens of the three towns, were ever tried in it, 
but such as have been found will be given in the proper order. 

December 24, 1822, a military court was held at Brunswick for the 
trial of Lieutenant-Colonel David Stauwood. Jt will be referred to 
hereafter, in another connection. 

At the May term of the court, held in Portland in 1823, one Pat- 
rick Cole, of Brunswick, was convicted of manslaughter, and was sen- 
tenced to undergo six months of solitary imprisonment and four years 
at hard labor. 

In 1824 the selectmen of Brunswick were authorized by the town 
to erect forthwith a House of Correction on the town lot in the village, 
and one hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated. This building, 
which to judge from its cost could have been nothing more than a lock- 
up, stood where the poorhouse used to be, back of the present 
residence of Mr. Robert Bowker. 

At the August term of the Court of Common Pleas, at Topsham, in 
1825, Honorable John Dole, a justice of the Court of Sessions for Lin- 
coln County, was tried on a charge of slander against Samuel H. Clark, 
of Jefferson, the former having charged the latter with having com- 

^ Jonathan Ellis's Diary. 



2S4 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

mitted adulter}- and other such crimes. Verdict for plaintiff. Dam- 
ages, $1,058. 

In 1826 five persons were brought before Charles R. Porter, a jus- 
tice of the peace, of Topsham, on suspicion of having set fire to the 
barn of a Mr. Millet, of Bowdoin. Four of them were discharged, 
but the fifth, Reuben Jones, was bound over for trial before the Su- 
preme Judicial Court, to be held at Wiscasset. 

This 3'ear a case was tried in the Court of Common Pleas, of Cum- 
berland County, of considerable interest. It was the First Parish of 
Brunswick vs. Joseph McKeen, on a plea of trespass. The First Par- 
ish had erected a fence from the meeting-house to the corner of what is 
now Cleaveland Street, claiming the land enclosed as belonging to the 
parish. Mr. McKeen caused the fence to be torn down, and the parish 
thereupon prosecuted him for trespass. His defence was that the 
Harpswell road was laid out in the rear of the church, and had always 
been used as such until fenced by the parish. On the other side, the 
parish claimed that the Harpswell road came out south of the church . 
The case was carried to the Supreme Judicial Court, and was there 
decided in favor of the defendant. Packard and Longfellow were the 
counsel for the plaintiffs, and Orr and Greenleaf for the defendants. 

In 1827 a case was tried at Topsham which excited considerable 
local attention at the time, on account of the character and standing 
of the parties, and the questions involved. The case was that of 
General Samuel Veazie vs. Henry Jewell, both of Topsham. It was 
an action for damages on account of assault and batter^-, brought, in 
reality, to test the ownership of property. 

The facts in the case seem to be as follows : Messrs. Henry Jewell, 
Stephen Jewell, Gardner Green, Samuel Perkins, and Nahum Perkins 
owned the " Great Mills " and the ground under the same. Four undi- 
vided fourteenth parts of the land (a bed of rocks) was within twent}- 
four feet of this mill, on the south side below the dam, which was OMued 
b}' Gardner Green, Ezekiel Thompson, James Thompson, and Mary 
Thompson, the three last being heirs of Brigadier Thompson. General 
Veazie, without permission from Green or the Thompsons, and against 
their wish, attempted to la}' the foundation of a saw-mill, and collected 
several sticks of timber and placed them under the floor of a mill-shed 
on the premises claimed by Green and others. Thereupon Jewell, by 
direction of Green and the Thompsons, in order to compel him to 
desist and to leave the premises, threw slabs, and afterwards emptied 
buckets of water upon Veazie and his workmen. Veazie defended 
himself with an axe-haft and a pitchfork, and for a while a serious 



COURTS AND TRIALS, CRIMES AND CRIMINALS, LAWYERS. 285 

quarrel was threatened. Veazie at length desisted from his attempt, 
and this suit was ultimately brought to test the respective rights of 
the two parties to the bed of rocks. Veazie had purchased the right 
to it from some of the heirs of Brigadier Thompson, but not from 
those mentioned. The case was decided against Veazie. This deci- 
sion, though undoubted]}- a just one, in all proba1)ility was a cause of 
depriving the towns of Brunswick and Topsham of the services of one 
who afterwards did so much for the manufacturing interests of Bangor 
and the neighboring towns upon the Penobscot. The above-mentioned 
affra}' occurred February 5, 1827. 

Jn November, 1829, one Patrick Kincaid, of Brunswick, was fined 
by the Supreme Judicial Court $1,100 and costs, for breach of prom- 
ise to a young lady whom he had engaged to wed, — a warning, it 
doubtless proved, to all bachelors, hereabouts, of inconstant minds. 

In 1843 occurred the trial, at Portland, of Thomas Thorn and Mrs. 
Lois Wilson, for the murder of Mr. Elisha Wilson, of Harpswell. 
The Tacts of this case were as follows : — 

In 1840, Thomas Thorn came to Great Island, Harpswell, from 
New York, to visit his sister, the Widow D3'er. He remained in 
Harpswell during the summer, and while there he made the acquaint- 
ance of a young lady named Lois Alexander, with whom he became 
quite intimate. He, however, left town and did not return until earh* 
in the winter of 1842-43. In the mean time, Miss Alexander had 
married Elisha Wilson, and Mrs. Djer had married Elisha's brother 
Benjamin. On his return, Thorn went to Elisha Wilson's, where he 
remained. On the morning of the fifth of February, 1843, between 
the hours of three and four, Mr. Samuel Toothaker was aroused by 
Thorn, who told him that Elisha had fallen out of his bed in the night, 
in a fit, and was dead. Toothaker immediately repaired to the house, 
and found Wilson dead, and to all appearances as if he had been so 
for some hours. Some bedclothes, which had been washed and car- 
ried up stairs wet, at once aroused suspicion of foul pla}'. An inquest 
was held, and Thorn and Mrs. Wilson were apprehended, and bound 
over to the April term of the Supreme Court, at Portland, at which 
time they were indicted for the murder by the grand jury, and were 
tried. Mrs. Wilson was acquitted, but Thorn was convicted and sen- 
tenced to be hung. His sentence was afterwards commuted to 
imprisonment for life. He was taken to the State prison, where he 
remained for over thirt}' ^-ears. A few 3'ears ago, on account of his 
good behavior while in prison and his failing health, he was pardoned, 
and returned to New York, where he was recently living. The fol- 



286 insTOKY OF Brunswick, topsham, and eabpswell. 

lowing letter, which had been passed to Thorn wrapped up in a piece 
of tobacco, was produced at the trial : — 

" poor lois i pity you and my hart akes for you and you must mind 
when you Come to Cort and clear me if you dont tha will hang me 
and 30U must mind how 3-ou talk i will wright to you once in fore 
days i whant to see you once more and then if you dont clear me i 
shall be willing to d}' fore 3"ou i want you to write back." 

This letter, with the piece of tobacco, are, it is said, on file in the 
clerk of court's office in Portland. 

In 1847, Topsham ceased to be a half-shire town, and Mr. Jonah 
Morrow was appointed by the court a committee to sell the Topsham 
Court House. He did so, and reported the amount received for the 
building to be nine hundred and ten dollars ; and for the furniture, 
eleven dollars and fort^'-seven cents. The bell was reserved to be 
afterwards disposed of as might be directed b}^ the coinit}' commis- 
sioners. 

The state of morals among the young in Brunswick must have been 
rather low about this time, as the town in 1849 passed the following 
resolution : — 

" Whereas it is currently reported that boys and other persons are 
in the habit of visiting the mills and other places near the water on the 
Sabbath, for the purpose of gambling, voted, that the selectmen employ 
a suitable person to see that the Sabbath and the laws of the State arc 
not violated ; also, to stop the pla^'ing at ball or flying of kites in the 
streets." 

In 1850 the legislature passed an Act, approved August 28, entitled 
" An Act to establish a Municipal Court in the town of Brunswick, in 
the county of Cumberland." At a meeting of the town subsequent to 
the passage of this Act, it was voted to accept its provisions and to 
establish such a court. 

In April, 1855, Charley Crips, of Topsham, was indicted before the 
grand jury at Bath for the murder of his wife in the fall of the previous 
3-ear. He caused her death b}' beating her with a club. He was tried 
before the Supreme Judicial Court at Bath, in the Septeml)er follow- 
ing, and was convicted of manslaughter, and was sentenced to the 
State prison for life. He was pardoned b}- the governor before the 
expiration of his sentence. 

This year there were numerous burglaries committed in Topsham, 
but the perpetrators of them were not discovered. 

On Monday night, November 9, of this year, Eliphalet Berry, ot 
Topsham, was murdered near Perkins's lumber-shed on "■ the island." 



COURTS AND TRIALS, CRIMES AND CRIMINALS, LAWYERS 287 

He and several others had been to Brunswick and were returning 
home, intoxicated, with a jug of rum. A difficulty arose between 
Beny and David Y. Dudley in regard to the possession of the jug. 
They both disappeared for a few minutes, and Dudlej' returned alone. 
Berry was soon found a short distance ofl' in a djing condition, having 
lieen stablied to the heart. Dudley was tried before the vSupreme 
Judicial Court at Bath in 1858, and on September 4, the jur}' in the 
case brought in a verdict of manslaughter, and he was sentenced to 
five years of hard labor in the State prison. He was pardoned for 
good behavior before the expiration of his term of service. 

In 1875, John Miller, of Birch Island, opposite Mair Point, was con- 
victed of manslaughter and sentenced to the State prison for life. 
Miller was abusing his wife. His son interfered and his father shot 
him. Miller is a descendant of Reverend John Miller, a former 
minister of the First Parish in Brunswick. 

It will be seen from the foregoing accounts that Topsham suffers 
from rather an unenviable reputation, for so small a town, on account 
of the number of persons it has had of marked homicidal proclivities. 
Besides those already mentioned, two other persons from this town, a 
Mr. Clough and Heur}' Richards, have suffered the penalty of the law 
for murders committed by them elsewhere. Notwithstanding this 
unpleasant fact, it is believed that the integrity of its business men and 
the general character of its citizens for morality, justness, and tem- 
perance will compare favorably" with that of other similar communities 
of even a larger population. 

Of late years but few trials, except of minor importance, of any of 
the citizens of either of the three towns, have been had, and but few 
crimes of importance have occurred here. 

MEMBERS OP THE BAR. 

The earliest lawyer in Brunswick is said to have been a man by the 
name of Hobbs, who is described as a shrewd, smart man, but not 
very well educated. Next to him came Peter O. Alden, who was 
admitted to the Cumberland bar in 1797. He was the only lawj-er in 
town for the remainder of that century- and for several years in the 
present one. He continued to practise his profession until his death 
in 1843, but his business was very small for man}^ years previous to 
his death. 1 

After Alden came Henry Putxam, who practised law in Brunswick 

'^See Biography, 



288 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARP8WELL. 

from 1806 to 1823, or thereabouts. His practice was not extensive. 
From 1807, Isaac Gates, for .a few years only, practised law in tliis 
town. 

David Stanwood, of the class of 1808, Bowdoin College, studied 
law for one year with Peter O. Alden, then with Benjamin Hasey for 
one year, and afterwards one 3'ear with Samuel Thatcher. He was 
admitted to the bar in 1811, and removed from Brunswick in 1833, 

Ebenezek Everett commenced the practice of his profession in 
Brunswick in 1817, from which time to 1828 he was also cashier of 
the Union Bank. He afterwards devoted his whole time to his pro- 
fession until 1858, when the infinnities of age compelled him to 
retire from its active duties. He had a large practice and was 
deemed a very excellent counsellor. ' 

Robert P. Dunlap ^ was in practice from 1818 nntil about 1830, 
when he entered into politics and gave up his law bnsiness. 

Benjamin Orr^ moved to Brunswick from Topsham about 1822, 
and continued in practice until his death, in 1828, He was one of 
the most eminent lawyers in the State, 

Charles Packard ^ had a remunerative practice in town between 
the years 1825 and 1834, at which latter date he entered upon a 
course of study for the ministry, 

Phineas Barnes practised law in town between 1839 and 1841. 
He was likewise a (;ashier of one of the banks at the time. 

Leonard P. Merrill ^ was In the practice of the law, for a few 
years, about 1845. 

William G. Barrows, now judge of the Supreme Judicial Court 
of Maine, practised law in Brunswick from 1842 to 18G3. 

Henry Orr commenced the practice of his profession in town in 
1850, and has pursued it up to the present time. In 1853 he was 
appointed by Governor Crosbj' a judge of the Municipal Court. 

J, D, Simmons also practised here from 1850 to 1870, 

From 1859 until 1861, George Barron and Edward Thompson, the 
latter of the class of 1856, Bowdoin College, followed the practice of 
law in partnership. Mr. Thompson entered the arm}' in 1861, and 
since then Mr. Barron has practised alone. Since 1871, Mr. Weston 
Thompson has been a practising lawj'er in town. 

The first lawyer to settle in the town of Topsham was Benjamin 
Hasey, 1 P^squire. He commenced practice in June, 1794, and con- 
tinued it for man}' years, but abandoned its active duties for some 

1 See Biography. 



COURTS AND TRIALS, CRIMES AND CRIMINALS, LAWYERS. 289 

time before his death. His offlee was at first in a small building 
which stood just south of the Bank building. It was afterwards 
removed to the northeast corner of Summer and Main Streets, where 
he continued to occupj' it for man^- 3'ears. Still later his office was 
over the bank. 

In 1801, Benjamin Orr commenced practice here. His office was 
over T. G. & N. Sandford's store, in the building where Mountford's 
shop is now. He removed to Brunswick about 1822, and was suc- 
ceeded by his brother, Robert ''Orr, who i)ractised there until his 
death, in 1829. 

During the latter j-ear Moses E. Woodman opened an office in the 
building formerly occupied b}- Nathaniel Green as a post-office and 
Registry of Deeds. He remained for a few years only. 

In 1843, John W. Davis was practising law in Topsham. When he 
first came, or how long he remained, has not been ascertained. 

The town of Harpswell can boast of never having a professional 
lawyer settled within its limits. There were, of course, trial justices, 
but never any lawjers. The first justice of the peace in this town, 
that is now remembered, was Benjamin Dunning. 



I'j 



210 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

TAVERNS AND PUBLIC HALLS, NEWSPAPERS, ETC. 

TAVERNS IN BRUNSWICK. 

Without doubt, the first public house in this vicinitj' was established 
in the year 1740. On the twenty-ninth of October of that year, at a 
meeting of the Pejepscot proprietors, application having been pre- 
viously made for encouragement on the part of the proprietors to 
some suitable person to erect a house for the entertainment of travel- 
lers on Brunswick Plain, at the place where the North Yannouth and 
several other roads met, it was voted, " That a tract of Land be 
granted to such person as shall be approved of by the Committee of 
the proprietors, he gi\ing security for the faithfull and seasonable 
performance thereof." ^ 

This offer was undoubtedly accepted by some one, and there is 
reason to believe it was by Robert Spear, who kept a tavern a little 
west of the old meeting-house, between the j-ears 1744 and 1760, 
perhaps later. This inn was also a garrison house, protected b}' a 
timber fortification, and soldiers were kept in it b^^ the government, 
for the safety of travellers, as well as for the protection of the citi- 
zens. It was used as a public house after the Spanish or Fifth Indian 
War had terminated, in 1748. Town meetings were frequently held 
in this inn in cold weather, and here, on Sunday-, the people were 
wont to congregate for lunch and grog.'^ 

The next inn, in point of time, was the one kept, about 1750, by 
James Thompson.^ This was on the farm at New Meadows, where 
Bartlett Adams now lives. It was afterwards, it is said,'' kept by his 
son. Brigadier Thompson, until he removed to Topsham, about 1784. 
It was certainl}' kept either by the Brigadier or some one of that 
family as late as 1780.^ About 1762, Samuel Coombs was licensed as 
an innholder.6 



"^Pejepscot Recordx. '^ McKeen, MSS. Lecture, and elsewhere. 

3 McKeen, MSS. Lecture. He was licensed in 17G1 hij the Cowt of General Sessions 
for Lincoln County. 

* Peter Jordan. 5 Low's Almanac, 1780. o Coiirt Records, Portland. 



TAVEKNS AND PUBLIC HALLS, NEWSPAPERS, ETC. 291 

In 1764 1 a man by the name of Ross kept a tavern, which tradition 
places near the site of the present dwelling of Mr. Rnfus Jordan, on 
the Maquoit road, a short distance north of the Morse road. This 
inn was certainl}' kept as late as 1777.^ 

As earl}- as 1767, Benjamin Stone kept a tavern in or near the 
fort, as is plainly shown by the following extract from the field-book 
of the company who made the survey of Bakerstown, now Minot, 
November, 1767. A part of the company, wishing to visit Brunswick, 
hired a boat, and on Wednesday, November 25, 1767, about " ten of 
the clock, started, and after rowing about three hours over a calm 
l»ay, covered with abundance of wild fowl (we) arrived at the head of 
Maquoit Bay at the house of Squire Woodside. . . . From Maquoit, 
we traA-elled three and a half miles to Brunswick Fort, which is 
founded on a rock, and built in an exact and regular manner, of stone 
and lime, in a four-square form, with two bastions on two of the cor- 
ners, defended by two wooden towers or watch-boxes. This day fair 
weather. Here we lodged this night, and a pretty good house of 
entertainment is kept by Benjamin Stone." 

From the foregoing, it would appear that Mr. Stone was at this 
time keeping a public house inside the fort, where tradition says 
there was a comfortable, two-story house, but it is possible, though not 
probable, that this tavern was outside, but near the fort, and that the 
allusion in the foregoing extract to " Brunswick Fort" referred to the 
settlement around it as much as to the fortification itself. Stone is 
known to have kept tavern near the Brunswick Falls as late as 1799.3 
About 1776, later rather than earlier, a Mr. Curtis is said to have 
kept a tavern where Thomas Grouse now lives, near where the rail- 
road crosses the New Meadows River.'* This house was kept as an 
inn as late as 1791. 

The house owned and occupied by the late Doctor John D. Lincoln, 
which was built in 1772, w^as kept by Captain John Dunlap as a pub- 
lic house a portion of the time between then and 1800.^ 

In 1796 or 1797, Talleyrand, the distinguished French priest and 
political character, visited this country. He landed at Castine, and 
on his way to Boston he passed through Brunswick, and spent the 
greater part of the daj- at this house. ^ 

Where the post-office and engine-house now stand on Maine Street, 



^Nathaniel Ames's Almanac, 1764. ^Farmers' Almanac, 1777. 

3 Nathaniel Low's Almanac, 1799. * Peter Jordan. Low's Almanac, 1791. 

^ McKeen, in Brunswick Teleyraph. ^Ihid. , 



292 HISTOUY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

there was formerly a building which was for many years a tavern, and 
was known, a part of the time, as Washington Hall. It was built 
by David Dunning about 1772, and was occupied by him for some 
years as a private residence. It was afterwards occupied by his son 
John, who kept a tavern there until 1807, when David Owen bought 
it and put on a large addition in front, using the old building as an L. 
Here Owen kept a tavern until about 1812, when Isaac O. Robertson 
took it and occupied it as an inn until 1815. The latter was succeeded 
by Russell Stoddard, who remained about two years. 

Ebenezer Nichols, who had been keeping tavern directly opposite, 
then took it, and Stoddard moved to a building where the Tontine now 
stands. Nichols continued as landlord until his death, in 1S24, and 
his widow carried on the business until 1827, when she moved back 
across the street to the building her husband had previously occupied. 
While she kept this inn it was called " Mrs. Nichols's Inn." AVilliam 
Hodgkins moved from the corner of Maine and Pleasant Streets into 
this Washington Hall building when Mrs. Nichols left it. Here he re- 
mained for a few 3'ears. After it was vacated by him it was occupied as 
a tenement house and for business purposes, till it was burned, in 1856. ^ 

In 1799 2 a Mr. Chase kept a tavern which tradition places on the 
Captain William Woodside place, at Bunganock Landing. 

The old tavern which stood in the northwest corner of the college 
3^ard,best known as Moorhead's Tavern, was built in 1802 by Eben- 
ezer Nichols, but was not finished or occupied until early in 1803. 
Nichols was landlord of it until 1809. During this time it was the 
principal public and stage house in the town. Mr. Nichols was suc- 
ceeded, in 1810, b}^ Colonel T. S. Estabrook, who continued in it for 
some years. After Estabrook left it, a man b}' the name of Coffin 
took it, and kept it until 1818, when he sold out to Isaac Dow. The 
latter kept it until 1820, when he committed suicide. In September 
of this year it was offered for sale. It was occupied at tliat time by 
William Hodgkins. The advertisement stated that it had '' six rooms 
on the lower floor, some large and well furnished ; a spacious and con- 
venient hall, a good cellar and never-failing well. The ai)purteuauces 
are a large, well-finished stable, with other out-buildings ; a good 
garden of more than an acre." ^ 

Whether the house was sold at this time is not known, but in 1825 
Alexander Moorhead was the proprietor. About the year 1831, 



1 Dean Swift, Samuel Dunning, and other old residents. 

^ Low's Almanac, 1799. ^ Maine Intelliyencer, 1820. 



TAVERNS AND PUBLIC BALLS, NEWSPAPERS, ETC 293 

Moorhead retired from business, removed from town, and engaged in 
farming. He was succeeded by John L. Seavey, who kept the house 
for two or three years. The latter was succeeded by James Elhot, 
who was proprietor until 1839, at which time Mr. Moorhead returned 
to Brunswick and again assumed the management of this public house. 
Moorhead continued to keep it until 1842, when the building was pur- 
chased by the trustees of Bowdoin College. It was taken down in 
1847 and rebuilt on Noble Street, and is now the residence of Mr. 
Jo3ce.^ 

A short distance west of Cook's Corner there stood for many 3'ears 
what was known as the Pumpkin Tavern, so called on account of 
its sign, which was a large ball about the size of a pumpkin, which 
it greatly resembled. It was a two-story house built by one Wads- 
worth previous to the war of 1812-14. Here he kept a pubhc house 
until about 1836 or 1837. It was seldom patronized b}' travellers, 
and was in fact more a grogger}' than a tavern. 

In the early part of this centmy "pumpkin taverns " were quite 
common, there being one in nearlj' every town, and they were all 
of about the same character, — the resort of the intemperate and 
depraved. 

Soon after the war of 1812-14, Ebenezer Nichols, who had formerly- 
kept the tavern on the hill, bought a one-story house, situated between 
what is now the residence of Doctor N. T. Palmer and that of the 
late L. T. Jackson, put a second stor}' upon it, and fitted it up for a 
public house. Here he kept tavern for a few 3-ears, and then moved 
into the Washington Hall building. 

About the year 1817, Russell Stoddard opened a public house, called 
Stoddard's Inn, in a large building which stood on the site of the 
present Tontine Hotel. It was built in 1803 for a store, and was 
occupied as such until Mr. Stoddard took it for a tavern. It was 
occupied hy him imtil 1825, when it passed into the hands of John 
Barker and Charles M. Rogers. Barker soon sold out his interest, 
and Rogers assumed the sole management. The building was de- 
stroyed h\ fire in 1827. This house during its existence was the 
stage office and principal public house in Brunswick. It had a hall in 
which entertainments of various kinds were occasionally held. Stod- 
dard had kept in the Washington Hall building for a jear or two 
previous to opening this house. 



1 McKeen, in Urunswick Telegraph ; also Dean Swift, Samuel Dunning, Mrs. Lamb, 
and other old citizens. 



294 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

The dwelling-house on the corner of Maine and Pleasant Streets, 
now owned and occupied b}' Captain Alfred H. Merryman, was built 
by the Honorable Jacob Abbott for his residence, in 1807. At his 
death, in 1820, it passed into the hands of his son Jacob, who occu- 
pied it until 1823, when he removed to a house opposite the colleges, 
and this house passed into the hands of William Hodgkins, who fitted 
it up for a tavern, and occupied it as such from January, 1824, until 
some time in 1827. The house was known as Hodgkixs's Inx, and 
a hall which was situated in the L of the building was known 
as HoDGKiNs's Hall. In 1827, Hodgkins sold out to Charles M. 
Rogers, and moved into the Washington Hall building, which had just 
been vacated by Mrs. Nichols. INIr. Rogers had been burned out 
on the opposite side of the street, where he had been proprietor of 
the Stoddard House. He remained in his new quarters for about 
a year, when he moved to Topsham and opened the Lincoln 
House in November, 1828. He was succeeded in the charge of 
Hodgkins's Inn by John L. Seavey, who occupied it as the ]Maixe 
Hotel until 1830. At this time it was repaired and refitted, and 
Major John Stinchfield took it and kept it until 1837, at which time 
he bought the house now occupied by Captain Isaac L. Skolfield, and 
fitted it up for a public house. Mr. James Mustard then became pro- 
prietor of the Maine Hotel. In 1840, Mr. Mustard died. The house 
was then kept for two j-ears by Erastus Niles, and then for a single 
year b}' Joseph W. Sargent, when Mr. Niles again assumed the man- 
agement and kept it until 1845. 

James Mustard, son of the fomier landlord, took it in 184') and con- 
tinued until 1849, when Aaron Adams became the proprietor. While 
under the management of the latter, the house was known as the 
Pejepscot House. In 1853 a Mr. Marston became proprietor, but he 
died within a year, and the house passed into the hands of J. R. W. 
Hoitt, and was known as the American House. In 1856 it was kept 
as a boarding-house, called the Brunswick House, by Benjamin Libby. 
In 1860, John R. Dah' occupied it as a boarding-house. He was suc- 
ceeded, in 1861 by Tmiothy Bradley, and in 1862 by E. F. Anderson, 
Avho kept a public house for a short time. 

In 1863, Captain MerrjTnan purchased the house and fitted it up for 
his residence. The house and grounds were greatly improved and are 
now an ornament to the village. 

The Tontine Hotel was built in the j'ear 1828 b}' a corporation 
known as " The Brunswick Tontine Hotel Company." The incor- 
porators were Roger Merrill, David Dunlap, Benjamin Weld, Richard 



TAVERNS AND PUBLIC HALLS, NEWSPAPERS, ETC. 295 

T. Dunlap, and John Owen, 2d. The Act of Incorporation Umited 
the capital stock to " not less than $6,000 nor more than $15,000, in 
shares of one hundred dollars each. Among the original stockholders 
were Ebenezer Everett, Esquire, Doctor Isaac Lincoln, General A. B. 
Thompson, Colonel A. J. Stone, General J. C. Humphreys, L. T. 
Jackson, Caleb Gushing, R. P. Dunlap, David Shaw, George Skolfield, 




The Tontine Hotel. 

James Otis, and others. The hotel was built during the summer and 
fall of 1828, by Anthony C. Raymond, and was opened to the public 
on New Year's day, 1829. The establishment cost nearly $7,000. 
On the evening of January 2, the landlord. Colonel Elijah P. Pike, 
gave a supper to about fifty citizens of Brunswick and Topsham. 

The Ayidroscoggin Free Press of January 14, 1829, in a paragraph 
describing the building, says : — 

"It contains thirty apartments besides closets, store-rooms, etc., 
and a hall which, for elegance and spaciousness, is not surpassed in 
the State." ! 

Colonel Pike continued landlord of the hotel until 1836, when 
Erastus Richards leased it for two or three years. He was succeeded, 

in 1839, by Holland and Jacob M. Berr}-. The next year Mr. 

Berry assumed the sole management of the hotel, and continued its 
landlord until 1850, when he went to California, leaving the manage- 
ment of the hotel in the hands of Mr. Leonard Townsend. Mr. 
Berry had been in California only a few mouths when he died. The 
contract with Mr. Townsend having been made for a year, he contin- 
ued the management of the hotel until 1851, when the control of the 
property passed into the hands of Mr. James Berr}', a brother of 
Jacob. Mr. Berry at once assumed the management of the hotel, and 
continued landlord until 1867, when he sold out to Mr. H. B. Pinkham, 



296 HISTORY OF Brunswick, topsham, and harpswell. 

who conducted the hotel until 1875. He was succeeded by Mr. S. B. 
Harmon, and the latter was in 1877 succeeded by Mr. Brewster, the 
present landlord. From the building of the hotel till the completion 
of the railroad, this hotel was the stage office and the principal public 
house in town. 

Stinchfield House. — The house now owned and occupied as a 
residence by Captain Isaac L. Skolfield, on the corner of Maine and 
School Streets, was in 1837 purchased of the heirs of Honorable Ben- 
jamin Orr, by Major John Stinchfield, and fitted up for a public house. 
Major Stinchfield kept a tavern there until his death, in September, 
1844. His family continued the business for a short time longer, 
after which the building was occupied by Mr. G. C. Swallow, who 
kept school in it. From the opening of this public house, in 1837, 
until the Moorhead tavern was sold, in 1842, there were four public 
houses in the tillage, viz., the Tontine, the Maine Hotel, Stincii- 
field's, and Moorhead's. 

An inn called Gatchell's Tavern was kept near Gatchell's 
Mills, in the southeastern part of the town, from 1837 to 1850, or 
thereabouts. It was kept at first by Joseph and Francis Gatchell, 
and after 1840 by Francis Gatchell alone. It was a famous place for 
" sprees," and was the resort of students and others bent upon having 
" a good time." 

William P. Storer kept a public house for three or four jears from 
1837, in the western part of the town, near the Durham line, at what 
was then known as Storer's Corner. 

In 1838, Paul R. Cleaves opened a public house west of " Powder- 
House Hill," just bej'ond the corner of Mill and Pleasant Streets. He 
remained only a year or two, not receiving sufficient patronage tO 
waiTant his continuing the business in that location. 

About the year 1825, Benjamin Peterson kept a tavern on the Bath 
road, about a mile beyond Cook's Corner, which was known as the 
Half-Way House. In 1835 he bought a farm in the town of Jeffer- 
son, sold this taA^ern, and moved away. Probably Thomas Wheeler 
bought it at this time, as he kept a tavern at this place for some years 
prior to 1845, which alwa3-s went, with the college students, by the 
name of Old Wheeler's. It was a large one-story building. Like 
most of the public houses out of the village, it was a noted resort for 
carousals. 

In 1870, John T. Smith purchased the residence of the late Gen- 
eral Richard T. Dunlap, and converted it into a public house, called 
the BowDOiN Hotel. 



TAVERNH AND PUBLIC HALLS, NEWSPAPERS, ETC. 297 

In 1868 the building owned by Mr. Jolham Varney on Maine 
Street, opposite the mall, was converted into a public house, and has 
been occupied as such by different parties until the present time. It 
is now called the Brunswick House. 

The foregoino; comprise all the public houses known to have been 
kept, at any ])eriod, in Bnuiswick. 

The earliest public hall to which we have found any reference was 
the one in the tavern which stood where the post-office and engine- 
house are now. At first the hall was known by the name of its pro- 
prietor, as Owen's Hall in 1807, Robertson's Hall in 1812. It 
received the name of Washington Hall about the year 1815. It 
was for many years the only hall in which public entertainments were 
given. In this hall, also, private schools were taught at different 
times. 

Stone's Hall, on the corner of Maine and Mill Streets, was, in 
1812 and subsequently, used for religious meetings and for other pur- 
poses not requiring a larger hall. 

Masonic Hall, on Mason Street, now the engine-house and hall of 
" Niagara, No. 3," was built in the year 1817, and besides being used 
for masonic purposes, the building has been used at different times for 
private schools, and, if we mistake not, for public lectures. 

Stoddard's Hall was in the tavern kept by Russell Stoddard in 
a building which occupied the site of the present Tontine Hotel, and 
which was destroyed by fire in 1827. Frequent allusions have been 
found to this hall, and it was probably large and comfortable, and 
adapted to the recjuirements of the town at that time. 

While Hodgkins kept an inn in the house, now the residence of 
Captain Alfred Merryman, there was a hall in the L which was known 
as Hodgkins Hall. In this hall religious and political meetings 
were sometimes held, and it was also used as a school-room, and for 
public entertainments. 

The Tontine Hall was, for many years subsequent to its erection 
in 1828, the principal hall in Brunswick for all sorts of public gather- 
ings, and it has always been a favorite place for balls and assemblies. 

Humphrey's Hall was over the store now occupied by Mr. Bal- 
com as a hardware store, and in 1841, and thereabouts, was used for 
dances and for public meetings, not requiring a large hall. 

Odd Fellows Hall was, from 1844 to 1849, over the store of 
John S. Gushing, where Lemont Block is now. The building was 
])urned in 1849, and the Odd Fellows then went into a room over the 
store of A. T. Campbell, on the corner of Maine and Lincoln Streets. 



300 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

From aliout 1800 to 1829, Francis Tucker kept a public house in 
the building which is still standing on Main Street nearly opposite the 
Bank building. This was for man}' years the principal public house in 
town. 

The old Gideon Walker house, which stood a few rods south of the 
present Walker homestead, was used as a tavern for some years in the 
latter part of the last century, as early as 1792 and as lately as 1803. 

About 1812 the Sageu House was kept by a Mr. Sager. It 
was situated on the northwest corner of Main and Winter Streets, 
where the Perkins Building is now. It was afterwards destroyed by fire. 

From 1822 until about 18.t5, John Jack kept a tavern in what is 
known as the Jack neighborhood, near the little river line. During 
the early part of the time there was a great deal of travel, and the 
house was generally full. Lewiston was then a small village, and 
Topsham, Brunswick, and Bath were the markets for all of the interior 
towns. 

From 1814 to 1829, Nathaniel Green was a licensed inuholder in 
Topsham. Between the years 1831 and 1836 he kept a public house 
for the accommodation of persons attending court, in the building now 
used by the Franklin Family School. The next j'ear, 1837, he went 
to Augusta, where he kept the Pahner House. 

Prior to 1826 a public house was kept by Sullivan Ilaynes. and in 
1826 by Prince Diusmore, in a building which stood on the site of the 
late residence of Mr. Edwin M. Stone on Winter Street. In 1826 
the house was burned. It was owned at that time by Captain Samuel 
Perkins. It must have been rebuilt at once, as in 1828, Charles M. 
Rogers, of Brunswick, took it and advertised it as the Lixcolx Hotel, 
"a new and commodious house." From 1830 to 1834 this tavern 
was kept b}' James Mustard. In 1836 it was kept by Suel and Alden 
Baker as the Temperance Hotel. In 1837 it was kept b}- Jeremiah 
Clough. In 1838 and 1839 (and probably later), b}' Aaron Crowley. 
Afterwards, for a short time, by a Mr. Moulton. In 1844 by Joseph 
C. Snow, and in 1845 b^" A. W. Hewey, during which time it again 
went b}' the name of the Lincoln House. After this it was kept b^' 
Leeman Hebberd for a while. 

In 1817, Thomas G. Sandford, Jonathan Baker, George F. Richard- 
son, Daniel E. Tucker, and Samuel Veazie were all licensed as 
innholders. 

In 1829, Daniel Dennett was a licensed innholder. His house was 
on the east side of Main Street, a little above the present post office. 
It was not much of an estabhshment. 



TAVERNS AND PUBLIC HALLS, NEWSPAPERS, ETC. 301 

About 1845, George«Green had a tavern on the island, known as 
the Washingtonian House. It was afterwards called the Elm 
House. 

Several of the above-named public houses had halls attached for 
dancing and other puljlic purposes. Besides these there have been at 
different times in Topsham the following public halls : — 

In a building which stood on the site of the Godfrey House, on 
Green Street, there was a hall in which a dancing-school was kept in 
1799. This house was purchased about 1804 by Reverend Jonathan 
Ellis. The hall had a swinging partition in it, the hinges of which 
were at the top. When this partition was opened it was fastened up 
to the ceiling by hooks and staples.^ 

The Court House was occasionall}' used as a public hall during the 
whole period of its existence. It was used for a public oration as 
early as 1804. At a later period it was occupied on Sundays b}'' 
different religious organizations, and b}- the town for many 3'ears for its 
annual meetings. It was also occasionally used for travelling shows 
and other exhibitions. 

At a later day the town-house, situated opposite the village burning- 
ground, was the principal place for public entertainments. 

Still later, the hall of the Sagadahoc Agricultural Society was, and 
now is, used for fairs, dances, etc., but it is too large for lectures or 
for any ordinarj'^ entertainments. 

Perkins Hall and White's Hall, over stores on Main Street, have 
been used for meetings of one kind and another, not requiring larger 
accommodations. The engine hall has also been used for small 
gatherings. Topsham has never had a hall suitable, in all respects, 
for public entertainments, the halls referred to being either too large 
or too small, and not adapted for all occasions for which a hall is 
required. 

IN HARPSWELL. 

About 1762, Richard Starbird and Timothy Bailey were licensed as 
innholders, in Harps well. 

A Mr. Eastman kept a sailor boarding-house on the east side of 
Condj^'s Point, Great Island, before and during the Revolution. The 
only public house on this island since that time is believed to be the 
Union House, which was built in 1862 by David W. Simpson, and 
was conducted hy him for one 3'ear. It not proving a success, he 

1 Statement by Dr. Asher Ellis. 



300 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

From ahout 1800 to 1829, Francis Tucker kept a public house in 
the Ijuilding which is still standing on Main Street nearh' opposite the 
Bank building. This -n-as for man}- years the principal public house in 
town. 

The old Gideon Walker house, which stood a few rods south of the 
present Walker homestead, was used as a tavern for some j-ears in the 
latter part of the last century, as earl}' as 1792 and as lately as 1803. 

About 1812 the Sager House was kept b}- a Mr. Sager. It 
was situated on the northwest corner of Main and Winter Streets, 
where the Perkins Building is now. It was afterwards destroyed by fire. 

From 1822 until about 18.t5, .John Jack kept a tavern in what is 
known as the Jack neighborhood, near the little river line. During 
the early part of the time there was a great deal of travel, and the 
house was generally full. Lewiston was then a small village, and 
Topsham, Brunswick, and Bath were the markets for all of the interior 
towns. ^ 

From 1814 to 1829, Nathaniel Green was a licensed innholder in 
Topsham. Between the years 1831 and 1836 he kept a public house 
for the accommodation of persons attending court, in the building now 
used by the Franklin Family School. The next year, 1837, he went 
to Augusta, where he kept the Palmer House. 

Prior to 1826 a public house was kept by Sullivan Haynes, and in 
1826 by Prince Dinsmore, in a building which stood on the site of the 
late residence of Mr. Edwin M. Stone on AVinter Street. In 1826 
the house was burned. It was owned at that time b}" Captain Samuel 
Perkins. It must have been rebuilt at once, as in 1828, Charles M. 
Rogers, of Brunswick, took it and advertised it as the Lixcolx Hotel, 
"a new and commodious house." I^rom 1830 to 1834 this tavern 
was kept by James Mustard. In 1836 it was kept by Suel and Alden 
Baker as the Temperance Hotel. In 1837 it was kept by Jeremiah 
Clough. In 1838 and 1839 (and probably later), by Aaron Crowley. 
Afterwards, for a short time, by a Mr. Moulton. In 1844 b}- Joseph 
C Snow, and in 1845 b}- A. W. Hewey, during which time it again 
went b}' the name of the Lincoln House. After this it was kept by 
Leeman Hebberd for a while. 

In 1817, Thomas G. Sandford, Jonathan Baker, George F. Richard- 
son, Daniel E. Tucker, and Samuel Veazie were all licensed as 
iunholders. 

In 1829, Daniel Dennett was a licensed innholder. His house was 
on the east side of Main Street, a little above the present post office. 
It was not much of an establishment. 



TAVERNS AND PUBLIC HALLS, NEWSPAPERS, ETC. 301 

About 1845, George«Grecn had a tavern on the island, known as 
the Washingtonian House. It was afterwards called the Elm 
House. 

Several of the above-named i^ublic houses had halls attached for 
dancing and other ]:)ublic purposes. Besides these there have been at 
different times in Topsham the following public halls : — 

In a building which stood on the site of the Godfrey House, on 
Green Street, there was a hall in which a dancing-school was kept in 
1709. This house was purchased about 1804 by Reverend Jonathan 
EUis. The hall had a swinging partition in it, the hinges of which 
were at the top. When this jjaitition was opened it was fastened up 
to the ceiling by hooks and stai)les.i 

The Court House was occasionall}' used as a public hall during the 
whole period of its existence. It was used for a public oration as 
early as 1804. At a later period it was occupied on Sundays by 
different religious organizations, and by the town for many years for its 
annual meetings. It was also occasionally used for travelling shows 
and other exhibitions. 

At a later da}^ the town-house, situated opposite the village burying- 
ground, was the principal place for public entertainments. 

Still later, the hall of the Sagadahoc Agricultural Society was, and 
now is, used for fairs, dances, etc., but it is too large for lectures or 
for an}' ordinary entertainments. 

Perkins Hall and White's Hall, over stores on Main Sti-eet, have 
been used for meetings of one kind and another, not requiring larger 
accommodations. The engine hall has also been used for small 
gatherings. Topsham has never had a hall suitable, in all respects, 
for public entertainments, the halls referred to baing either too large 
or too small, and not adapted for all occasions for which a hall is 
required. 

IN HARPSWELL. 

About 1762, Richard Starbird and Timothy Bailey were licensed as 
innholders, in Harps well. 

A Mr. Eastman kept a sailor boarding-house on the east side of 
Condy's Point, Great Island, before and during the Revolution. The 
only i)ublic house on this island since that time is believed to be the 
Union House, which was built in 1862 by David W. Simpson, and 
was conducted by him for one 3'ear. It not proving a success, he 

1 Statement by Dr. Asher Ellis. 



302 HJSTOIiY OF BBUXSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

gave it up and went to sea. It was bought by Robert "Watson, and 
in 1865 was changed to a church and parsonage, and part of the pews 
were sold. In 1866 or 1867, Watson bought back the pews, changed 
the church to a tavern again, and carried on the house for one 3"ear. 
In 1867, James Jewell, the present landlord, hired the house and 
opened it for company. In 1876, JNIoses Paul bought the house and 
had last summer considerable patronage. 

On Orr's Island there has never been a tavern or public house of 
any kind. 

In 1829, Elijah Walker was hcensed as an innholder on Ilarpswell 
Neck. 

The Mansion House was built by Alexander P. Wentworth, now 
of Brunswick, in 1835, and was occui)ied by him as a public house for 
a short time, and was then sold to John Colby, who was succeeded 
by others whose names have not been ascertained. Frederic W. Dear- 
born, of Topsham, was the last owner and landlord. The house was 
destroyed by fire in 1868. Mr. Charles Johnson was licensed as an 
innholder in 1837, but whether he had charge of this house does not 
appear. 

MAILS AND POST-OFFICES. 

At the time of the earlier settlements here, before the establishment 
of any post-oftice, letters were brought to the inhabitants h\ the 
coasters which plied between Maquoit and the larger towns, or b}- any 
chance traveller who might be jouruejing this wa}'. For a time even 
after the establishment of a mail-route, letters were sent by coasters 
as a matter of convenience. 

The first mail-route from Boston to the Kennebec was established 
a little while before the commencement of the Revolutionary war, 
when, for a short time, Luke Lambard carried the mail on horseback 
once a fortnight, leaving the letters for Brunswick and vicinity as he 
passed by.^ The mail was first carried between Portland and Bath, 
once a fortnight, b}- Richard Kimball, who went on foot and often ear-" 
ried the letters in his pocket. It was not until about 1800 that the mail 
was carried oftener than once a week.^ In 1803 there were three 
mails a w'eek from Boston, which arrived in Brunswick on the third 
day. In 18C4 it reached that place in the afternoon, and in 1805 in 
the morning of the second day from Boston.^ 



1 Maine Historical CoUection, 2, p 219. 
2 McKeen, in Brunswick Telegraph, July 30, 1853. 



TAVERNS AND PUBLIC HALLS, NEWSPAPERS, ETC. 303 

Henr}' Mclntyre drove the first four-horse stage from Portland to 
Brunswick about 1803. He was living, at the age of ninety-three, at 
New Sharon, Maine, on April 30, 1875.^ 

In 1802, T. 8. Estabrook, of Brunswick (afterwards Colonel), began 
to carry the mail to Augusta, passing through Topsham and Litchfield. 
He carried it at first on horseback, leaving Brunswick every Monday. 
In 180G he commenced running a passenger coach twice a week. It 
left Brunswick on Saturday and Tuesda}' at eleven o'clock a. m., 
and arrived in Augusta on Sunday and Wednesday at ten a. m. 
Keturning. it left Augusta at noon on Sunday, and at eight a, m. on 
Thursday. 2 

The first daily mail is thought to have commenced in 181 0.^ In 
1824 " no mail from Brunswick could reach the towns on the Andros- 
coggin River, except i)y way of Portland and Hallowell, and not all of 
said towns were reached in that way ; consequently the publisher of 
the Baptist Herald found it necessary to establish at his own expense 
a weekly mail-route as far as Ja}', about forty-five miles ; passing up 
the west side of the river and down the east. The United States 
government, two years later, assumed the route and continued it until 
other facilities of transportation made it unnecessar}." '* 

In 183G a new mail-route was estabhshed between Brunswick and 
Turner, passing through Durham, Danville, Lewiston, and Minot. It 
left Brunswick at eight o'clock on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 
Another route was estabhshed at the same time to Lewiston, through 
Topsham and Lisbon. A route was also established this year between 
Brunswick and Harpswell. After the cars commenced to run on the 
Kennebec and Portland Kailroad, there was a daily mail from each 
end of the road, and in 1864 two mails daily were received and 
sent. 

The first post-office established in Brunswick was in 1793, and 
Deacon Andrew Dunning was the first postmaster. The oflEice was 
kept until shortly- before the death of Deacon Dunning in his dwelling 
on Maine Street, just north of what is now Noble Street. The estate 
remains in the Dunning family, but the present house is not the one in 
which the post-office was kept. Mr. Dean Swift distinctly remembeis 
being sent to Deacon Dunning's for letters, when a boy, and he says 
that the deacon kept them in a desk in a corner of the room, and that 
it was customar}- for the citizens to look over the letters themselves, 

* Brvnswick Telef/raph. 2 North, IHstonj of Augusta, p. 333. 

^Farmers' Almanac, 1810. ■* Griffin, Press of Maine, p. 74. 



304 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

and to select therefrom such as bore their address. Robert Dunning, 
who succeeded his father in 1801, kept the office on the northern cor- 
ner of INIaine and Dunlap Streets.^ 

In 1824 the office was kept on Mill Street, near the present resi- 
dence of Mrs. A. J. Stone. In 1826 it was removed to the corner of 
Maine and Mason Streets, where Lorenzo Day's store now stands. 
The next year, the office was removed to a building south of the 
stage house, on the lot now occupied b}- James Beny, near the foot of 
the mall, where it remained until 1842, when it was removed to its 
present location. It was subsequently moved back to the Berry build- 
ing, and in 1871 it was moved to its present location. 

The income of the postmaster at this office during the year 1826 
was one hundred and sixty dollars, and in 1845 was eight hundred 
and sixteen dollars and eighty-one cents. From these smns the post- 
master was required to pa}^ for office rent, clerk hire, wood and 
lights. The mails in the latter j'ear arrived at eleven p. m. and 
two A. M. 

On Jul}' 14, 1803, Major Lemuel Swift was appointed post- 
master, in place of Robert Dunning. The appointment was probably 
made without the knowledge, or at least consent, of Mr. Swift, as he 
declined to accept it then, as he did also at other times. 

The following is a correct list of all the postmasters of Brunswick 
and the date of their appointment. It is derived from the official 
records of the Post Office Department at Washington : — 

Andrew Dunning, appointed March 20, 1793 ; Robert Dunning, 
appointed January 1, 1801 ; Henrv Quinl)y, appointed January 1, 
1804 ; Jonathan Stone, appointed May 20, 1807 ; Joseph McLellan, 
a;ppoiuted September 15, 1823 ; Theodore S. McLellan, appointed 
December 29, 1840; Elijah P. Pike, appointed February 9, 1842; 
Theodore S. McLellan, appointed September 11, 1843; Joseph F. 
Dunning, appointed May 2, 1849 ; John McKeen, appointed Septem- 
ber 28, 1850 ; Robert P. Dunlap, appointed May 13, 1853 ; Alfred J. 
Stone, appointed March 24, 1858 ; Benjamin G. Dennison, appointed 
April 8, 1861 ; Albert G. Tenney, appointed August 24, 1866 ; George 
C. Crawford, appointed April 3, 1867. 

The first post-office in Topsham was up stairs in a building which 
stood directly opposite the bank. Charles R. Porter, the postmaster, 
was a lawj-er, and the mail was kept in his office. lie had for an 
assistant, Ohver, son of Major Nathaniel Walker, who remained with 

* Prjepscot Papers. 



TAVERNS AND PUBLIC HALLS, NEWSPAPERS, ETC. 305 

liim for two or three years, and was then succeeded by his brother, 
Wildes P. Wallcer, then a lad of ten or eleven years of age. The 
following is the list of postmasters in Topsham, derived from the 
same soiirce as the preceding : — 

Charles R. Porter, appointed February 6, 1821 ; Nathaniel Green, 
appointed July 13, 1826; Nathaniel AA^alker, appointed April 19, 
1S31 ; John H. Thompson, appointed August 12, 1841 ; Nathaniel 
Walker, appointed. November 26, 18-44:; William Ricker, appointed 
July 19, 1845 ; Charles E. White, appointed February 9, 1849 ; John 
Tebbets, appointed April 11, 1849; Octavius A. Merrill, appointed 
May i3, 1853; Lewis M. Work, appointed September 22, 1853; 
Amos D. AYheeler, appointed February 29, 1856 ; Alexander Ridley, 
appointed October 6, 1856 ; Robert P. Whitney, appointed May 6, 
1861. 

The first post-office in Harpswell was established at the lower end 
of Harpswell Neck in 1842, about three miles from the old meeting- 
house, the mail being received at that time every Tuesday. The first 
postmaster was Washington Garcelon. Residents of Great Island 
and the upper part of the Neck continued to go to Brunswick for their 
letters for many years afterwards. There are several separate offices 
in the town of Harjjswell, and the following is the official list of the 
l)0stmasters in each. 

The office in West Harpswell was established October 14, 1847. 
The postmasters were, Washington Garcelon, appointed October 14, 
1847; Ebenezer Pinkham, appointed July 14, 1849; Alcot S. Merri- 
man, appointed April 10, 1850. The office was discontinued Ma}- 27, 
1854, but was re-established in September, 1862. David Webber, 
appointed September 11, 1862; Miss Helen M. Webber, appointed 
December 22, 1865 ; Miss Lydia F. Webber, appointed June 16, 
1868 ; Miss Margaret M. Thomas, appointed February 28, 1871 ; 
Miss Eleanor Thomas, appointed June 15, 1872. 

The office at North Harpswell was established Fcbruar}^ 25, 1864, 
and Charles Johnson was appointed postmaster on that day. 

The office on Orr's Island was established May 13, 1868, and Sam- 
uel E. SmuUen was appointed postmaster at that time. 

Postage on a letter to Boston in 1833 was twelve and a half cents, 
eighteen and three fourths cents to New York, and twenty-five cents 
for any distance o^•er five hundred miles. 

In 1820 the rates were as follows : — 

Sinyle letters, for an}' distance not exceeding thirty miles, six 
cents ; over thirty and not over eighty miles, ten cents ; over eighty 
20 



306 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, lOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

and not over one hundred and fifty miles, twelve and a half cents ; 
over one hundred and fifty and not over four hundred miles, eighteen 
and a half cents ; over four hundred miles, twenty-five cents. 

Double letters, or those composed of two pieces of paper, double 
the above rates. 

Shij) letters, not carried b}' mail, six cents. 

NEWSPAPEItS, ETC. 

The following account of the newspapers and press in Brunswick, 
Topsham, and Ilarpswell is mainl}' derived from a recent work by the 
late Joseph Gritlin, entitled *■' The l*ress of Maine," with a few, addi- 
tions, which the character of his work led him to omit. 

The first press in Brunswick was set up early in December, 1819, 
by Joseph Grifflu, who graduated at the printing-office of Messrs. 
Flagg & Gould, in Andover, Massachusetts. His office was, at first, 
on the east side of Maine Street, facing Pleasant Street. In 1821 he 
removed to the building opposite the north end of the mall, and which 
he occupied until his death, in 1875. 

For twenty-nine years Mr. Griffin printed, annually, one edition of 
the Catalogue of Bowdoin College, and for twenty years he printed 
two editions each year. He also printed sixteen editions (1 ,600 copies 
each) of the College Triennial Catalogue. 

The first work approximating to a newspaper, or rather to a period- 
ical, which emanated from his press, was in pamphlet form. It was 
issued in June, 1820. The third number had the following title-page : — 

" The Management of the Tongue and Moral Observer. No. III. 
Price per annum, $1.50. Published & Printed b}' Joseph Griffin. 
Issued on the second Tuesda}' of each Month. 

"Contexts. — Part 1. The Boaster, consisting of Two Maxims 
and Refiections. Part 2. The 111 Tongue, consisting of Three 
Maxims and Reflections. Part 3. Moral Observer, 'No. III. 
Melissa ; a tale. Observation upon the Passions, addressed to the 
ladies. Poetry : Mathon's Return. The Season. Communication, 
suggesting a Legal Act in favor of ' Sitters ' or Loafers. An 
Anecdote." 

On the last page was an advertisement of Griffin & Hazelton's 
bookst'^^'e. Onl}' three numbers were printed. 

It was followed by the first newspaper that was printed in Bruns- 
wick. This was the Maine Jntellujencer, a demiquarto of eight 
pages, published by Joseph Griffin, and edited b}- John M. O'Brien, 
Esquire, who graduated at Bowdoin College in the class of 1806. 



TAVERNS AND PUBLIC HALLS, NEWSPAPERS, ETC. 307 

The publication of this paper was commenced in September, 1820. 
and was given up at the end of six months, not proving remunerative 
to the publisher. 

The Mirine Baptist Herald. — The first number of this paper was 
printed by Mr. Griffin, July 17, 1824. It was a demifolio. It was 
edited for about six months by Benjamin Titeomb, Jr., a graduate 
of Bowdoin College, 180G, and son of the first printer in Maine. 
After the time named the HeraJd was under the sole management of 
the publisher. At the commencement of the second volume it was 
enlarged to a royal folio size, and continued weekly for six years. 
During the last two years of its existence it was called the Eastern 
Gd'ixy (Old Iler.ild, the name having been changed in consequence of 
a larger part of its cohmins being subsequently devoted to secular 
interests. In the latter years of this publication the subscribers num- 
bered over eleven hundred, — a larger circulation than can be claimed 
for anj' other of the man}' papers subsequently commenced in 
Brunswick. 

The Herald was the first paper coinciding fulh' with the faith and 
practices of the primitive Baptists ever published in the United States. 
It was also one of the earliest papers in New England to take a stand 
against the inroads of intemperance, b}' exposing the causes leading 
thereto. In 1826 appears in the Herald the first complaint and argu- 
ment against indiscriminate licenses for the sale of alcoholic liquors. 

Androscoggin Free I'ress. — This paper was a royal folio, twenty- 
six b}' twent}'. It was edited and published by Moore & ^Vells, 
assisted by Charles Packard, PZsquire. It was commenced in 1827 
and continued about two years. In politics it was the exponent of 
the principles of the Whig party. 

The Escritoir was a semi-monthh' magazine of thirty-two pages, 
octavo, published in 182G-27 by a club of students, of which John 
Hodgdon was chairman. It was printed by Joseph Griflfln. 

The Northern Iris, a monthl}^ of thirty-two pages, went forth from 
the Bowdoin press for six months, in 1829. The editor and publisher 
was Sumner Lincoln Fairfield, a gentleman from the South. It was 
edited with ability, but depending on unsolicited patronage it was not 
remunerative. Mr. Fairfield had considerable reputation as a poet. 
He died while 3-oung. 

In 1830 the Brunswick Journal made its appearance. -It was a 
royal folio sheet, published b}' William No^'es, now one of the editors 
and publishers of the Saco Independent. Associated with him a part 
of the time was Henr}' W. Fairfield, now the piinter of the New 



308 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

England Farmer, Boston. The Journal was a Whig paper, siipi)oit- 
ing J. G. Hunton for governor of Maine, and Henr}- Clay for Presi- 
dent of the United States. Charles Packard, Esquire, then attorney 
at law, edited it for a short time, after which Francis D. and John S. 
Gushing were the principal writers. It was a well-conducted paper, 
but it was published for only a year and three months. 

'Ihe Jitvenile Kct/, connnenced in 1831, was a chiklren's paper, nine 
b}' seven, in neatly i)rinted newspaper form, i)ublished weekly for two 
years. A considerable portion of the tyi)e-work of this paper was 
done by two children of Josei)h Griffin who, at the commencement, 
were onl}^ nine and seven years of age, respectively. Their names 
api)eared as pul)lishers. The fu-st, a daughter, is now the wife of a 
clergyman in New Hampshire ; the second, a son, Joseph Warren 
Griffin, was lost at sea in February, 1849, on his passage to California. 

After the suspension of the Brunsicick JonrnaU the Kt-y was 
enlarged to a twelve b}' nine size, four pages, to make it more com- 
pletely a family paper and give room for advertising. From this time 
it was called the Family Pioneer and Juvenile Key, and was published 
with good success for four years. It was the endeavor of the editor 
of the Family Pioneir and Juvenile Key to o[)erate upon the public 
mind, especially that of the young, b}' the publication of interesting 
narratives, setting forth in a clear light, not only the evils of an 
intemperate use of intoxicating drinks, l)ut the dangers of temperate 
drinking. The abolition of negro slavery, and of the death penalty for 
crime, were strongly advocated in the columns of the Pioneer and Key. 

The Eastern Baptist was commenced in November. 1837, by Thomas 
W. Newman, and was continued about a year and a half, when it was 
discontinned, and the list of subscribers transferred to the Zion's Ad- 
vocate, in Portland. 'J he paper was started and edited by an associ- 
ation of Baptist ministers. These were, in 1838, David Nutter, Edwin 
R. Warren, A. J. W. Stevens, and Luther C. Stevens.^ 

Mr. Newman also published at this time, at No. 2 Forsaith's Block, 
the Advocate of Freedom. This was a semi-monthly sheet, published 
under the direction of the Executive Committee of the Maine Anti- 
slavery- Societ}', and issued at fift^' cents per annum. '1 he prospectus 
stated, " It will explain and defend the principles held by the society 
and the measures approved by it. It will be a vehicle of the anti- 
slavery intelligence of the day, and a repositor}' of facts and argu- 



1 This accoimt is not yiven in the Press of Maine. It icas furnished us by Mr. New- 
man. 



TAVERNS AND PUBLIC HALLS, NEWSPAPERS, ETC. 309 

ments on the subject of slavery and the measures for its speedy and 
peaceful removal." The editorial woi'k was done i^rincipallv by Pro- 
fessor William Smyth. 'I he paper was devoted exclusively to the 
antislaver}' cause. 'I here were no local items or advertisements in 
it. Number 1, Volume I, was printed March 8, 1838. Number 25, 
the last printed here, was printed February 21 , 1839. The size of the 
paper was twenty by twenty-five. The publication of this paper was 
continued at Augusta as a weekly paper. 

The Reutdator, a royal folio. Democratic paper, was published for 
two years, 1837 and 1838, by Theodore S. McLellan. I. A. Beard 
was the editor. 

The Brunsivicker, a neutral paper, was ])rinted and published for one 
year, 1842, b3-T. 8. McLellan. John Dunlap, B. A., was the editor. 
It was succeeded b}" a paper called The Yagerhamer, of which, how- 
ever, but two or three numbers were issued. 

The Forester was printed in 1845 by No3'es & Stanwood. Its editor 
was H. A. Stanwood. Only one volume of this paper was published. 

The Pejepscot Journal, a weekly sheet, was published at Brunswick 
in 1846, one year ; edited by G. C. Swallow, now Professor of Geology 
and Agriculture in Missouri. 

The Juvenile Wntchman was edited and published in 1854 by 
Howard Owen, who is now one of the enterprising publishers of the 
Kennebec Journal. It was a small sheet, eleven by sixteen. It was 
Issued on the first and third Monda}" of each month at the oflflce of the 
Brunswick Telegraph. It was devoted principally to the cause of 
temperance, especially among the young. It was discontinued at the 
expiration of six months. 

The Musical Journal was pul)lished monthly in 1855 b}" George W. 
Chase, editor and proprietor. It had but a short existence. 

T"he Brunsicick Telegraph was commenced in 1853 b}' Waldron & 
Moore, as publishers, and Wm. G. Barrows, Esquire, as editor. It 
was afterwards issued 1)_y Waldron & Fowler, then by Fowler & Chase. 

The publishers in 185G transferred their interest to Geo. W. Chase, 
who pul)lished it as editor and proprietor about one year, when Howard 
Owen, now of the Kennebec Journal, was admitted as a partner, and 
took charge of the agricultural department. After being connected 
with the establishment about five months, Mr. Owen became dissatis- 
fied with his unrcmunerated labors and sold his interest to Mr. Chase. 
Early in 1857 Mr. Chase abandoned the Telegraph and went to Bath, 
where he published the Masonic Journal and taught music. 

Mr. A. G. Tenne}-, a graduate of Bowdoin College, class of 1835, 



310 HISTORY OF BUhNSWICK, TOPSHaM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

purchased the Telegraph establishment in 1857, reissued the paper, and 
has since continued to edit and publish it weekly. Of JNIr. Tenney's 
fitness for the position of editor, the Press of Maine ^ well says, " To a 
liberal education and a mind capable of close reasoning and of arriv- 
ing at logical conclusions, he adds unwearied industry and constant 
application." Under Mr. 'lenney's nianagenient. the paper has been 
particularly valuable for the energy and titlelity which the editor has 
displayed in his efibrts to make it a good local paper, and in this 
respect it has no sui)erior in the State. 

'Ihe only paper ever published in Topsham was a Second Adventist 
paper, whidi was printed about the year 1844, in a chamber over John 
Larrabee's workshop on Elm Street. No copy of the pai)er has been 
found, and its name is forgotten. The enterprise was abandoned at 
the expiration of a few months. 

In TIarpswell there has been but one paper published. It was the 
Harpswell Banner. The first number was issued in May, 1832. It 
was published weekly, for six months, by Josiah S. Swift and Jonathan 
R. Snow. Jesse vSnow, ^d, was the agent. It was printed on a sheet 
six by ten, and the price was four cents for six numbers. In 
August, J. S. Swift became the sole proprietor and editor. In 
September, the paper was enlarged to a sheet seven by thirteen, and 
the next week eight and one half to thirteen and one half, and 
the title was changed to that of the Literary Banner, terms thirt3^-two 
cents per annum ; semi-monthly. The last number, however, was 
issued October 24 of this.year. One number contained an advertise- 
ment by the editor that he would draw " with accuracy, for one shil- 
ling, views of counti'v seats, buildings, etc. ; also laud and marine 
views." This paper was printed at the editor's home on Sebascodigan 
Island. Swift, then a lad, now a clerg^nnan, residing in Farmingtou, 
•' i)rocured a small font of worn-out type, which had l)eeu thrown into 
pi in the otKce of the Bath Maine Inquirer. This he sorted out, laid 
in a case of his own construclion, and having made a wooden chase, 
some tin rules, antl cut a head on a block of wood, he i)rinted a seven 
by nine weekly paper "on an old cheese-press. He received the pat>- 
ronage and encouragement of many of the literati of Bath and Bruns- 
wick. The late John INIcKeen became a regular correspondent " ~ 
The boy finally abandoned the enterprise to enter the office of the 
Bath Inquirer, where he remained for some years, and finalh' became 
the proi)rietor of that paper. 

' Page 171- 2 Griffin, Press of Maine, p. 197. 



DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS, FRESHETS. 311 



CHAPTER IX. 

DISEASES^ AND ACCIDENTS, FRESHETS. 

We are uiial)le to give an extended comparison, as to tlie relative 
healthfiilness of the towns of Topsham, Brunswick, and IIari)swell, or 
of their average rate of mortaUt}'. It may he said briefl}', however, 
that as regards "Ijoth endemics and epidemics, Harpswell is the most 
healthy of the three towns, and Brunswick the least so. Topsham 
probably occupies an intermediate position between the two. The 
cause of the difference is in the configuration of the land, the nature of 
the soil, the pj-oximity to the sea, and the density of the population. 
Topsham and Harpswell possess b}' lar the best drainage, though 
that of Brunswick is amply sufficient, if properlj^ cared for. No data 
exist fro-.n which to calculate accurately the death-rate of either town, 
but in each there have been a few individuals who have lived to an 
advanced age. Harpswell probably bears off the palm in this respect, 
for in one house four persons are said to have died, whose average 
age was ninety-nine and a half years. The}' were Taylor Small, who 
died in 1812, aged ninety-six; Peter Birthright, who died in 1822, at 
the age, it is said, of one hundred and fifteen ; Tabitha Small, who 
died in 1846, at the age of ninety-nine ; and Mark Small, who died in 
1852, at the age of eighty-eight. 

In this connection a brief mention of the different 2>%-sic<'a?is, who 
have from time to time settled here, will not be inappropriate. 

The first physician who settled in either of these towns was undoubt- 
edly Samuel Gyles, who died in Brunswick in 1738, and who had 
practised there for a short time previously. He came from Salisbury, 
Mass. 

Next in Brunswick was William Spear, son of Robert Spear, one 
of the early settlers. Dr. Spear was in practice about the year 1740, 

1 The lace Dr. John D. Lincoln commenced to prepare for the authors a chapter on 
the sanitary condition and mortality of the three towns. His sickness and death pre- 
vented its completion or revision, and yie are consequently obliged to give a more meagre 
sketch than we otherwise should. 



312 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

but for how long a time is not known, and nothing is known as to his 
professional qualifications. 

UocTOR Phineas Neyers was in Brunswick from 1755 to 1765, and 
perhaps longer. Nothing is known of him as a ph3'sician. 

Doctor Samuel Duncan came to Brunswick from Topsham in 
1770, and was in practice until his death, in 1784. He Avas a 3'oung 
man, but was called a skilful physician, and he had an extensive 
practice. He lived at New INIeadows. 

Doctor Ebenezer H. Goss^ came to Brunswick during the Revolu- 
tion. He lived at Maquoit until 1804, when he moved to the village, 
and soon after moved to Paris, Maine. He had an extensive practice 
and Avas accounted a good ph^'sician. 

Doctor Balthazar Stilkey was a Hessian surgeon, who came over 
with Burgoyne's forces, and after the war (about 1790) settled in 
Brunswick near the present residence of INIr. Martin Storer, north of 
Cook's Corner. He practised there for several 3-ears. But little is 
known of him. He is said to have been something 'of a quack. 

Doctor Jonathan Richardson Parker was in Brunswick for one 
or two years only, about 1799. 

Doctor Jonathan Page ^ came to Brunswick in 1 795, and commenced 
the practice of medicine in 1800. His practice soon became exten- 
sive, and continued increasingly so until his death, in 1842. He held 
a highly respectable rank in his profession. His residence was for 
man}' ^ears in the house just south of the Mason Street Church. 

Doctor Isaac Lincoln^ moved to Brunswick from Topsham in 
1820. He enjoyed a ver}- extensive practice until a short time before 
his death, in 1868. He held a high rank in his profession. He was a 
graduate of Harvard College, 1800, and is supposed to have been the 
first physician in Brunswick who had received a collegiate education. 

John D. Lincoln,^ son of Doctor Isaac Lincoln, was a graduate of 
Bowdoiu College, class of 1843, and of the Medical School of Maine, 
class of 1846. He practised in Brunswick from 1846 till within a few- 
weeks of his death, in 1877. He was a most excellent ph3'sician and 
his practice extended into many of the neighboring towns, and even 
to more remote portions of the State. 

Other physicians in Brunswick, for a short time onl>', have been 

J. D. Wells, 1829; Cushman, 1836; J. E. Shaw, 1857; 

T. S. Foster, 1864 ; J. B. Soto, 1871 to 1873. 

Of those now residing in Brunswick, Asher Ellis commenced prac- 

1 See Biography. 



DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS, FItESHETS. 313 

tice in Brunswick in 1842, Nathaniel 'I'. Palmer in 1845, Alfred 
Mitchell in 1865, and Daniel F. Ellis in 18G6. 

I'he earliest physician in Topsham, tlie date of whose residence can 
be determined, was Doctor Philip IIoyt, who died in June, 1 790 (see 
epitaph). Tradition reports him as an excellent physician. In 1793 
there was, if no mistake has been made in the recorded dates, a 
Doctor Hoj't in town who was a member of the church. Possibly- he 
was a son of the one first named. 

Doctor Ebenezer Emerson came to Topsham prior to 1792. He 
came to Maine from Reading, Mass. At first he boarded with James 
Wilson, but he afterwards built and occupied the house now occupied 
by Swansc}' Wilson, just beyond Cyrus Purington's on the Bowdoinham 
road. He was settled here at least six 3'ears and probal)ly longer. 

While Doctor Emerson boarded at Mr, Wilson's there was also 
another physician named Hay who boarded with him. Doctor Hay 
did not, however, long remain. 

A Doctor Parker succeeded Doctor Emerson and lived in the 
same house that the latter had previously' occupied. He remained in 
town several years. 

A Doctor Osborne practised in Topsham prior to Doctor Phineas 
Never's residence in Brunswick, probably about 1754. He boarded 
at a Mr. Grab's, who lived near Ferry I'oint. His stay in town was 
short. 

Doctor Duncan is supposed to have located himself in Topsham 
before he went to Brunswick. If so, his stay could not have been 
for more than a few weeks. Both of these last are said to have died 
at New Meadows, from consumption. 

A 3'oung man named Doctor Guild was here for a few years, 
about 1796. 

In some old papers of Brigadier Thompson a Doctor Wiiittaker 
is alluded to in a manner to imply that he was a resident of Topsham. 
Nothing is positiveh' known, however, in regard to it. 

Prior to 1804, Doctor Stockbridge (the elder Dr. Stockbridge of 
Bath, deceased) settled in Topsham for a short time. He boarded 
with Jacob Abbott in what is known as the " Rachel Patten" house. 
Stockbridge Howland and John Stockbridge Patten are said to have 
been named for him. 

About the same time a Doctor Sawter settled in Topsham, kept an 
apothecary store, and practised his profession. Doctor Sims and 
Doctor Fairfield both practised here not far from this time, certainly 
before 1804. The latter also had an apothecary store. 



314 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSIVEJ.L. 

In 1804, Doctor Isaac Lincoln i moved to Topsham and soon had 
an extensive practice. In 1820 he removed to Brunswick. 

In 1820, Doctor James McKeenI commenced to practise in Tops- 
ham. His office, at that time, was over Jonathan Baker's store, and 
he boarded at Ilumplirey Pnrinton's boarding-house. lie continued 
in practice until a short time l)efore his death, in 1873. 

In 1843 a "' botanic doctor," by the name of Norton, came to 
town, but did not remain more than a year or two. 

Between the last date and 1856, Doctors J. S. Cushman, Cook, 
and Springer were settled in Topsham for short periods. 

In 1856, Doctor Joseph McKeen, Jr., commenced practice, and 
is, at the present time, the onl}' resident physician of this town. 

Although the town of Ilarpswell has been, unable to dispense 
entirely with the services of phvsicians, vet it has done so to a great 
extent. There have been but four physicians located in the town, and, 
with one exception, they remained but a few years. The practice in 
the town has been mainly carried on by Brunswick doctors. Prior to 
1840 a Doctor Norton resided in the town for several years. He 
was succeeded about 1843 by a Doctor Bliss. In 1850, or there- 
abouts. Doctor Dailey settled in this town and has remained to the 
present time. In 1870, Doctor J. B. Soto settled here, but remained 
but one year, when he removed to Brunswick, where he died. 



DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS. 

If Brunswick and Topsham cannot be considered as pre-eminently 
healthy places, yet it can with truth be asserted that they are as 
healthy as other towns of like character, situation, and population. 
Since the Great Plague among the Indians, about 1615 or 1616 
(which extended all over New England), there has no devastating 
epidemic occun*ed here. Pulmonary consumption, pneumonia, acute 
rheumatism, t3'phoid fever, scarlet fever, measles, epidemic dysentery, 
and cholera infinitum produce the same ravages here as elsewhere, but 
are none of them endemic. Cholera and yellow fever have never, it 
is believed, appeared here, and no quarantine has ever been estab- 
lished here. 

Small-pox has prevailed a number of times, but never to an alarm- 
ing extent. Its first appearance was in the eai-ly part of the tail of 
1792.2 How many cases there were in this epidemic is not known, 

1 See Biography. 2 Pejepscot Papers. 



DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS, FRESHETS. 315 

but the citizens were greatly alarmed, and the town of Brunswick 
very properh' took all the precautions possible to prevent the spread 
of the disease. In October of that year, the town " voted not to 
allow any person in this town to inoculate for to take the small-pox, 
but to take all possible care to prevent the spreading of the disorder." 
Eighteen inspectors were chosen from the different parts of the town, 
whose duties were to erect " smoke-houses " wherever they thought 
best ; to examine, smoke, and clean all goods brought into town for 
the space of two months, and to stop, examine, and cleanse any per- 
son whom they might suspect of being infected. The town also voted 
to build a hospital twenty-eight feet long by fourteen feet wide and 
one story high. The hospital was to be on the Commons, but the 
exact location was left to the decision of the selectmen. No physi- 
cian was allowed to attend small-pox patients without the authority 
of the selectmen. After this epidemic had passed by, there were no 
cases of this disease for thirty-two j'ears, unless, perchance, there 
were a few cases not known to the public. 

In 1824, owing to fears of an epidemic of this disease, the town of 
Brunswick, at a meeting held May 10, appointed the selectmen as a 
committee to take prompt and efficient measures to have all in town 
vaccinated who had not previously been. The agents of the different 
school districts were directed to be present and see that all not pre- 
viously^ vaccinated, attended at the time appointed by the physician. 
The names of all persons vaccinated were to be recorded on the town 
records, and the exj^ense of the vaccination was to be paid by the 
town. Notliing further is known in regard to an epidemic at this 
time. In 1851 there were a few cases of small-pox in this vicinity, 
and at the May meeting in Brunswick, the town instructed the select- 
men •' to cause the inhabitants of the town to be vaccinated without 
delay." Doctors N. T. Pahner, Asher Ellis, and J. D. Lincoln were 
also chosen at this time as a Board of Health. There were a few 
cases of this disease in 1861, and a niunber in 18G6, when there were 
three fatal cases. But few cases of this disease can have occurred in 
Topsham, since no record is to be found of any, except single cases. 

In 1810 a committee was chosen to vaccinate all who had not had 
the small-pox, and this committee reported the next year that Doctor 
Isaac Lincoln had vaccinated four hundred and three persons, of 
which number three hundred and ninety-one cases were successful 
and twelve were doubtful. 

In 1824 the people of Topsham were again vaccinated. Harpswell 
seems to have been quite free from this disease, so much so, appar- 



316 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

ently, as to have no dread of it, foi- in 1832 tlie town voted against 
having the people vaccinated. 

It is thonght that the ratio of cases of insanity was greater in the 
earl}' part of the centnry, in this A-icinity, than it is at present. At 
one time, abont 1820, thei'e were four insane persons in Brunswick 
and five in Topsham. In 1836 the town of Brunswick authorized the 
erection of a building for the accommodation of this class of patients, 
at an expense not exceeding three hundred dollars. The apparently 
greater number of cases of this kind in former years may be partially 
accounted for by the fact that there were not at that time so many of 
this unfortunate class under treatment in as^dums abroad, and conse- 
quently each case was well known to the whole community. 

Besides the ordinary cases of disease affecting the mortality of this 
viciuity, man}' cases of accident resulting in premature death have 
occurred from time to time. Foremost among these are the accidents 
from falling into the water. From the list of cases we have collected, 
only a few of the earliest or most remarkable ones are inserted here. 
The earliest case of the kind of which we liave received an}' account, 
occurred in March, 1765, a Mrs. Babbage and son, who lived on the 
farm now owned by the heirs of the late John Penncll, and a young 
man by the name of Barnes, a son of Henry and brother of tlie late 
William Barnes, who lived on the farm now owned by James Alexan- 
der, in IlarpsAvell, while crossing Mcrriconeag River to a grist-mill 
on the old Ewing place, had their float caught in the running ice and 
overset, and were all three drowned. Mrs. Barnes and A^'illiam were 
watching them from the shore when the accident liapjicned. Their 
bodies were recovered the following June. The only other similar 
deaths occurring prior to 1800 were of Daniel Winchell, before 
1777, at some place unknown ; Adam Hunter, at sea, in 1778 ; Samuel 
Potter, date and place both unknown, l)ut some time in the last cen- 
tury ; Robert Potter, at sea, before 1 794 ; James and Robert Winchell, 
at the same time, at Cathance, date unknown ; John Winchell, at 
Bath, between, 1790 and 1800 ; Benjamin Randall and Thomas Wilson, 
both at sea and prior to 1800. 

Some time previous to 1820, Major Burt Townsend and a Mr. Gross 
were on a raft of logs above the upper dam on the Androscoggin, at 
Brunswick. The raft broke loose and went over the dam. Just as 
the}' reached the falls. Major Townsend, with great presence of mind, 
leaped ahead into the river below and thus escaped both the undertow 
and the falling logs, and was thus al)le to swim ashore, while Mr. 
Gross, who either did not jump at all, or else not sutticiently far, was 
drowned. 



DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS, FRESHETS. 317 

From the list referred to, we are able to give the following sum- 
mary : The number of eases of drowning in Brunswick and Tops- 
ham (exclusive of those drowned at sea, of which the list is, as a 
matter of course, verj^ incomplete) is forty- five. Of these forty- five 
cases, there were drowned on the Cathance River, in Topsham, five ; 
on the Androscoggin River (including ]Merr3'meeting Bay), twenty- 
seven ; on the New Meadows River, in Brunswick, one ; at Maquoit, 
three ; at other places mentioned, five ; and where the place was un- 
known, four. Of the twenty-seven drowned in the Androscoggin, 
eight were drowned on the Topsham side, ten on the Brunswick side, 
five in Merr^ineeting Bay, and four in the stream, away from the 
shore. Of the ten i>ersons drowned on the Brunswick side, seven 
were drowned near tlie Factory or lower mills and two near the upper 
bridge. Of the eight on the Topsham side, four were drowned at the 
bathing-place above the upper bridge and two near the mills. 

Next in the list of fatal accidents come those by fire. 'I he first of 
these to which reference has been found was in 1737, when the house 
of the widow of Andrew Dunning was burned, and she was burned in 
it. No reference to an}' other death b}' fire in the last centur}' has 
been found. In September, 1829, Hannah J. Brown, of lopsham, 
aged eight years, was badly burned by a brand which fell from the 
andirons on her cotton gown and set it on fire. She lingered for 
twenty-six da3-s before she succumbed to her injui'ies. On January 
15, 1857, Mrs. James Maxwell, of Topsham, was fatall}' burned, in 
consequence of the overflowing of a lighted lamp containing camphene. 
She lived but a short time. On January 25, 1859, a daughter of John 
Merritt, of Brunswick, was fatally burned in consequence of her 
clothes being caught in the blaze of the fire. On March 11th of this 
same year, Mr. Isaac Center was fatally burned by the explosion in 
liis hand of a lighted lamp, containing burning fluid. 

In this connection ma}' be mentioned with propriety the cases 
(though not fatal) of accidents in consequence of lightning. '1 he 
first occurrence of this kind was in 1828, when a house in Mill Street 
was struck by lightning, and a man injured. The next case occurred 
September 5, 1845, when one person was stunned and another pros- 
trated b}' the lightning, which struck Common's Hall. At the time 
the " Hemy Jordan" house, on Cleaveland Street was struck by 
lightning, June 23, 1874, two persons standing on the doorsill were 
struck, but not seriously injured. Other cases have probably occurred 
of which no account has been preserved. 

Numerous accidents have occurred from time to time at the mills 



318 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HART>SWELL. 

and factories, though fortunately but few have resulted fatally. The 
earliest occurrence of this kind was in the last centur}^, though the 
precise date is unknown. Hugh Wilson, of Topsham, who was 
married in 1785, had his leg broken among the mill logs on the east- 
ern branch of the Cathance River An amputation was performed by 
a physician from Casco (Portland), but he did not long survive the 
operation. The next occurrence of W'hich we have seen any account, 
also in Topsham, was in August, 1825, At this time a little child, 
aged four years, fell through a saw-mill and fractured his skull. On 
October 7, of the same year, another child, aged ten years, while 
asleep in a saw-mill in Brunswick, where his father was working at 
the time, got up and fell out on to the rocks, a distance of twenty-live 
feet, and was instantly killed. Record has been found of o\\\y two 
accidents in the mills since this date, but there were doubtless many 
others which were unrecorded, save in the memory of afflicted fnends. 

At least eight fatal accidents are known to have happened upon the 
railroad in this vicinity, and it is possible there have been more. Only 
one of these cases happened in Topsham. 

The following are a few of the cases of death that have occurred 
from other causes than those already specified : — 

November 30, 1833, AVilliam B. Merriman, of Biunswick, mate of 
the brig " Veto," was murdered by the pilot, a Spaniard, while at 
Barbaras, in the lagoon of Maracaibo. In November, 1858, Richard 
L. McManus fell into the hold from the deck of the ship " Screamer," 
in the port of London, and died on December 7, in consequence of 
lockjaw induced by the injury he sustained. 

On August 27, 1861, a young lad fell on to the rocks from the high 
bluff in front of the residence of Miss Narcissa Stone, in Brunswick, 
and was instant!}' killed. On the 27th of September, 1806, a young 
child was accidentally shot in Topsham. 

The deaths caused by the personal violence of another have been 
mentioned in a different connection. The cases of suicide occurring 
in Brunswick and Topsham have been (including that of Ann Conner 
already referred to) only eight, so far as can be ascertained. These 
cases occurred in the years 1752 to 1770, 1820, 1823, 1833, 1852, 
1855, 1858, and 1869. Two of these were destroyed by cutting their 
own throats, one by hanging, one b}' shooting, and two by drowning. 

The manner of death of the other two is not known. There have 
undoubtedly been other cases of this kind, but these are all in which 
the facts have been found recorded. 

Among what might be classed under the head of accidents to prop- 



DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS, FPESHETS. 319 

ei't}', but which might with even more propriety be classed under a 
meteorological heading, and which for convenience merely are intro- 
duced in this place, are 

FRESHETS. 

The earliest reference found to any freshet in the Androscoggin 
was to one that occurred in February, 1723. At that time the river 
was very full, " the lowland full of water and the river open not only 
below but even to the falls thirty' miles above Pejepscot." This it will 
be noticed was in midivinter.^ 

The next great freshet occurred in 1780, in the winter season. ^ 
There was considerable ice in the river at the time, which dammed up 
the water so that it flowed across the lower part of Topsham village, 
and men went across Main Street below the bank in boats. Ice was 
carried by the water into the cellar of the Hodge house, which stood 
where the bank now stands, and it was also brought up the gully by 
the town landing, nearlj' as far as the present Congregational Chiu'ch. 

'1 he next freshet was in 1784. It occurred some time in the fall. 
'J he barn of Andrew and John Dunning was brought down by the 
water from the intervale east of Rock}- Hill. This barn continued 
entire until it reached the falls. The standing corn in the fields along 
the banks of the river remained fixed, but pumpkins came down 
in great abundance. The great mills on the island were carried off 
at this time.-^ In October of the next year^ there was another 
freshet that carried ofl' a saw-mill and nine saws, two grist-mills, a 
fulling mill, and three houses. On account of the amount of damage 
done b^' the sudden rise of water at this time, the town of Tops- 
ham preferred a petition to the General Court for an abatement in the 
tax for that 3ear. The next unusual rise of water in the river 
occurred in 181 1, At this time the toll-bridge was partially carried 
off". It was at this time, also, that two men, Johnson Wilson and 
" Noggin" Potter, went across the ice to Shad Island, where Wilson 
owned a mill, and went to work. 1 here had been a rain, but Wilson 
and Potter did not anticipate a rise of water sufficient to break up the 
ice. At noon, however, when they left work and started for home, 
the}' found the ice had broken up and, as there was no bridge to the 
island at that time, they were unable to reach the shore. The ice was 
running rapidl}', and it would be dangerous to attempt to reach them 
bj- boat ; they were therefore obliged to remain on the island. As it 

^ Pejepscot Papers. ^Ibid. ^Ibid. *Ibid. 



320 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSTIAM, AND HARERWELL. 

was uncertain how long they might have to remain there, their friends, 
who were on the Brunswick shore, threw crackers, pieces of fish, etc., 
to them, and thus tlicir hunger was appeased. They were ol)hged to 
remain on the island nearly two days, when Major William Frost and 
some one else took a boat and brought them safel}^ ashore.^ 

In the great freshet of 1814 twenty-one saw-mills were swept away, 
or rendered useless, and many other buildings and manufactories were 
destroyed. An expensive viaduct for conve3-ing boards past the falls 
was also destroyed. Mills, barns, etc., came down to the falls erect, 
as though resting on their foundations, and Avere there dashed to 
pieces. The Patten mill, in Topsham, was carried down the river 
and across the island about where the paper-mill now stands ; catch- 
ing for a moment on the rocks at this place, the roof came otf. Four 
saw-mills on the lower falls started at one time and carried ofi" the 
greater portion of the bridge. Tlie toll-man had just quitted his dwell- 
ing. There was a rise of water of twenty-eight, feet in this freshet. 
In October, 1819, there was a heavy freshet which carried off the 
upper mills. The town of Brunswick petitioned the legislatnre to 
make a deduction from their valuation in consequence of the loss of 
property- occasioned by it. 

In the summer of 1820 the river was lower than it had been for 
sixt}' 3-ears previous, and all business in mills and factories was sus- 
pended for some time. 'I his unusual drought was, however, only the 
precursor of a great freshet which occurred on the sixteenth and 
seventeenth of October following. At this time all the booms about 
the falls broke, containing logs, it was said, sufficient to snpply 
twenty-three saws for two years, — the greatest number ever on hand 
at that season of tlie year. The lower dam on the Brunswick side 
started and cariied with it al)ont sixty feet of the Androscoggin 
bridge, and two mills for manufacturing clapboards, owned by Jaquith 
and Eastman. "A greater portion of the most expensive dam on 
the falls" then started, and it was supposed it could not be repaired 
under nine or ten months. Fifteen saws, two grist-mills, a carding- 
machine, two clapboard-mills, and a lath-mill were rendered useless 
until this dam was repaired. The estimated loss was over $l2o,000. 
There was also great loss of property at Lisbon. 

On April 15, 1824, a " very great freshet" is recorded, but no par- 
ticulars are given. On August 30, 182G, the most unexpected and 
rapid rise of water in the Androscoggin occurred that had ever been 



1 James Wilson. 



DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS, FRESHETS. 321 

known. In Livermore and Jay the water rose eight feet in one nigiit. 
It swept away in its conrse everj' movable thing on the shores, such 
as timber, ferry-boats, etc. The swell of water reached Brunswick 
on Tuesday eve. Between one and two thousand logs that had been 
rafted below the booms at this place were swept over the dams, and 
some damage was done to a number of the mills. The loss at this 
point was, however, more than balanced by a fine I'un of logs from 
above. There had been no rains in this vicinity. 

Another serious rise of water occurred on A^Dril 25 and April 26, 
1827. The boom broke on the night of the twenty-fifth, and allowed 
about one hundred and fifty thousand logs to come down the river. 
In their course the}- carried off" the new double saw-mill belonging to 
Doctor Jonathan Page, about two hundred feet of the toll-bridge, and 
the gulf dam. The Eagle Factory was also injured. 

No freshet is recorded as occurring in 1829, but in November of 
that year the tide in the river is said to have risen five feet higher 
than ever before known, and to have done some slight damage. 

Other considerable freshets occurred on January 2, 1831, May 22, 
1832, and April 7, 1833. At the one in 1832, the Roger Merrill saw- 
mill and also the Patten mill and the bridge dam were carried away. 

In February, 1839, there was a serious ice freshet, which carried 
away the upper dam and booms, and the Goat Island mill, and 
seriously injured the Great Mills. The ice became gorged at the Nar- 
rows, and was sixty feet high below the toll-bridge. It was piled so 
high between the bridge and the lower falls, that a man stepped ott' the 
bridge and walked on the ice to the roof of the mill on Shad Island. 

A freshet occurred on May 22, 1843, at which the dam on the 
Topsham side gave way, and the lower boom above the falls also gave 
way, carrying off the Rogers mill in Topsham, and about thirty feet 
of the Shad Island bridge. The bank on the "Intervale" road in 
Brunswick was washed away, and a house undermined at this time. 

The next noteworth}' freshet was in May, 1854. It was said at the 
time to be the greatest of any since 1814, though but little damage 
was done. The old Hodge mill was carried off", but the new Hodge 
mill was uninjured. 

In 1857, April 6, the water in the river was ver}- high, and the old 
Purinton mill in Topsham was carried off". 

On March 31, 1859, the ice carried away Maxwell & Jameson's 
blacksmith shop, on the island, and also an old grist-mill near by. 

On April 19, 1862, an unoccupied house on the island in Topsham, 
next to the small bridge, was carried away by the water, and the draw 
21 



322 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSUAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

and about two hundred feet of the Bay Bridge, on the Brunswick side, 
were also destroyed. Cow Island was entirel}' sul)merged. 

On November 19, 1863, there was a high freshet. The northern 
abutment of the small bridge in Topsham was undermined, and car- 
riage travel stopped. There were some logs lost, but no other dam- 
age is known to have been done at this time. 

April 19, 1865, the water was quite high, but did no damage. 
There was, however, at this time, an extremely high wind, wliich blew 
down fences, signs, etc., and did considerable harm. A barn on the 
Island, in Topsham, was blown into the river with all its contents, 
even the hens. 

On April 26, 1866, there was a heavy ice freshet. A small portion 
of the dam of Perkins's saw-mill, and the outer tier of posts of the 
Purinton Hour-mill, both in Topsham, were carried away. Some 
damage was also done to the Coburn mill in Brunswick. There was 
also another, though lighter, freshet in November of this year. 

In 1869 there were two freshets. At the first, on April 20, a boom 
broke, and a large number of logs belonging to Hiram Toothaker, 
and to Coburn & Thompson, went down river. The loss was esti- 
mated at about $40,000. 

At the other freshet, October 5, several cows on Cow Island were 
drowned, and two hundred bushels of corn, belonging to John Merry- 
man, at Rock}' Hill, were washed away. 

The last freshet of consequence was on April 16, 1873. The ice 
became gorged, and carried away the flume at the paper-mill in 
Topsham. 



STAGES, RAILROADS, NAVIGATION, ETC. 323 



CHAPTER X. 

STAGES, RAILROADS, NAVIGATION, TELEGRAPH, EXPRESSES, PUBLIC 

CARRIAGES. 

STAGES, ETC. 

TiiK first regular stage for the accommodation of passengers is 
thought to have commenced running about the j'ear 1800. The first 
four-horse stage between Brunswick and Portland is known to have 
been driven in 1803 b}" Henry Mclnt^re. In 180G, Colonel Estabrook 
drove a biweekl}- stage between Brunswick and Augusta. 

In 1807, or soon after, Nahum Perkins, of Topsham, drove a 
through stage between Portland and Augusta. 

The first daily stage commenced, in connection with the mails, in 
1810. It was between Portland and Brunswick. 

A writer in 1820 remarks concerning the stages to and from Bruns- 
wick at that time, "From the great eastern, western, and* northern 
routes the stages arrive at twelve o'clock at noon, and so well are 
they regulated that they often arrive at the same moment. There is 
no other place in Maine so well situated in this respect. From the 
east, west, and north, they arrive and depart every day in the week." 
These coaches were probably run by the Maine Stage Company, as 
that is the earliest company to which an}' reference has been found. 

On January 1, 1821, William B. Peters commenced running a stage 
between Portland and Bath, leaving the former place on Monday. 
Wednesda}^, and Frida}', and the latter on Tuesday, Thursday, and 
Saturday. The Brunswick office was at Hodgkins's tavern. The fare 
was the same as in the mail stage. 'J his was an opposition line to 
the regular mail stage. How long it was maintained is not known. 

On August 20, 1836, the Brunswick and Turner Stage Company 
began running a stage between those two towns, leaving Stinchfield's 
Hotel in Brunswick, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at eight 
o'clock A. M., passing through Durham, Danville, Lewiston, East 
Minot, East Turner, and arriving in Turner at three o'clock p. m. 
Returning, it left Turner on Mondays, Wednesday's, and Fridays at 



324 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

eight o'clock a. m , and arrived in Brunswick at four v. m. The fare 
to Levviston was one dollar and twentj'-five cents, and to Turner one 
dollar and seveuty-fiA'e cents During the winter of this year, Jacob 
Harris drove a two-horse team twice a week to Portland, for treight 
and passengers. 

On December 2o, 1854, the Brunswick and Lewiston stage line was 
established, John Holland, Jr., being the agent. A passenger coach, 
capable ot seating nine persons inside, left Lewiston for Brunswick 
every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and arrived at the latter 
place in season for the noon train for Bath and Augusta. It left 
Brunswick on its return at half past nine a. m. It passed through 
Topsham, Little River, and Lisbon. The fare between Brunswick and 
Lewiston was one dollar and twenty- five cents. This line was kept 
up for several years. In 1856 M. K. Marean was its agent. The 
last stage run to an}' point accessible by the cars was in 1858. In 
November of that 3'ear, C. M. Plummer commenced to run a daily 
stage to Bath in opposition to the cars. The fare b}' stage Avas forty 
cents, and by cars twenty-five cents. 

There are at present three lines of stages leaving Brunswick. One 
is a dail}- stage to Potts's Point on Harpswell Neck ; another, thrice 
weekh', to Condy's Harbor on Great Island ; and another, thrice weekly, 
to Orr's Island. The first stage over the latter route was driven by 
Ephraim Johnson of Orr's Island, on June 1, 1868. 

Among the different lines of stages which have been enumerated, 
the Maine Stage Compan}- deservedly takes the first rank. I he com- 
pany' at one time owned $60,000 worth of stock. Its coaches were 
large and comfortable, and its horses were of the best The line was 
well patronized and the profits were large. A quarterly' dividend of 
thirty dollars on the hundred is known to have been distributed. The 
stages of this line continued running to Portland for some time after 
the railroad was completed. The fare to Portland by stage was one 
dollar, and b}' cars ninety' cents, but the stage called for and delivered 
passengers at their residences, thus saving carriage hire. Amoiig the 
drivers for the Maine Stage Company were Calvin Gossam, Charles 
Owen (son of Elder Shimuel Owen), Hiram Tibbetts (father of Mr. 

J. II. Tibbetts), Jabez Sawin, Savage, Jacob Sands, 

Stanwood, Plummer, Job Saw\'er, Hobbs, and John 

Beals. 

Gossam was a careful driver, prompt in business, attentive to the 
wants of his passengers, and scrupulously neat in his apparel ; his hat, 
boots, and gloves were always stylish; when he announced, "Stage 



STAGES, RAILROADS, NAVIGATION, ETC. 325 

ready," no better dressed gentleman entered the coach. Gossam went 
to CaUfornia, where he drove successfully sevei'al years before his 
death. 

Mr. Sands drove a part of the time between Brunswick and 
Augusta, and a part between Brunswick and Portland. In 1849, when 
the steamer Flushwf/ made her daily trips between New Wharf and 
Portland, he drove a stage connecting with the steamer. lie was a 
careful driver and a pleasant, genial, whole-souled man. Those who 
desired to relieve the monotony of a stage journey- by pleasant, face- 
tious, and ofttimes instructive conversation, invariably chose a seat 
beside him upon the box. 

Concerning the other drivers, nothing has been learned, except 
what would naturally be inferred, that they were all good '' whips" 
and handled the " ribbons" skilfull}'. 

Accidents were not infrequent in old stage times. In several 
instances the towns of Brunswick and Topsham were obliged to pay 
damages to the stage company, in consequence of injuries to their 
coaches caused b}- defects in the highways. 

One incident is jjcrhaps illustrative of the whole. On November 
17, 1829, a stage containing eleven passengers, among whom were 
Governor Dunlap, and Mr. Charles J. No3es, of Brunswick, was 
upset on McKeen Street, and tipped, top down, into a ditch full of 
water, so that the doors could not be opened. No one was seriousl}- 
injured, but all were bedaubed with mud. A mother and her babe 
were among the inside passengers, and the child was found safely pre- 
served on the shelf nmde by the inverted coach-seat. 

RAILROADS. 

The first local project for rail communication from Brunswick was 
broached some time in 1833. No serious attempt toward anything 
of the sort was inaugurated, however, until 1835. That 3'ear the 
legislature incorporated Elijah P. Pike, Nathaniel Davis, Alfred J. 
Stone, Charles Stetson, Roger Merrill, Jordan Woodward, Benjamin 
Pennell, John S. Cushing, and Solomon P. Cushman and their asso- 
ciates, successors, and assigns, " into a body politic and corporate " 
b}- the name of the Brunswick Railroad Company. This company 
was authorized " to locate and construct a railroad from the Andros- 
coggin River, near Brunswick village, to some navigable waters of 
Casco Ba}', with one or more branches," and were invested with all 
the necessary powers to carry their intention into effect, i his corpo- 
ration met June 4th of that j'ear, and adopted a code of by-laws, and 



326 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

elected their officers. The road, however, was never laid out, and no 
other meeting of the compan}' is known to have been held. 

The first railroad to enter Brunswick was the Kennebec and Port- 
land, which was incorporated in 1836, and was soon after surveyed. 
In 1840 the time of building was extended ten years, and of locating, 
five years. On May 1, 184r), the corporators met and chose a com- 
mittee to confer with a committee of the Bath and Portland Railroad 
Company, which had been incorporated a short time previously. The 
result of the conference was a union of the two roads. On August 
6th, of this 3'ear, a citizens' meeting was held at the Baptist Church, 
Maine Street, Brunswick, " to adopt measures in relation to the Port- 
land, Bath, and Augusta Railroad." Honorable R. P. Dunlap was 
chosen chairman, and John D. Coburn, secretar}'. Speeches in favor 
of the road were made by the chairman, and b}^ George Evans, of 
Gardiner, and P. Sheldon, and a committee was chosen to present 
subscription papers to the citizens. The town of Brunswick, in 1850, 
voted to loan its credit, to aid in the completion of this road, to the 
amount of $75,000. The same year Topsham voted to loan its credit 
for the same purpose to the amount of $30,000. The first work upon 
the railroad, near Brunswick, was commenced in 1847. 

In March, 1849, ]Mr. John S. Cushing was called b}' the directors of 
the Kennebec and Portland Railroad to take charge of the grounds 
now occupied b}' the depot of the Maine Central Railroad Company, 
and prepare them for the use of the former company ; to provide wood 
and materials for the construction of the road, whicli was then in pro- 
cess of building ; and to pa}' the gravel-train men, and others in the 
employ of the company. 

On the ninth of June, 1849, a locomotive steam-engine entered 
Brunswick for the first time. On the fourth of July, 1849, the track 
having been laid from Bath to Yarmouth, it was decided to put on a 
train of gravel cars, and with the first engine, the " Kennebec," and 
with such accommodations as could be prepared, to run the train back 
and forth between Bath and Yarmouth for the day, giving every 
one who desired it a " free ride." Though the train was composed 
chiefl\' of dump-cars, and the passengers probably paid for their 
ride in the discomfort attending it, 3'et it was to them a nt!w and 
gratifying experience, and such was the delight of the public that 
man}' urged the directors to commence running a passenger train 
at once. To this request the directors acceded, and without any 
preparation of books, blanks, or taritfs, the train was put on the 
fifth of Jul}', and continued to run regularly, carrying passengers 



STAGES, RAILROADS, NAVIGATION, ETC. 327 

to Yarmouth, and there transferring them to the cars of the Atlantic 
and St. Lawrence Railroad for Portland. 

This sudden and unprepared-for event cast a good deal of labor 
and responsibility upon Mr. Gushing, who at once had tickets printed 
at the office of Mr. Griffin, for the four stations. In addition to 
this, freight began to flow on the road, and Mr. Gushing was in- 
structed to fix such rates as he thought proper on all merchandise 
as it came in. 

Mr. Joseph McKeen was the first treasurer of the road, and it was 
by his request that Mr. Gushing did whatever was necessary to meet 
the emergencies as they arose, and collect all moneys from ticket sales 
and conductors, and return to him. Thus Brunswick became sud- 
denly a place of importance as the headquarters of the Kennebec and 
Portland Railroad Gompany, and as the place where the fiist impulse 
was given to the trains of this road. 

The fares between the stations of the Kennebec and Portland Road and 
Portland were adjusted on the presumption that the Atlantic and St. 
Lawrence Gompany (now the Grand Trunk) would gladly receive so large 
a contribution of passengers at the same rate, twenty-five cents each, 
at which they transported stage passengers from Yarmouth to Port- 
land. This amount the agent of the Kennebec and Portland Gompany 
added to the price of their tickets to Yarmouth, for all Portland pas- 
sengers. Upon settlement with the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Gom- 
pany, at the close of the month of July, they claimed thirty-five cents, 
which was their local fare from Yarmouth to Portland, on all passen- 
gers coming over, the Kennebec and Portland Road. They consented, 
however, to deduct one licOf cent from each ticket issued by the latter 
compan}', obliging them to pay thirty-four and a half cents on each 
passenger to Portland, although they had only received twenty-five 
cents each for that portion of the route. This action of the Atlantic 
and St. Lawrence Gompany was received with great indignation by 
the directors of the Kennebec and Portland Gompany. Two members 
each said that they would be one among ten to build a new road from 
Yarmouth to Portland, and it was in consequence of the unjust ad- 
vantage thus taken of their necessities that the road was built about 
two years subsequently. This, however, was not the only disagree- 
ment Ijctween the two companies. The directors of the Kennebec and 
I'ortland Gompany solicited the other company to put down a third 
rail, and allow their trains (of a different gauge) to run on that road 
to Portland. This the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Gompany, speaking 
through their engineer, declared impracticable. After the new road 



328 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

was contract od for, however, they oftered to giA'e this accommodation, 
hnt were told, in repl^', that it was then "• impracticable." '1 hns the 
short-siglited poUc}' of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Company's 
directors was the cause of the building of the new road into Tort- 
land.! 

Included in the purchase of the depot lot was a small, one-storj^, 
unfinished wooden building, which stood near INIaine Street. This was 
hastily fitted up with ladies' and gentlemen's rooms, and a ticket-office 
bstween the two. The L was used for a baggage-room. The ac- 
connnodations for passengers were small and poorly arranged. The 
building stood much nearer Maine Street than the present one. After 
the second depot was built, the first one was moved over to the north, 
next to the building once occupied by Isaac Center, and, at a later 
date by Mr. Poland, and was occupied by Ezekiel Thompson, the first 
baggage-master. It is still owned by the railroad company and leased 
by them as a dwelling. At the lime the first depot was prepared, 
John S. Cushing acted as station agent, and George French as switch- 
man. This was the force as organized at Brunswick, which was the 
headquarters of the road at that time. 

The first engine went over the railroad bridge across the Andros- 
coggin, below the falls, on the thirteenth of December, 18.30, and cars 
ran to Augusta not long afterwards. The Topsham depot was erected 
in 18,-)0--5I. 

The first large depot in Brunswick was finished in Jul}', 18.i.";. It 
was one hundred and sixty feet in length and about one hundred feet 
in width, including the two wings, the main body of the building 
being sixty feet in width, with a height of fifty-two feet to the ridge- 
pole. Three tracks ran through it. The north wing was divided into 
a ticket-office, with public waiting-rooms for gentlemen and ladies on 
either side, a refreshment-room, and a baggage-room. S[)ace was 
also left for a stairwa}- into the upper story of the building, where it 
was intended to have some of the office rooms of the compan}'. 
The south wing was used for freight. This depot was burned in 1857. 
The present building was erected soon after. It is much larger now 
than it was originally, having received additions several times since 
its erection. Until 1870 there were but two tracks running through 
the depot, and the southern side of the building, where the third 
track is now, was used for the freight department. The freight-office 

1 This matter, though rather beyond the scope of this History, is introduced here as a 
matter of interest to our citizens, and because it has never before appeared in print. 



STAGES, RAILROADS, NAVIGATION, ETC. 329 

anrl telegraph-office were in the southeastern corner. The waiting- 
rooms, refreshment-room, and ticket-office were small and inconven- 
ient. In 1870 the present freight depot was built, and the passenger 
depot was enlarged and improved. Since then the refreshment-saloon 
and the ticket-office have been still further improved. 

In the latter part of 1849, Mr. Gushing was taken into the office of 
Treasurer McKeen as book-keeper, in the place of Mr. George F. 
Dunning, who removed to Philadelphia. 

In 1851, Mr. McKeen resigned his treasurership, and Mr. A. H. 
Gilman, of Portland, was elected ; and in the following j'ear the treas- 
urer's office was removed to Augusta, where Mr. Gushing was contin- 
ued as general ticket agent and freight accountant until 1857, when 
he was . elected treasui'er. In this capacit}' he has been continued 
through the different organizations of Portland and Kennebec and 
Maine Gentral Railroad Companies to the present time, — a period of 
twent}' 3'ears. The length of the Kennebec and Portland Railroad was 
twenty-four miles in 1849, and that of the Maine Gentral in 1871 was 
three hundred and fifty- five miles. ^ 

The Lewiston and Topsham Railroad Gompany was formed 
about 1853, with Francis T. Purinton, of Topsham, as its president. 
A road between these two places was surveyed but never laid out, and 
the companj' failed to do amthing. This company was, however, the 
forerunner of the Androscoggin Railroad, work on which was com- 
menced in 1860, and the first trains on which ran regularly- in October, 
18G1. 

As illustrative of the difference in travel between the present and 
former times, it may be stated that in 1819, the time of travel between 
Brunswick and Boston was ordinarily three days, the very quickest 
being two and a half da^s, and the expense attending a trip was 
twelve dollars. Now, the time required is but six hours, and the 
expense three dollars and a quarter. Then there was one stage dail}' 
in each direction, passing through Brunswick. For a number of ^ears 
after the railroad went into operation, there was but one passenger 
train a day each wa}^, and the trains seldom had more than two pas- 
senger cars and a baggage car. At the same time a thrice-weekl}' 
freight train, each wa}', was all that was required. 

Now, four passenger trains each way are run on the main line, with 



1 For most of the facts given in the forer/oing account ive are indebted to Mr. dishing, 
ichose connection with this road from its first inception up to the present time renders 
his statements entitled to the fidlest credence. 



330 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

from two to eight cars in eacli, and there are two regular freight trains 
each way dail}', besides almost daily extra trains. In addition to these 
trains, there are on the Bath branch six trains daily, each way, includ- 
ing freight trains, and on the Lewiston branch there are four trains 
each way dail}', including freight trains. 

NAVIGATION. 

In the ver}- earliest times, before the era of stages or even of the 
introduction of horses to this region, before roads were even thought 
of, the travel was conducted exclusivel}' by means of boats and vessels. 
The pioneer settlers alwa^'s located themselves at or near the head of 
some navigable stream. It should be remembered that in those times 
the streams were all uudammed and were all of them navigable for 
much larger craft than at present. Large vessels might then come to 
the foot of the falls of the Pejepscot without difficulty, and it was even 
possible to tow boats over the rapids. ^ 

The earliest provision made for a boat of any size for use in this 
vicinity was in 1716. At a meeting of the proprietors, held February 
21, of that year, it was voted, ''That a proper boat be provided by 
Messrs. Minot & Watts with sails, oars, etc."^ The intention of this 
vote may have been to furnish a boat for travel upon the river, but 
as the proprietors soon after purchased a sloop called the Pejfjyscot, for 
the purpose of establishing communication with Boston, ^ it is probable 
that the latter object was what was intended by their vote. 

The next vessel to which reference is to be found was the sloop 
Maquoit, which was built by the proprietors and was used in carrying 
lumber and provisions between Maquoit and Boston. 

There is some uncertainty as to whom belongs the credit of build- 
ing the first vessel in this region, though it is probable that it Avas 
built on the New Meadows River. According to one anthorit}', it 
was built by John Lemont, in 1745,^ but \>y another it is said to 
have been constructed b}^ George Ilarwood (with others).^ Prob- 
abl}- it was the same vessel, and more than one or two were interested 
in it. 

The first vessel constructed at Middle Bay or Maquoit was ])uilt 
previous to the Revolution b}' Robert Dunning. The exact time is 



^ Maine Historical Collection, 3, p. 318. 
2 Pejepscot Records. 3 McKeen, MS- Lecture. 

^Lemont, Historical Dates of Bath, etc., p. 52. 
^McKeen, in Brunswick Telegraph, " Gleanings," No. 4. 



STAGES, RAILROADS, NAVIGATION, ETC. 331 

not known. In 1753 there were three sloops owned at Maquoit and 
New Meadows. 1 

In 17G7 the schooner Unity, of Topsham, is mentioned in Brigadier 
Thompson's papers. 

The first vessel launched above the Chops and the second above 
Bath was built by John Patten, William Patten, John Fulton, and 
Adam Hunter, of Topsham, about the year 1768. She was a sloop 
of about ninety tons, and was named the Merry Meetiiig. She was 
built for the purpose of coasting to Boston. When she was launched 
all the people in the neighboring towns came to see her, and were 
provided with a dinner. Captain William Patten was master of the 
Merry Meeting. He loaded her with wood and went to Boston and 
sold it for $1.50 per cord, two thirds of w^hich went to the owners. 
At other times she was loaded with boards and timber. 

Wages at that time were ver}^ low. Howard, the shipwright who 
built the Merry Meeting., received four shillings per da}'. He lived at 
New Meadows. Captains in the West India business received four 
pounds per month ; mates, three pounds ; seamen's wages were about 
six dollars. The sails and rigging for the Merry Meeting were pur- 
chased of Mr. Hooper (" King" Hooper he was called), of Salem.^ 

The Defiance was afterwards built and owned, principall^s by John 
Patten. She was employed in coasting to Boston ^ 

The schooner Industry, the first that ever went to the West Indies 
from the Kennebec, was owned by John Patten, his son Robert; his 
son-in-law IJobert Fulton, Mr. Jameson, and Captain Harward. 
She was built about 1772. Captain James Maxwell was master. 
She was loaded the first time with boards, shingles, and four masts. 
A part of the boards were sawed at Cathance Mills and the rest at 
Topsham Falls. They were sold for four dollars per thousand. Cap- 
tain Maxwell went twice to the West Indies in the Industry. She 
was sold during the Revolutionary war for paper money. Captain 
Robert Patten's eighth part enabled him to buy a horse and saddle for 
four hundred dollars.^ 

About 1790 the Speedwell, a coaster of ninetj'-seven tons' burden, 
under command of the Captain McLellan who married Molly Finne}', 
ran between Brunswick and Boston. On one of her trips she landed 
at Bunganock, and took on board ninety cords of wood for Boston. 
The price here was three shillings and ninepence, and at Boston, 



1 Memorandum on cover of Brunswick Records in Pejepscot Collections. 
^ Dr. Ellis. Notes of Robert Patten. ^Ihid. *Ibid. 



332 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

twelve shillings per cord. The crew were four in number, and the 
average wages of each was seven dollars per month. 

Several vessels were owned in Brunswick in 1790. On September 
13, 1791, John Peterson made a request to the selectmen of Brunswick 
for an abatement of the tax on " one of my vessels, as she was cast 
ashore last Christmas da^' on Cape Cod, and by that accident I lost 
the value of one 3-ear's earnings of said schooner." ^ 

The brig Hope was built in Brunswick b}* William Stanwood and 
John Dunlap, a short time previous to 1800. They sold a portion to 
Richard Tappan. In January-, 1800, she sailed from Bath for Barba- 
does, AVest Indies, loaded with about one hundred and thirty thousand 
feet of boards, and one hundred and five thousand shingles and other 
small lumber. The crew consisted of Richard Tappan, master; John 
Dunlap, Junior, mate ; and Melzer House, John McDonald, Noah 
Moulton, 'Ihomas Stanwood, and Philip Cornish, seamen. They 
reached Barbadoes safel}', and from thence proceeded to the island of 
Tobago, where Captain Tappan met with a Mr. Kerr, of Grenada, to 
whom he sold his cargo of boards at the rate of forty dollars per 
thousand, and the shingles at four or five dollars per tliousand, to be 
delivered at the island of Grenada. Tlie^' sailed from Tobago on the 
third of March, and the same night, between Tobago and Grenada, 
the}' were boarded and taken possession of b}' a French privateer from 
Gaudaloupe. All the crew except the captain were taken out, and 
the brig was sent into Basseterre, Gaudaloupe, where she was con- 
demned. The first ofBcer and crew were imprisoned, but through the 
interference of a Danish merchant the}' were released and went on 
board of a vessel which he had purchased there and went with him to 
Santa Cruz. From thence they went to Saint 'Ihomas, where the}- 
waited for an American convoy from St. Kitts, which arrived in a few 
da\'s. With this convoy was the brig Hannihd, owned b}- the Dun- 
laps, commanded by Captain Nehemiah Peterson. This brig had 
also been taken by a French privateer, but had been retaken by the 
United States man-of-war John Adams. Captain Tappan and John 
Dunlap returned home in the Hannihal, the rest of the crew in the 
/ris, commanded by Captain Samuel Snow. 

About the year 1800 the ship-yard at Brunswick called Skolfield's 
was constructed, and vessels began to be iDuilt there. 

About the year 1802 a vessel of sixty-three tons was built at Lis- 
bon b}- a Captain Woodward, launched into the Androscoggin during 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 



STAGES, RAILROADS, NAVIGATION, ETC. 333 

a freshet and brought down as fjir as the booms above the upper dam. 
Here she was taken out of the water and hauled on rollers through the 
woods to what is now McKeen Street, thence down Maine Street to the 
cove, where she was again launched into the river and did good ser- 
vice for about twenty-five 3-ears. Dean Swift well remembers the cir- 
cumstance, though but a boy at the time. He saj's one hundred yoke 
of oxen were emplo3-ed in hauling the vessel on the land. 

In 1808, Mr. Robert Given built a gunboat for the United States 
navy, in a yard a little north of the ship-3-ard of the Skolfields, on 
Harpswell Neck. The contract, still preserved, was for thirt}' dollars 
per ton, the iron to cost twelve dollars and fifty cents per one hundred 
pounds, the vessel to be heavih' timbered, and the gun-deck to be of 
white oak and yellow pine. 

In 1819, George F. Patten & Brothers built the brig Statira., of 
one hundred and eighty-three tons, at Mudd}' River, I opsham. 

About 1820 there were in the neighborhood of 1 ,000 tons of shipping 
in Brunswick and Topsham, and about 2,000 tons in Harpswell, 
besides numerous small fishing-vessels. On September 20, of this 
year, the shipping list of the Maine Tntelliijertcer contained the an- 
nouncement of the arrival at Brunswick of the brig Americ", Otis, 
from Martinique, with one hundred and forty-six hogsheads of molasses 
consigned to the owners, Messrs. Dunlap ; of the sloop Eliza., Douglas 
(regular packet), from Boston; of the brig Maine, Sjdvester, with a 
cargo of molasses and sugar, and schooner Susan, Rodick, from the 
southward, both to D. Stone and others. 

The brig Maine appears to have been a regular packet, as this same 
list, under date of September 29, mentions its ari'ival from Boston, 
together with the sloop Ambition, with freight and passengers. A 
brig also arrived the same day from Bath. 

A wharf was built about this time on the New Meadows River, and 
one, seven hundred and fifty feet in length, at Maquoit.^ 

Pennell's ship-j'ard, at Middle Bay, was built about 1822. Wharves 
were also erected on the west side of Maquoit Bay al)out this time. 

In 1823 a small schooner called the Elizabeth, which was built about 
1793 on Sebascodegan Island, was cast awaj' at the southern part of 
Condy's Point in the month of February. The crew, consisting of four 
men, were all badly frost-bitten. 1 hey were taken care of b}' the good 
people on the island until they were sufficient!}' recovered to go to 
their homes in Massachusetts. The schooner was loaded with fruit, 
groceries, and spirit. 

1 Putnam, Description of Brunswick. 



334 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

About the same year a vessel was built at Durham and hauled OA^er 
land to Maquoit. It was built by a person of doubtful gender, who at 
first wore woman's apparel and afterwards changed them for man's, 
and who was at first called Hannah, but afterwards Stover. 

Not far from this time Mr. Robert Labish built a vessel of about 
four hundred tons in Topsham. He had his lumber all ready at Lisbon 
to be conveyed to Topsham, but the winter being mild and the roads 
bare, he was unable to have it carried where he wished. Being a man 
of energy and determination, he went with a party of men, and, guided 
by a compass, cut a road through the woods to Lisbon, and hauled his 
timber through it. This road (not a highway) is still in existence, 
and is called Labish's Road. 

In the winter of 1824, Mr. Godfrey, of Topsham, l)uilt a vessel in 
Lisbon and had it conveyed on runners to Topsham, where it was 
launched. The experiment was a costl}' one, as the expense of get- 
ting her to Topsham more than offset the cheapness of the materials 
at Lisbon. 

October 11, 1825, the sloop Ambition, owned b}' Samuel Lemont, of 
Brunswick, and commanded b}' a Captain Perkins, went ashore at 
Sandy Bay, on Cape Ann, Massachusetts, on her way to Brunswick, 
and went to pieces. She had a full cargo of dry goods, valued at 
$10,000, none of which was insured. A part was saved, however, 
in a damaged condition. The goods were for Messrs. Stone & Morse, 
E. Earle & Co., 0. Nichols, and William Snowdon, of Brunswick, 
J. Dwinal, of Lisbon, and the Maine Cotton and Woollen Factor3', 
of Brunswick. 

March 27, 1830, during a severe northeast snow-storm, several 
sloops in Maquoit Bay were stranded and a portion of the wharf there 
was carried away. 

What is known now as the New AVharf Ship- Yard was first used as 
such in 1830. The new wharf itself was built in 1837, by Captain 
Anthony Chase, Captain AVilliam Stanwood, Israel Simpson, Samuel 
Dunning, Captain Robert Simpson, Captain John Given, David Dun- 
lap, Doctor Isaac Lincoln, and Stone & Morse. ^ Its cost was 
between $3,000 and $4,000. 

The earliest reference to what is known as the Alfred White Ship- 
yard, in Topsham, is in 1842. On October 8, of that year, the. brig 
Bernard, of one hundred and sixty tons, owned b}' B. C. Baile}', of 
Bath, was launched there. 

1 Samuel Dunning. 



STAGES, RAILROADS, NAVIGATION^, ETC. 335 

The first regular packet vessel, excepting those under the control 
of the proprietors, is believed to have been the sloop Friendsldp. In 
May, 1814, she was advertised to ply between Portland, Harpswell, 
Bath, and Brunswick, coming up the New Meadows River to the Turn- 
pike bridge, until she could have permission to go round Small Point, 
and then she was to run to Ilallowell and Augusta, as usual. ^ She 
was, possibl}', debarred from going up the Kennebec in consequence of 
the smuggling carried ou at that time beween Augusta and Castine, 
the latter being then under British authorit}'. 

The next packet to which any reference has been found was the 
sloop CaroHue., Skolfield, master, which was advertised on September 
9, 1824, to sail from Brunswick for Norfolk and Baltimore. She had 
" superior accommodations for eight or ten passengers." 

On April 1, 1829, the sloop Hope, Captain Counelly, having been 
completely repaired, was advertised to ply regularlj- between Bourne's 
Wharf, at New Meadows, and Boston. The Hope continued on this 
route for several years. 

On March 24, 1830, the packet Maquoit, Captain Anthon}' Chase, 
was advertised to ply between Brunswick and Portland. At the same 
time the sloop Orlando, Captain Dunning, was advertised to go be- 
tween Maquoit and Boston. 

March 7, 1834, the sloop Union, Captain Jordan Woodward, was 
advertised to make regular trips between Maquoit and Boston. In 
1836 the schooner Boston took her place on this route. 

In 1842 the " new and splendid" schooner Alice, Captain Robert 
Chase, made regular trips between Brunswick and Boston, touching 
at Portland. Her first trip was on May fourth. She was built 
ex])ressl3' for this route and contained " superior accommodations for 
passengers." On June fifteenth, of the same year, an opposition 
packet, the schooner Accommodate m. Captain Anthony Morse, was 
put upon the same route. 

Some uncertainty exists as to the fii'st steamer which ever made its 
appearance on the Androscoggin. Mr. Dean Swift, who has an 
excellent memory', and whose statements relative to many other events 
have been proved by recorded facts to be remarkably correct, sa^^s 
that the first steamer was a small, flat-bottomed one that was built 
about 1819, in Wiscasset, by a lawyer of the name of Gordon ; that 
he came up the Androscoggin in this little steamer, and then returned 
to Wiscasset with her. Mr. Swift says, furthermore, that a year or 

1 North's History of Augusta, p. 417. 



336 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELI 

two later Gordon built another small, flat-bottomed stean . •■u in 
Brunswick, and went with her to Ilallowell and thence to Bath, wii. rf> 
he sold her to Jere Hunt, who took her to New Meadows, cut her iu 
two, and made two gondolas of her. This statement is undoubtedly 
substantially correct. Mr. Samuel Dunning, however, thinks Gordon 
built his steamer on the Androscoggin as early as 1816, and he is 
positive that it was sold to the owners of Maquoit Wharf, and not to 
Mr. Hunt. 

Lemont ^ sa^s that the first steamer which ever went up the Ken- 
nebec was the To)n IJmmb. He says she was brought down from 
Boston in tow of a packet in 1H18, and steamed up the river ; that 
she was an open boat, about twenty-five or thirty feet long, with side 
wheels and with her machinery all in sight. He sa^'s, further, that 
the second steamer was fitted up on Governor King's Wharf, in Bath, 
in 1822, and that she was a flat-bottomed boat, and was called the 
Keniiebec. 

This statement conflicts with that of Mr. Swift onl3- so far as relates 
to the Kennebec Kiver. Ver}' likely the To7n Thumb was the first 
steamer to ascend the Kennebec, and the fact of a steamer coming 
from Wiscasset to Brunswick and Topsham a year later ma}' not have 
come to the knowledge of Mr. Lemont. 

In 1823 the steamer Patmt, Captain Porter, which had just been 
put on the route between Boston and Bath,^ touched at Pennell's 
Wharf at Commencement time at Bowdoin College. In 1824 ^ she ran 
between Boston and St. John, Nova Scotia. In 1825^ she was adver- 
tised to run between New Wharf, in Brunswick, and Portland. It is 
thought she made but a few trii)s to New "NVharf before her landing- 
place was changed to Bourne's Wharf, at New Meadows, where a 
stage for Bath connected with her.^ 

The first and onl}' steamboat that ever made regular trips to Middle 
Ba}^ was the Flushing, Captain Robert Chase, which plied regularly 
between Portland and New Wharf from 1846 to 1849. J. S. 
Gushing was the agent. No steamboat is known to have ever run 
regularly from Maquoit. 

The steamboat Rough and Ready used to go up and down the 
Androscoggin, about 1847, on excursions. 

On May 12, 1855, the steamboat Victor, built by Master Sampson, 
and owned by John R. Hebberd, F. T. Littlefield, and Mr. Woodside, 



^Historical Dates of Bath, etc., pp. 71. 72. ^ Ibid. 

^History of Camden, p. 153. * Advertisement. ^ Traditional. 



STAGES, EAILKOADS, NAVIGATION, ETC. 337 

was launched at Topsham. She was well modelled and thoronghh* 
built, was eighty feet long and twenty-four feet beam. Her engine 
was rated at forty horse-power. John R. Hebberd commanded her. 
She was intended for pleasure excursions and for a tow-boat. She 
made her first pleasure trip about the first of June. She was the first 
steamboat ever built in Topsham, and the second built on the 
Androscoggin. 

In 1856 the pleasure-boat Elijah Kellogg, twentj'-two feet in keel 
and seven feet in beam, built bj- John Given, was advertised to take 
pleasure parties from Pennell's or Chase's AVharf. She was built 
expressly for this business, and is thought to be the first of the kind 
built here. There are numerous pleasure-yachts owned here at the 
present da}'. 

TELEGRAPH. 

The first movement for a telegraph office in Brunswick was in 1^53. 
On August 6, of that 3'ear, a meeting was held at the Tontine Hotel 
to take some action relative to securing the establishment of a tele- 
graph office in the town. Remarks were made by General A. B. 
Thompson, Honorable C. J. Gilman, and General J. C. Humphrey's. 
Messrs. ^Y. G. Barrows, C. J. No3-es, and T. S. McLellan were 
appointed a committee to procure the necessary information upon 
which to proceed, and the meeting adjourned to be called together 
again by the chairman, Colonel A. J. Stone, whenever the committee 
were ready to report. There is no report of another meeting, but the 
exertions of this committee undoubtedly led the way to the establish- 
ment of an office in town. The telegraph office was opened for the 
first time to the public in Brunswick, in January, 1854. 

I he line was owned by the Maine Telegraph Compan}', and its wires 
extended from Boston to Calais. This line was afterwards leased to 
the American Telegraph Company, and still later to the Western 
Union Telegraph Company. 

The first operator in Brunswick was M. H. Prescott. The oflice 
was situated on the corner of Maine Street and the depot grounds. 
It was afterwards removed to the depot, where, with the exception 
of a single year, it has remained. 

The only opposition line east of Portland, previous to 1877, was 
that of the International Telegraph Compau}', which established 
an oflflce in Brunswick in 1867. In 1872 the line was sold to the 
Western Union Company, and the instruments were removed to their 
office. 

22 



338 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

In 1877 the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Compan}' opened an 
office in Brunswick. 

EXPRESSES AND HACKS. 

Upon the completion of the railroad in 1849, Carpenter & Co. estab- 
lished an express route and opened an office in Brunswick on the first 
da}' of August of that j'car. Mr. A. L. Stanwood was appointed 
agent, and the office was in his store under the Mason Street Church. 
Subsequently the company consolidated with other companies under 
the name of the Eastern E^xpress Company. In 1852 the office was 
moved to a building which stood on the lot opposite the foot of the 
mall, where Eaton's harness-shop is now. A few years later the 
building and office were removed to their present location adjoining 
the Tontine Hotel. Mr. Stanwood has continued the agent up to the 
present time, and it is worthj' of record that during all this time he 
has not been absent from duty for an}- cause, excepting for one day 
about the year 1854. 

The first public carriage other than stages was run to the depot by 
a Mr. Bean, upon the first opening of the road in 1849, and for 
a few years subsequently'. Mr. Ephraim Griffin began during the 
same j'ear, and has served the public fiiithfully as a hackman from that 
time to the present. Other persons have owned or driven public 
carriages for a longer or shorter time. 



BURIAL PLACES AND EPITAPHS. 339 



CHAPTER XI. 

BURIAL-PLACES AND EPITAPHS. 

" I WOULD rather," remarks Edmund Burke, " sleep in the southern 
corner of a little country churchyard than in' the tomb of the Capulets" ; 
and doubtless the same sentiment is felt, if not expressed, by many 
whose departed friends repose in rural graveyards. 

The method of conducting funerals in olden times was substantial!}' the 
same as at present, so far as relates to the performance or non-perfonn- 
ance of religious rites. The mode of carrying the remains of the dead, 
however, from the house to their last resting-place, was slightly different. 

Previous to the introduction of the first hearse, in 1818 in Bruns- 
wick, and still later in Topsham and Harpswell, bodies were carried 
to the grave on stretchers and the coffin covered with a pall. In 
Brunswick, the pall was kept, at one time, by Mrs. Benjamin Stone. 
Usually eight men accompanied the corpse, four carrying it until tired 
and then being relieved b}"^ the other four. The stretchers, or biers, 
were made of poles, 3'oung trees with the bark on, and were discarded 
after being once used. They were not made for permanent use, but 
were hastily made for each occasion. 

Many of the burying-grounds in this vicinity are of old date. The 
earliest one in Brunswick of which there is any record or tradition 
was situated about midway between Bow and Mill Streets, fronting 
on Maine Street. It was just south of and adjoining the stone fort 
built by Governor Andross in 1689. This graveyard was used for 
the burial of the dead until about the time of the incorporation of the 
town. In this yard was the stone marking the burial-place of Ben- 
jamin Larrabee, agent of the Pejepscot proprietors, one of the com- 
manders of Fort George, and the ancestor of the Larrabees now liv- 
ing in this vicinity. Here also were the gravestones of Robert and 
Andrew Dunning, who were killed by the Indians at Mason's rock. 
The site of this 3'ard is now covered with buildings. 

Another grave3'ard, probably of still earlier date, though nothing 
whatever is known in regai'd to it, was situated on what is now a 
portion of Woodlawn Street, on the estate of Miss Narcissa Stone. 



340 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



On the thii'ty-first of May, 1856, two skeletons were exhumed by the 
workmen engaged in grading the street. It is not unreasonable to 
suppose that these were the remains of some of Purchase's fishermen, 
and if so, the_y were undoubtedly' the first white people buried in this 
village, though perhaps not the first in the town. 

The old graveyard of the First Parish, Brunswick, situated one 
mile south of the colleges, has been occupied as such since 1735. In 
this burying-ground are many stones the inscriptions upon which are 
illegible, and in some instances the stones themselves have crumbled 
to pieces, so that only a small portion of each one remains. Of those 
whicli can be deciphered tlie following are of interest on account of 
their age, the quaintness of the inscriptions, or the character of those 
they commemorate : — 

HERE LYETH THE BO 

DY OP M» ANDREW 

D U N I N G 

WHO DEPARTED THIS 

LIFE JANUARY THE 

IS'^" ANNO DOM 
17 3 6 

AGED 72 Y»^ 

IGGO Charles 2'i 

1685 James 2'' -i r r i 

1689 W°; & Mary " 1 •> ^ 4 1G66 

1702 Queeu Ann 

1714 George P' 

1727 George 2' 



X^ordon 
Burnt 



4Ierk lyes Buried the Body of 

SAMUEL MOODY, ESQ. 

one of his Majesty's Jus's of y^ 

Peace for the County of York 

& Comniiincler of his Majestys Fort 

George at Brunswick who D'ceas'd 

Sept. 22-1758. 



§:ureb 

TO THE MEMORY OF 

REV. ROBERT DUNLAP. 

First settled minister of Brunswick, 

Born in Ireland, Aug. 1715 

Educated in Edinburgh ; 

Came to America, June 1736 : 

Settled at Brunswick, 1747 ; 

Died June 26, 1775, 

^t. 60. 

"Behold a Sower went forth to sow." 



BURIAL-PLACES AND EPITAPHS. 341 

The two following epitaphs are from stones in the old Baptist Bur}-- 
ing-Ground, at Maquoit. This gravej'ard was first used as such 
about 1794. 

The first epitaph reads thus : — • 

" To be much lov'cl in life mucli mouru'd in death, 
A widow'd husband of a wife bereft, 
With tears inscribes this monumental stone, 
Which holds her ashes and expects his own." 

The second is evidcntl}' that of a man accustomed to serious and 
deep thought. It runs thus : — 

" This langui.shing head is at rest, 
Its thinking and aching are o'er." 

The old burning-ground at New Meadows was first used as such 
some time in the latter part of the last cenlury. It contaius the head- 
stones of many former residents of that part of the town, but there 
are none that require particular notice here. 

The burj'ing-ground at " Growstown " in Brunswick was first used 
about 1813. The following inscriptions are found in it : — 

|n mnnorj) of 

ELD GEORGE LAMB 

who departed this life 

Dec 14 - 1836 

^t 48 

Mr. Lamb was converted to God at the age of 15 and engaged in the minis- 
try at the age of 23. He laboured faithfully in his Masters service 2.5 j'^ears 
and died in full assurance of a blessed immortality beyond the grave. 
Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet with you. 

The following epitaph, which appears to us entitled to an insertion 
here, is to be found in this graveyard : — 

" Dear husband while you spill your tears 
In numbering o'er past happy years, 
But yet remember while you weep. 
With me you in the grave must sleep ; 
But the last trumpet we shall hear, 
Before our God we must appear, 
And theu with Jesus we shall reign 
And never part nor weep again." 

Pine Grove Cemeterj', in the village of Brunswick, a short dis- 
tance east of the colleges, was laid out in the year 1825. The land 



342 HISTORY OF BRUXSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

originally was a part of the college groiinrls, but in 1821 it was 
deeded, b}' vote of the trustees, to Robert Eastman, Nalium Hough- 
ton, Abner Bourne, " and their associates, heirs, executors, admin- 
istrators, or assigns," so long as it should be used for the interment 
of the dead, and if not so used, to revert to the college. The amount 
of land thus deeded was two acres, which was bounded as follows, 
" Beginning at the southwesterl}' side of the old County Road lead- 
ing to Bath, at a stake and stone at or near the angle which it 
makes with the Bath turnpike, and running by said turnpike west 
20°, north 12 rods, thence south 20°, west 26f rods, thence east 20°, 
south 12 rods, and thence north 20°, east 26| rods to the first 
boundary." The trustees also reserved the exclusive right at all 
times to hold as a place of interment for the dead " that part of the 
premises extending from said turnpike road on the westerly line of 
said lot, eighteen rods in length, and one and a half rods in breadth," 
subject only to such general regulations as should be binding upon 
other owners of lots. ^ 

This cemetery- is pleasantl}' situated, with handsome grounds and 
walks, which are kept in good order ; it is enclosed with a neat and 
ornamental fence, and contains many handsome monuments and 
memorial tablets. Major Lemuel Swift was the first person buried 
here. Among the monuments and headstones to be seen there are 
those of Presidents McKeen and Appleton ; Professors Cleaveland, 
Upham, and Smyth ; and Governor Dunlap. 

The tomb of President McKeen is in the extreme northwestern 
angle of the cemeter}', the head toward Bath Street. In form, this 
tomb is an ol)long rectangle, covering the grave, and about three feet 
in height. The pedestal is of Egyptian marble, and is surmounted by 
a heavj' slab of white marble, which bears the following inscription : — 

H. S. E. 

QUOD MORTALE FUIT 
ViRI ADMODUM EeVERENDI, 

DNI JOSEPHI McKEEN, S. T. D. 

AC COLLKGII BOWDOINENSIS Pr.ESIDIS PrIMI. 

Natus est Octob^. die XV? Anno Uoin. MDCCLVII, 
in Republica Neo-Hautoniensi, 
ubi primo in litoris luunauioribus institutus, 
honores attigit Academicos. 

1 From origimd deed. 



BURIAL-PLACES AND EPITAPHS. 343 

Postea Verbi Divixi miiiisterio apud Beverleam, 

in Republica Massachusetteusi, 

auuos septeudecim 

strenu^ juxta, ac ])eingne perfuuctus est. 

Novissime aiitem, Nostratinin omnium favore, 

ac praecipue doctorum piorumque, 

Collegium hie loci auspicate fundatum, 

quinque vix aunos, 

efi, qui par est, diguitate et sapentia, 

fldeliter, feliciter rexit ; 

donee, morbo Hydropico impeditus, 

Juliidie XV? Ann. MDCCCVII, in Domino abdormivit. 

Ingeuio fuit sagaci, judicio imprimis acerrimo, 

priscorum temporura gravitate aemulus, 

raoribus autem facilis, 

et benevolentia omnino Christiauus. 

Pietatem, doctrinam, artes optimas, 

quouiam gnaviter excolebat ipse, 

in aliis semper amavit, et quoad potuit, auxit. 

M. S. 

Monumentum hocce, . 

luctus, eheu ! solamen leve, 

at testimonium tamen, 

Senatvs Academicvs, 

P. C.i 

In the adjoining lot south is the monument of President Appleton. 
Its form is the same as that of President McKeen. The following is 
the inscription : — 



^ Here is hurled what was mortal of the reverend and most learned man, Joseph 
McKeen, S. T. D., the first president of Bowdoin College. He icas born October 15, 
A D. 1742, i7i the State of Neio Hampshire, where, first of all, instructed in secular 
learning, he attained academic honors. Afterwards he discharged, actively as loell as 
kindly, the duty of a minister of the Gospel, at Beverly, in the Commonwealth of Massa- 
chusetts, for seventeen years. But lately, a college having been auspiciously founded 
here in this town, not quite five years, with the aiyprobation of all our countrymen, and 
especially of the educated and pious, he presided over it, as is meet, with dignity and 
loisdom, faithfully and fortunately, until, embarrassed by a dropsical disease, on the 
fifteenth day of July, in the year 1807, he fell asleep in the Lord. He was a Christian of 
sagacious mind, of especially acute discernment, in dignity emidous of former times, but 
courteous in mariner and uniformly kind. He always loved in others, as he himself 
diligently cultivated, piety, education, the best occupations, and, so far as he coidd, he 
promoted them. Sacred to the memory. This monument of grief , alas ! slight consolation, 
but yet a testimony, the Academic Council have caused to be placed. 



344 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Huic tumulo maudautur reliquias 

REV. JESSE APPLE TON, S. T. D. 

Mariti Desidekatissimi. Patris Optimi. 

Almeque Nostr^e Academi.e 

Secundi Presidis. 

Vir fuit ingeuii acuiniue insignis. movibus 

compositis, ac aspectu beuiguo, 

majestatem quoudaiu praj 

se fereute ; 

sed morti inexorabili uiliil est sauctum. 

Eruditioue magna, 

inter literatorum principes justissime collocandiis ; 

at tlieologiciB scientiiB lauream praecipue meritus : 

hac eniin, quo homines audeant, 

cognovit et tentavit. 

Integra tide, disciplinaqne salutari, 

duodecim annos, 

res Academicas admiuistravit. 

Nimiis tandem vigiliis laboribusqne consumptus, 

sublimii ejus animo superuis iutento, 

ad quietem se coutuLt. 

Ita vixit, ut omnes moribund!, sic se vixisse, 

voliut ; ita mortuus est, 

ut omnes, sic se morituros esse, optarent : 

tamen voluit inscribi, se salutem sperasse in Jesu. 

Natus est Novera'.^ die l""?" 

Anno Domini MDCCLXXII. 

Obiit Noven\ '? die 12'"« Anno 

Domini MDCCCXIX.' 

On the south end of the tomb is inscribed : — 

Senatus Academise Bovvdoineusis, 

summa reverentia, 

lioc monumentum posuerunt.^ 

» To this tomb are committed the remains of ReverendJesse Appleton, S. T. D. The 
most regretted husband, the best father, and the revered second president of our college. 
He was a man distinguished by acuteness of mind, composed manners, and benign aspect, 
occasionally manifesting dignitij : but nothing is sacred to inexorable death. Of great 
erudition, most justly placed amongst the first of teachers, but especially deserving the 
laurel in theological knoivledge: for this, where men may presume, he examined and 
tested. He administered the affairs of the college loith incorruptible fidelity and ivith 
salutary discipline for twelve years. At length, worn out by excessive vigils and labors, 
his exalted mind fixed upon celestial things, he betook himself to rest.. He so lived as all 
ivho are at the point of death may wish themselves to have lived : thus he died, as all 
themselves about to die might desire. Yet he wished it to be inscribed that he hoped for 
salvation in Jesus. He was born November 17, 1772. He died November 12, 1819. 

2 The trustees and overseers of Bowdoin College, with the greatest reverence, have 
erected this monument. 



BURIAL-PLACES AND EPITAPHS. 345 

In the third lot south of President Appleton's is the monument of 
Professor Smyth. It is a heavy, reetanguhir pillar of granite, about 
ten feet in height. The pedestal bears the famil}- name, while on the 
northern side of the shaft is the following inscription : — 

WILLIAM SMYTH 

boru Feb. 2d 1797, died April -tth 1868. 

Below this is the name of his wife, with the date of her birth and 
death, and on the eastern side is a record of the names and dates of 
birth and death of several children. 

The second lot south of Professor Smyth's contains the monument 
of Professor Cleaveland, a plain ^^et elegant granite sarcophagus. On 
the eastern side it bears the words " Parker Cleaveland" ; on the south 
end is the date of his birth, 1780, while on the north is that of his death, 
1852/^ Two headstones of white marble, one upon the east and one 
upon the west, mark the resting-places of wife and daughter. 

The monument of Professor Upham stands in the next lot south- 
ward of Professor Cleaveland's. This also, like the two last, is of 
plain granite, and is in form an obelisk. The pedestal is propor- 
tionately large, and bears on the western side the initials T. C. U. ; 
while on the south side is the date of birth, 1799, and on the north 
are the ho^nres 1872, the date of his death. The plinth bears the fam- 
ily name in distinct raised letters. 

The Dunlap monument is situated near the principal entrance to the 
cemetery. It consists of a base, sub-base, plinth, die, — with three 
marble tablets inserted, — cap, and bust of Dunlap. It is, without the 
bust, ten feet, four inches high, and of granite, though the bust is of 
marble. It was made by Simmons. Upon the north tablet is the 
following inscription : — 

SCo tljc picmovg 

of 

EGBERT PINCKNEY DUNLAP, 

who was three times 

Grand Master 

of the 

GitAND Lodge of Maine, 

and 

filled the highest places iu the 

Masonic Fraternity 

of the State and tlie 

United States, ' 



346 HISTORY OF BRUXSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

This inonuinont is orcctod by the 
Fkf.e Masons 

of tho 

State of Maine. 
They knew his virtues ; 
Tliey honor his memory. 



On the west side 



EOBEKT r. DUNLAP 

was 

GovKRXou OF Maine 

from 18;U to 1838. 

He h;ul been 

Ixopresentative, Senator, and 

twice President of the Senate, 

in the State Legislature; 

and Executive Councillor ; and was 

afterwards representative in 

Congress and Collector of the 

Port of Portland. 

He honored 

every position he was called to fill 

by an able and faithful ilischarge 

of its duties. 

The State 

gives to his memorj' the tribute 

of its respect by inscribing 

upon this tablet its grateftil 

recollection of his many virtues 

and its high appreciation of 

his public services. 



On the east side is the followin!2; 



DEAKEST 

TO THE nearest : 

BEST 

TO THKM WHO KNEW HIM BEST. 

In Christ here : 

With Christ forever. 

Died 

Oct. 20, 1859. 

2E.t. f.5. 

Inscribed 

by wife and children 

in loving and reverent 

remembrance. 



One of the oldest g:iave3ards iu town is that at New Meadows in 
the woods near Bartlett Adams's, where vest the remains of several 



liUniAL PLACES AND EPITAPHS. 347 

tncnibors of the; 'J'Jiompson family. There are other burying grounds 
in lirunswic'k, some; of which are of recent dates and require no 
particular mention in these pages. 

The oldest burying-ground in Topsham of which tliere are now any 
traces was in tiic vicinit}' of James Mustard's residence, about two 
miles from the village on the road to Merrymeeting Bay. There are 
I)ut three or four stones remaining. They are of slate, and are in a 
good state of preservation. They are in the woods about a third of a 
mile from the road. The earhest date given upon these stones is 17r>2, 
and the latest 1771. 

The burying-ground war the old First Parish Meeting-House is the 
oldest in this town of wjiich there is any rocord. 

In 1 7(;'J the town purchased of James Hunter "the land on the 
soiitii sid(! of the county road where the graveyard is," paying therefor 
tincic p(;uiids ; and the same year the town appropriated £i) (>.s. H(J. 
'• f<M' f(MH!ing the graveyard, nine I'ods square, with white oak or cedar 
posts and good boards, with a good gate, with a lock and key, the 
l('iic(! to be five feet high." There are a few stones, the inscriptions 
iip(^n which are illegible, whether from greater age or poorer slate can- 
not be determined. The earliest date to be found upon an}' stone is 
1769. The following are a few of the more interesting inscriptions to 
be found in this l)urying ground : — 

IIic Jacknt Skimji.ta 

tli(! Ilciiiains of 

I'llILII' (i. IIOVT PHYSICIAN 

who died June 24'*' 1700 

^I'ATIS 36. 

I 'm to this silent Grave retired, 
Though once esteemed and desired; 
All human ills had once a place, 
And weij^lu'd justly in this breast, 
All mortal fi:ricrs are now past o'er, 
A broken heart can bleed no more. 

Ph:lip O. IIovt'8 Ki'iTAPH ON Himself Nov y< 2;'' 1789. 



(^atrcb to tl;e mcmarj) of 

JOHN RE !<: 1 > E S (.1 U I R 10, 

A Capt in the late American War where he served with reputation till 

obliged to retire in consequence of a wound received in an action 

a little preceding the capture of Gcnl Burgoine and 

army. He so far recovered his health and 

activity that he was elected to and 

sustained the office of Lt. 

Col. till his death. 



348 msiORY OF Brunswick, topsham, and harpswell. 

He was au affectionate Hiisbaud aud Parent aud his hos- 

pitalitj^ endeared Iiim to many who mourned his 

departure which was suddenly, in a 

paroxism of the cholic on the 

20th day of Oct. A. D. 1797. 

Aged 50 years. 



LIEUT JAMES PURINTON 

Dec 7"" 1832 

Aged 90 years. 

One of the revolutionary officers and Staunch supporters of the 

Eepublican Constitution. 

Several stones bear the following inscription : — 

Behold aud see as you pass by, 
As you are now so once was I, 
As I am now so you must be, 
Prepare for death and follow me. 

The third bur3-ing-gT0uncl in Topshara, in point of age, is the one 
about a mile west of the village, where the first Baptist or "old 3'ellow " 
meeting-house used to stand. In this ground are the remains of John 
Merrill, Esquire, Captain Peletiah Haley, and others of the early set- 
tlers who lived in that portion of the town. 

There was formerly a private burying-ground on what was known 
as " Ferry Point" (the point of land at the Topsham end of the iron 
railroad bridge). Here were buried the remains of Brigadier-General 
Thompson and others of the famil}-. When the railroad was laid out, 
the remains were removed to the village grave^-ard, those of Brigadier 
Thompson being placed in the grave with his son, Humphrey Thomp- 
son. 

The village burning-ground in Topsham was laid out in 1825, It 
is owned b}^ the proprietors of the lots. The unoccupied land is 
owned by Mrs. Susan T. Purinton. Among the inscriptions of par- 
ticular interest in this ground are the following : — 

KKECTED 

by the Baptist 
Church in Topsham 

|tt SStmorg of 

REV. CHARLES JOHNSON 

their Pastor, who died 

Feb. 29, 1836 

in the 30th year 

of his age. 



BURIAL-PLACES AND EPITAPHS. 349 

Behold a Christian's grave — He walked with God 
In the same path the dear Eedeemer trod ; 
He loved the Church and prayed for its increase 
Lived much belov'd & died in perfect peace. 



to 

THE MEMORY OF 

REV. OLIVER H. QUmBY 

who, having zealously proclaimed a full and free Salvation 

for all mankind through Christ, for nearly two 

j^ears, fell gently asleep in the arms of 

Jesus, at his residence in Lisbon, 

Jany. 23d 1842 

Aged 23 years. 

" Glory to God " he cried. 
Then bowed his head and died, 
His soul was borne on angels wings 
To blissful rest, where seraphs sing. 

There are four graveyai'ds in Harpswell, one upon the Neck, one 
on Great Island, one upon Orr's, and one upon Baile3''s Island, the 
oldest of which is the one adjoining the old First Parish Mecting- 
Ilouse. The oldest stone in this j'ard is undecipherable. It was 
l)robabl3' placed there about 1 758. There are several interesting 
gravestones in this 3'ard, which the space at our disposal prevents us 
from giving. We insert here, however, the inscriptions upon the 
tombstones of the first pastor of that church, and of his wife, and 
also of William McNess, of the second pastor of the church, and of 
Deacon Andrew and Benjamin Dunning. The inscription upon Elisha 
Eaton's stone is as follows : — 

HERE LYES INTERRED THE BODY OF THE 

Revd MR. ELISHA EATON, 

first Pastor of the Church in Harpswell who 

triumphantly Departed this Life on 

the 22d of April, A. D. 1764. 

In the 62d Year of his Age. 

Est Commune mori, 

Mors nulli Tarcit Houori, 

Neque uUi ^tati 

Ergo. Memento Mori." 

1 To die is common, death spares no nobility nor any age. Therefore remember death. 



350 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

The inscription on his wife's tombstone is : — 
^0 ll^c gTemorg of 
MRS KATHARINE EATON, 
The virtuous Reltct of the Rev. Mt 
Elisiia Eaton, who Departed 
THIS Life April 12, 1767, M. 61. 
Here, Passenger, confin'd reduc'd to Dust, 
Lies what was ouce religious, wise & just, 
Eixt, in deep Slumbers here the Dust is giv'u. 
Til the hist Trumpet shakes the Frame of Hea\''n, 
Then fresh to Life the Waking Saint shall rise, 
And in new Triumplis glitter up the skies, 
Like lier be virtuous, you like lier shall shine. 
In Bliss above, immortal & divine. 

The inscriptions upon the other stones are as follows : — 

Here Lies Buried 

the Body of 

MR WILLIAM MACKNES, 

who Departed 

this Life May 

ye 12ti» 1782 

Age 103 

years Old. 



THE REV. SAMUEL EATON, 

2<? Minister of Harpswell, 

born April 3 1737 

graduated at Harvard College 1763 

Ordained Oct 24, 1764, 

& died Nov. 5, 1822. 

in the 86 year of his age 

& 59t>> of his Ministry. 

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. 



^atrtti to \\)t mcmorg of 
DEAC. ANDREW DUNNING, 
wlio was chosen Deac. of the Church in this town, June 17, 1767: 
which office he filled till his decease, March 27, 1808. iE. 81. 
His life was usefid his death peaceful. 
Sleep sweetly in the grave of rest. 
Which Christ perfinued and also blest 
Till he shall call thee to the skies, 
Shall bid thy sacred dust arise ! 
Survivors walk Christ's path as straight 
And enter in the heavenly gate. 



BURIAL-PLACES AND EPITAPHS. 351 

Co t^c mrmorg of 
BENJ'A DUNNING ESQ. 
who with the utmost composure breathed his last Jan. 8, 1808 
JEt 71. As a Husband, Parent, Christian, and civil Mag- 
istrate he was conspicuous. The Town, which for 
many years he represented. The Board 
of Overseers of Bowdoin College, 
and in fine, civil society, are" 
deprived of a useful, 
wise and peaceful 
member. 

But tho' his loss fills us with grief and pain 

Our loss is his inestimable gaiu For 

Thro' the ethereal blue, his soul immortal, 
Borne on angelic wings, at the third Heaven 
Arriv'd the spirits of just men made perfect, 
Joined in lofty hallelujahs to the sacred 
Time, eternity throughout. 

In this connection it is proper to mention the discovery, in 1861 , of 
an undoubted Indian burying-ground in Haipswell. It is on the farm 
of Henry Barnes, on the eastern side of Middle Ba^', near the shore. 
Fourteen skeletons have been disinterred. Though of course there are 
no headstones, it is known to have been an Indian burying-place by 
the appearance of the skeletons, the ornaments found on or near them, 
its vicinity to the " carrying-place," a tradition to that effect, and 
lastly b}^ the testimony of a party of seven Penobscot Indians who 
once stopped there on their way to Portland, and who pointed out the 
spot as an Indian burying-place and stated that there was once an 
Indian village near by. 



352 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



CHAPTER XII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 

EARLY PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP. 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by its incorporation of the 
town of Lebanon in 1733, established the precedent, which it has gen- 
erally followed since, of requiring towns, when incorporated, to set 
apart three lots, one for the ministry, one for schools, and one for the 
first settled minister. ^ 

The Pejepscot i)i'oprietors did not, however, wait for any legal 
enactment of this kind, but very earl}' set apart the required amount 
of land both in Brunswick and in Topsham, and also assisted in the 
erection of a meeting-house in each town. 

In 1715 the}' voted that the meeting-house should be located mid- 
way between the fort and Maquoit, and that the lots for the ministiy, 
the first minister, and the school be the centre lots. 

In 1717 the General Court voted to pay seven hundred and 
fifty dollars annuall}' for missions to tiie Indians, with board and 
lodging for the missionaries. The latter were accordingly sent to 
Brunswick as well as to other places. ^ It was probably in conse- 
quence of the above-mentioned vote that on October 3, 1717, several 
of the "•praying" Indians sent a petition to the General Court, 
" That y^ Great Governor and Councill would order a small Praying- 
house to be built near the fibrt the English and VS to meet in on 
Sabbath dftys. 

" S ABATIS [Mark] 

Warenovvbe [Mark] 

"Fort George AT Brunsw^ick Heneque [Mark] » 

Oct ye 3 1717. 
John Gyles, Interpreter.''^ 

The missionaiy to INIaine was Reverend Joseph Baxter, of Med- 
field, Massachusetts, and "he was particularly urged to use his 
best endeavors to bring over the Indians to the Christian Faith." ^ 

1 Williamson, History of Maine, 2, p. 180. 2 Vaniey's History of Maine, p. 123. 
8 J/ass. Archives 31, p. 9-1. *McKeen, MS. Lecture. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 353 

The following extracts from Mr. Baxter's diary are of interest : — 

" On Saturday-, August 24tli, [1717] I went up to Brunswick, ^ and 
the next day preached in 3* fort, and 3 of y* Indians came to meeting 
in y'^ afternoon, when sermon was ended I repeated the heads of it, 
and Capt : Giles interpreted y™ to y® Indians, & the}' seemed to be 
well pleased therewithal. 

'' On Monday I had some discourse with y" Indians to shew them 
y* necessit}^ of sanctifying y® sabbath which was occasioned by their 
shooting a gun on 3' Sabbath day. 

"On Saturday-, Aug. 3P', I discoursed with several Indians at 
Brunswick ai)out Religion, and the}' seemed to be very well pleased 
with my discourse. 

" September y* P' I preached at Brunswick, and several Indians 
came to hear me. Capt Giles interpreted to them y' heads of 3* ser- 
mons, and they seemed well pleased therewith. 

" Octo'' ; &^ I preached at Brunswick and staid there y^ ensuing 
week & preached there on Octob. l.i"'." 

" While I was at Brunswick I was informed b}- Capt? Giles y' the 
Amberoscoggin Indians had sent a Petition to y^ General Court to 
have a Praying-house built for them at Brunswick to meet with y* 
English." 

[171'S.] '•January l!i*'' I i)reached at Brunswick, and there came 
o Indians to meeting, the most of y" Indians being gone from thence 
before I came thither. 

''January' 26*.'' I preached at Brunswick." 

" A[)nl 20"^ I preached at Brunswick, 

" April 23''. I discoursed with Three Indians, one of them was 
inquisitive about things in Religion, and I had a great deal of dis- 
course with him." 

" April y® 26'** an Indian came to desire me to go to his squaw who 
was ver}' sick & like to die, accordingly I went to her with Cap" Giles, 
and discoursed with her about y^ state of her soul, & directed her 
how to get prepared for death, and she seemed to be verj' well pleased 
with what was said to her. 

" April y* 27'!' I preached at Brunswick." ^ 

From the journal above referred to it would appear that Mr. Baxter 
did not remove to Brunswick with his family, but that he came here 
upon several occasions to preach, and that he was at Georgetown 



^From Georgetown. 

'^ Baxter's Journal in MS. in Library of Maine Historical Society. 
23 



354 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

during the greater porlion of his sta_y in Maine. The proprietors, 
however, deeded him " the second Island in Pejepscot River, coming 
out of INIerrymeeting bay," and he toolv np lots numbers 14 and 15 in 
Topsham, which were afterwards sold for non-fultilment of conditions. 
It will also be seen a little farther on that there was a house on 
lot numl)er 6 in Brunswick called " Mr. Baxter's house." In the 
absence of positive information, it is to be presumed that the propri- 
etors built a house for him, in the hopes or expectation that he would 
settle there. 

FIRST PARISH. 

'I he first action in religious matters taken by the people was while 
Brunswick was a parish or plantation, under the Pejepscot proi)rietors. 
It appears by the records that : — 

"Att a Leagual Town meeting in Brunswick Novm*""" 3'' 1718, It 
was Voted That whereas the Proprietors of S*^ Township in their 
paternal Care for our Spiritual Good, have by there Jo3'nt Letter 
Sought to y* Reverend M'' James Woodside to be our Minister & in 
order there to proposed Conditions for his Settlement on their part. 
Wee the Inhabitance of Brunswick will Give Fourty pounds pr annum 
toward y'' support of y*^ S'^ Mr. Woodside & a Sum in proportion there 
to from this time untill May next (if he Come to us) & God in his 
providence Should Then part us. 

"' It was also at this meeting Voted That M'' Baxters house on y' 

6"' Lott in Brunswick Be forthwith made habitable for y'' s'' Mr. 

Woodside. That y^ Charges there of y'' Transporting him & his fam- 

0I3' from Falmouth to Brunswick be paid P^qually by us y'' inhal)itauce 

of s'' Brunswick & y* Capt Ciyles is here b}' impowered to se y*" Buis- 

ness etfected. 

" Joseph Heath Toicn C*^" 

The first meeting-house of the P'irst Parish was probably com- 
menced m 1719. It stood about a mile south of the colleges, where 
the old burying-ground is. It was not, however, finished for several 
years, and it is probable that Mr. Woodside preached in the fort. 

On May 8, 1719, it was voted, that : — 

"Whereas the Reverend M'' James Woodside for Some time past, 
has preached to us in order to his Settlement, some of us not being 
well Sattisfied with his Conversation,^ And thinking It most reason- 
able y* M' Woodside as well as our Selves should have further time 

* Used in the now obsolete sense of character. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 355 

for consideration in so weighty an affair, Theirfore it is voted that if 
M"" Woodside please to Continue preaching to us Six Moneths Longer 
he Shall receive of }•* town after j" rate of £40 per annum provided 
those of us who are Dissatisfied with his Conversation (as afore Said) 
Can by Treating with him as becomes Christians receive Such Sattis- 
faction from him as that they will heare him preach for y'' Time 
afore' s"^." 

He did not give sufficient satisfaction, for " Att a Leagual Town 
Meeting in Brunswick Sept lO'** 1719 it was voted that whereas the 
conversation of the Reverend Mr James woodside is Displeasing to 
y^ most of us, which renders us unable to reverence him as our Minis- 
ter, therefore wee will not heare him any Longer as such. And the 
Select men are Impowered & Desired to grant a rate & Commit it to 
y'^ Constable to Collect So y' y'' S'' Mr. AVoodside may be paid accord- 
ing to our agreement with him viz. after y* rate of £40 pounds i)er 
annum his Time to begin y* 2** Day of Novem'' & Continue to y^ Date 
of this vote except y^ several^ weeks he was absent on his own buis- 
ness at Boston & elsewhere." 

[1721.] At a meeting of the settlers held May 6, 1721, twelve 
pounds was assessed upon the inhabitants for the support of the 
Reverend Isaac Taylor, who agreed with the proprietors to preach 
alternately in Brunswick and Topsham for one year. 

[1730.] In 1730 a chaplain was allowed at Fort George. 

The first minister who preached here after the incorporation of the 
town was Reverend Robert Rutherford. In the petition for an Act of 
Incorporation it was stated that the people had obtained " a pious 
and orthodox minister" to settle with them, and he was doubtless the 
one to whom reference was made, as he commenced his labors here 
about 1735. He does not seem to have had a formal call, however, 
for several years, and was never actually settled. 

[1739.] At the annual town meeting, held April 16, 1739, a com- 
mittee was chosen to make an arrangement with Mr. Rutherford, or 
if he should decline his services, to agree with some other minister. 

At a meeting held the following Jul}^ it was voted, "That the 
minister should preach at the southeast end of the town [New Mead- 
ows] according to what rates and taxes the residents of that part of 
the town should pay towards the support of the Ministry'." At 
another meeting held in September, it was voted '' That the Reverend 
Mr. Rutherford should preach at the east part of the town as often as 

^Several or xeren; the lorithn/ ik illff/ible. 



356 HISTORY OF BRVKSWILK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

lie pleases." A vote Avas also passed " That James Hue should have 
the cue half of the two hind seats to make a Few of on the southeast 
end of the meeting-house." 

[1740.] In the year 1740 the town appropriated £150 for Mr. 
Rutherford's salar}', and also voted to raise £200 as a settlement, " if 
he lives and dies minister of Brunswick," and to raise £66 13s. Ad. 
that 3'ear. 

[1741.] The town appropriated, in the year 1741 , £150 for support 
of the minister and £Q& towards his settlement. The proprietors also 
this 3'ear voted to la}' out a " ministry lot" of one hundred acres, near 
the meeting-house, on the south side of the road. To judge from the 
record, the settlers must have been accompanied at church ver}' fre- 
quentl}' by their canine companions, as the town voted, '• That each 
person that suffers his Dog to com to the meeten-hose one the Lords 
Day shall forfet the sum of tw^elve pence." 

[1742.] Reverend Mr. Rutherford closed his labors here early in 
the year 1742, having preached in town for about seven j'ears. In 
Februar}- of this }'ear a committee was appointed by the town to 
obtain a minister to preach, on probation, with a view to settlement. 
This committee does not seem to have accomplished much, however, 
for in June following another committee was chosen "to agree with 
the Reverend Mr. Jonathan Fierpont, or some other minister, to preach 
to us for two or three months." 

Jn September, the town voted " that y* Rev*^ Mr. Sam" Orseborne 
and y^ Rev*^ Mr. James Morton be neither of them imployed in the 
publick woorke of the Ministrey in this town for the fughter." And a 
new committee was appointed to secure the services of some suitable 
" orthodox " minister to preach on probation during the winter, and to 
be permanentl}' settled if an agreement could be had betw^een him and 
the town. The committee were authorized to advance £3 a week to 
the minister who might be emplo^'ed. This action was owing to the 
fact that there was a conflict between the eastern and western portions 
of the town arising from differences in religious views, and the town at 
this time having two ministers on its hands, in order to harmonize mat- 
ters, voted that neither of them should lie emplo3'"ed. 

The people in the eastern part of the town were principalh' descend- 
ants of the first settlers of New P^ngland. '1 hose Avho resided in the 
I west part of the town were for the most part Scotch-Irish Fresbytc- 
rians. The latter formed at this time the most numerous portion. 
The people of New Meadows wished to have the platform of the 
churches at York, Berwick, Kitteiy. etc., and " a Mr. Lumbers [or 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 357 

Lombards], a busybody, was dispatched for a copy of Mr. Moody's 
platform." ' 

Besides tlie ministers alread}' mentioned, Reverends Blowers, Crnm- 
bie, and McClanathan were employed for a longer or shorter time. 
The latter not only preached, but taught a school for some time ^ 

At a meeting of the Pejepseot propi'ietors at Boston, September 20, 
1742, it was voted that : — 

"• Whereas the Town of Brunswick is at present destitute of a min- 
ister, and is in quest of another minister. That Lott Number Eight 
on the South easterly side of tlie Twelve Rod Road leading from Fort 
George to Maquoit containing one hundred acres and fifty acres more 
adjoining to it on the south westerly side of said Lott, making together 
one hundred and fifty acres, be and liereby is granted to the First 
Learned & Orthodox Minister who shall be Ordained and Settle there 
& shall continue in the Ministry there for the space of seven years, 
if he shall live so long, to be to him his heirs and assigns forever. 
And if he should continue in the Ministry there during his lifetime, 
though he should dye before tlie expiration of said term of seven years, 
to be to his Heirs and their assigns notwithstanding. Otherwise to 
revert to the Proprietors." 

And it was also voted : — 

" That Lott Number Seven ^ on the Southeasterly side of the Road 

be & hereby is granted to the Town of Brunswick for a ministry Lott, 

containing one hundred acres, to be & continue for said use forever. 

Both the above granted Lotts lying near & commodious to 

the meeting house." 

In November of this 3'ear the town made an agreement with the 
Reverend Mr. Hodges, of Falmouth, to preach for five or six months 
on a salary of £3 per week. 

In Ma}', Deacon Samuel Hincklej' was authorized to secure a minis- 
ter to preach on probation, with a view to settlement, and the town 
paid him £6 '' for ten days going after a minister to suppl}' the town." 
Some question, probablj', arising about this time as to whom the con- 
trol of the meeting-house was vested in, the proprietors, at a meeting 
held in Boston, June 1, 1743, 

" Voted, Whereas tlie Proprietors out of an earnest desire to 
promote the pi-eaching of the Gospell in the Town of Brunswick did 
some 3'ears since signify to the Setlers or Inhabitants of said Town, 



' Pejepseot Papers. 2 ibid. 

3 'I his lot had been previously laid out for this purpose. 



358 IIISTOllY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL 

That in case they would at their Charge provide & raise the Frame of 
a meeting house in said Town, tlie proprietors would at their Expence 
furnish Glass, Nails & other Materials & finish the said meeting house 
which they have accordingl}- done : It is therefore now agreed & Voted, 
That the said meeting house is to be & continue to the use of the 
Inhabitants of said Town, for carrying on the publick worship of God 
therein, and that no particular Inhabitant or Inhabitants, Proprietor 
or Proprietors, pretend to claim the same for their particular use or 
propei't}' contrary- to the true Intent and design for which said house 
was erected, or to the Exclusion of an}' of the Inhabitants from 
enjoying the Benefitt of said House. 

•'• Provided Notwithstanding that the Pew on the Right Side of the 
Front Door be & remain for the use of the Proprietors their Heirs & 
Assigns & wholl}' at our Disposal." 

[17-14.] There was no minister settled in the year 1744. A prop- 
osition was made in Februarj', however, to extend a call to Reverend 
James Morton, but the town voted in the negative. In March a com- 
mittee was chosen to procure a minister to supply the town ''for 
some time," on as reasonable terms as possible. 

[1745.] In May, 1745, Deacon Samuel Hinckley was selected as 
an agent to procure a minister, but he not meeting with success, in 
Octol er, Mr. Ebenezer Stanwood was appointed agent for that pur- 
pose, and was promised forty shillings for his services. 

[174G.] In December, 174G, the town voted to extend an invita- 
tion to Reverend Robert Dunlap, of Sheepscot Bridge, New Castle, 
Massachusetts, to preach with a view to settlement, and the selectmen 
were instructed to communicate with him by letter, and Messrs. 
Robert Given and Vincent AVoodside were chosen a committee to go 
after him, and were to be allowed twelve shillings per daj' for their 
services. The town also voted to pa}' Mr. Dunlap £4 per Sabbath, 
and a committee was chosen to take up a contribution each Sabbath 
to help pay the minister's salarj'. 

[1747.] In March of the following year the town voted to settle 
Mr. Robert Dunlap at a salary of £200 per year (old tenor), and with 
a SL'ttlement of £200 " when the war is over." The town also voted 
to hire a house for his use " during the present war,i and to pa}' the 
charge." 

As Mr. Dunlap was a Presbyterian, and natui-ally desired to be 
ordained by a presbytery, and there being none nearer than London- 

1 Spanish or fifth Indian, 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 359 

deny,! it was mutually agreed between him and the town that the 
ordination should take place at Boston, and Deacon Samuel Hincklej^ 
and Mr. Ebenezer Stanwood were appointed commissioners to appear 
at the ordination and receive Mr. Dunlap in behalf of the town. 
The}^ were allowed £30 to defray the cost of the ordination diuner, 
but the expenses were afterwards found to amount to upwards of £60. 

The ordination took place in Boston, in August or September, in 
the meeting-house of Reverend Andrew Le Mercier, minister of the 
Protestant French Church, by a presbyter}- composed of Reverend 
Mr. Le Mercier, Reverend Mr. Morton, of Colrain, Reverend Mr. 
Davidson, of Londonderrj^, Reverend Mr. Wilson, and Reverend Mr. 
M. Lothlius.2 

[1750.] In March, 1750, the town voted a present to Mr. Dunlaj), 
of £40 old tenor, and in Ma}' there was raised b}' the town for his 
salar}' £2Q> 13.s. Ad. lawful mone}', and £13 6s. 8cZ. to be given as a 
present, and tiie same amount for his '' settlement." 

At a meeting of the proprietors, held this year, Jul}' 9, it was 
voted by them to dispose of the vacant land at New Meadows, and to 
expend the money thus obtained in finishing tlie meeting-house. 

A note at the bottom of the records says that this assistance was 
not accepted by the town. 

[1751.] In 1751 the town voted to add £13 6s. 8d. lawful money, 
to Mr. Dunlap's salary, " providing he will take his pay in such specie 
as the town can pay him in, at the market price, otherwise Mr. Dun- 
lap must adhere to his first agreement with the town." At its annual 
meeting the town also voted to raise for his salary £40 lawful money, 
"• in such specie as it can produce in lumber at the market price," and 
£8 in cash. 

[1752.] The next year the selectmen were directed to petition 
the General Court to have Topsham annexed to Brunswick in order to 
assist in maintaining the gospel, " unless the inhabitants of Topsham 
will bind themselves to the satisfaction of our selectmen, to pay the 
Reverend Mr. Dunlap eighty pounds, old tenour, this year." 'Ihe 
Province laws at this time allowed the taxing of adjacents, which had 
no minister, and whose people attended preaching in the town which 
taxed them.^ 

The town also this year voted £40, lawful money, for his salary, 
" to be paid in lumber, landed in Boston at 'the market price, where 



^Pejepscot Papers. 2 Greenleafs Ecclesiastical Sketches. 

3 McKeen, MS. Lecture. 



360 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

our minister shall order, two thirds to be delivered there b}' the first 
da}' of October next, and the other thii'd b}' the first of Ma^' next." 
What effect tlie petition referred to above had, does not appear from 
the record, but in all probability it hastened the efforts made in Tops- 
ham to settle a minister. The cause of this petition was undoubtedh' 
due to the fact that the people of Topsham, having no preaching in 
their own town, were accustomed to attend religious services in Bruns- 
wick, without contributing their due share towards the support of the 
same. 

[1754.] This 3'ear the proprietors made a deed to Reverend Mr. 
Dunlap of the one hundred and fifty acres of land previousl}- granted 
to the first settled minister.' 

[17.5.5.] About this time a meeting-house was built at the east end 
of the town, for the accommodation of the residents of tliat locality. 
Before the erection of this building, Mr. Dunlap used to preach in that 
part of the town in the barn of James Thompson, ^ which stood where 
Bartlett Adams now (1877) lives. During the war with the Indians 
he was escorted to the place b}- his neighbors, armed. ^ 

[1756.] In the ^ear 1756 the town, in addition to the usual appro- 
priation of £40 for the minister's salary, voted to pa}' the rent of his 
house for that j'ear. 

[1759.] In 1759 the town voted that the inhabitants of the south- 
east part of the township should have preaching ever\' second 
Sabbath. 

[1760.] In October, 1760, a committee was chosen b}- the town to 
call a council of ministers "to decide our unhapp}- differences with 
the Reverend Mr. Dunlap." The council consisted of Reverend 
Messrs. Smith, of Falmouth, Morrill, of Biddeford, and of Reverend 
Mr. Lorrain. The council resulted in the speedy dismission of Mr. 
Dunlap. It will be noticed that although Mr. Dunlap was a Presb}- 
terian, yet this was a Congregational council. The difficulties on 
account of which the council was held are said b}- Greenleaf "* to have 
been in regard to the payment of his salary. McKeen,^ however, 
implies that he was dismissed on account of " having become weak 
and imbecile in mind and bod}', owing to a paralytic shock." That 
Greenleaf was correct in his statement is evident from the following 
communication from Mr. Dunlap to the town, Avhich is given ver- 
batim : — 

1 Brunswick Records in Pejepscot Collections. 

2 Mi;Keen, MS. Lerture. 3 Pejepscot Papers. 

4 Ecclesiastical Sketches of Maine. 5 Brunsicick Telegraph, July ZQ, 1853. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUXSWICK. 3G1 



" To THE Town of Bruxs" June 30^" 1760. 

■ '' Seeing It pleased Divine providence to obstruct my Being at 
Londonderrey at the Last Sitting of the Pres'!'' which will appear by 
my Journal & other evidence If Called : I By advice of some worthy 
men ; ofler to y^ Considderation these proposals — 

"• 1!! that no mans monne^' or Rates Shall Ever Come Into my 
pocket ; or private use In aney Shape : as ministerial taxes In this 
town ; that Do's not adhere to m}' min7 

" 'ily that Such as Be: or may be adherents To xnx min7 Have 
Liberty to pay there ministerial taxes & other Ecclesiastical Dues 
when they Go to hear the word : or have or may Joine In Conection : 
with the old Church of Christ In Brunswick : & Such as pretend 
ane}' Scruple of Concience In Joineing with us : I Lord not over 
tlieir Conciences the}- may xise their Christian Liberty : their monne}- 
Shall be at their own Disposal : I have always tho't this was the 
Best wa}' to pace : tho't I woud Eather quit m}- title to part of a 
town tax : or Rate then have a hand In Divisions : & uneasyness : I 
am no Longer able to Live under — 

" 2*^ proposl whether Deacon Hinkley & Capt. DaA'id Dunning: as 
we have a Rev**. & Good Presbr^. to go to, will continue their adher- 
ence, as I think wee agreed & signifyd, and for which I am now pre- 
])aring & slill am Desirous of Such Government, & Do profess the 
west^minsf. Confession of faith to be the Confession of my faith 
unless better light offer to my understandin 

" 3'^ that whereas \oyx are or may Be aquainted : with ni}' Going to 
the wes''f Twice — 

" Pf to ask Counsel tending to the publig® Benefit & Tranquility & 
that our unhappey Divisions might Be heald : 2'yTo waite on the Rev** 
P BY which wind & weather Disapointecl me In : my Journal wil' 
Demonstrate. I therefor Intreate you would let me have m}^ Arears : 
of Last Sallary. I have no minuets of the exact time when I accepted 
y* Call But am pretty Certain It was In march or aprill after which I 
looked on my Self y"" rain"" tho' not really ordained : and went to Boston : 
to prepare m^^ self after which no pay was Rec"? B3' me from aney 
people for preaching the Gospel : as far as I can Remember : But 
Came to Brans'^ In the night of the eighth Day of July, which I am 
Reade}' to Depone. 

' ' You may all See I am not wanting aney Charges : only my Just 
arears : which will Satisfy' & may possibly make us Easey. Sure I think 
I aim at the Honest part. 



362 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

" Altho I spent of my own nionney about £30 Going to Boston : & 
hireing a horse, and riding to Derrey when I was ordained : — 

"• and these Last Expenses : which I am sure is more & not less : of 
wliich I saj' nothing at this time — 
"pr 




A meeting of the town was held not long after his dismissal, and a 
committee chosen to procure a minister to preach on pi'obation. 

[1761.] In March, 17G1, the town chose a committee "to treat 
with Mr. Fairfield or Mr. Whitwell to preach to us for some time, on 
probation, and to offer neither of them over eight pounds, old tenour, 
per Sabbath, and, if thej' refuse, to get somebodj' else." Probably 
the inducement was not sufficient, as neither of these gentlemen was 
obtained, 'and in August following another committee was appointed 
to confer with Reverend John Miller, of Milton, Massachusetts, as to 
the terms upon w'hich he would be willing to settle. At a meeting 
held in December the town voted " to concur with the church and give 
a call to Reverend John Miller to settle with us as a minister of the 
gospel." The town voted him a salary of £66 13s. 4rf., lawful mone^', 
and to give him £100 to enable him to settle, this amount to be paid 
in three annual instalments, one third each 3'ear, and if he desired to 
settle on the " ministerial lot," it was voted to laj- out £200 in a house 
and improvements. The arrangements for preaching were that Mr. 
Miller should be excused from preaching at New Meadows during the 
first three months of the year, and as a compensation to the residents 
of that portion of the town, he was to preach there every Sabbath for 
two of the summer months and ever}' alternate Sundaj' for the rest of 
the year. 

[1762.] In September, 1762, a committee was chosen to receive 
]Mr. Miller's answer to the call given him by the church and town. 
His answer was as follows : — 

" By virtue of 3'our vote passed in your meeting the 14th daj' of 
September, 1762, as you then voted me a salary and settlement refer- 
ence being had to said vote, I cheerfull}- accept of 3'our unanimous 
and friendly otters and engage to settle with you as your minister dur- 

• Pejepscot Papers. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 863 

ing life, unless something material happens, b}' being legally parted ; 
and I engage to conform to your vote passed September 1st, 1762, in 
regard to preaching at New Meadows so long as my health will admit 
of, or till the}- are set off, or otherwise voted, and wishing that we 
may by our preaching and example edif}' and advance each other's 
eternal interest and live in love and peace as long as life lasts. 

''John Miller Juniok." 

The ordination took place on the third of November, the exercises 
being conducted b}' the Reverends Smith, Eaton, Lorain, Elvans, 
Weyburn, and Obeus. 

David Dunning provided an entertainment for the ministers and 
their attendants, by order of the town. 

[1768.] In 1768 some difficulties began to arise in regard to the 
singing on the Sabbath, and a proposition was made to set off a part 
of the galkny in the west meeting-house for the use of the singers, but 
it was defeated b}' a vote of the town. 

[1779.] The records contain nothing of special interest from this 
time until the ^'ear 1779, when the town voted to make Mr. Miller 
such a compensation for that ^ear as might be agreed upon, in consid- 
eration of the scarcity and dearness of the necessaries of life, and 
Messrs. Aaron Ilinkle}', Thomas Skoltield, and Captain William Stan- 
wood were chosen a committee to decide as to what sum was proper. 
Subsequently the town voted not to add anything to Mr. Miller's 
salary, but to leave it to the generosit}^ of the people, and the usual 
salary of £6G 13.s. Ad. was accordingly voted. 

[1780.] In 1780 the town voted to pay Mr. Miller's regular salar}' 
"' in i)roduce of the country, at the price such articles Avere in 1775, 
or so much of the present currency as will purchase so much of said 
articles." 

[1786.] In the 3-ear 1786 the town voted to allow the people in 
the east end of the township to " regulate the way of singing in Divine 
Service in the east end as the}' shall think proper." In June of this 
year, owing to troubles now but imperfectly understood, but prob- 
ably connected with matters of church government, the town voted to 
dismiss Mr. Miller from his pastoral oftice, and a committee was 
chosen to notif}' him of the action of the town. He must, however, 
have refused to accept his dismissal as [1787] on the eighth of May 
of the next 3'ear, agreeably to his own desire, a vote of the members 
of the church was taken, as to whether he should or should not be dis- 
missed. The result of this vote was nine for dismission and five 



3fi4 HI>'JONY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

against it. As this did not seem satisfactoiy, the congregation was 
then called upon to vote on the subject. The result of this vote was 
twelve for dismission and eighteen against it. The town thereupon, 
without taking direct action,^ voted to raise no mone^' for his support. 

[178S.] In 178S the town again voted not to pay him any salary, 
and also voted to call a council of the neighboring churches to hear 
the grievances of those who were dissatisfied with him. As there is 
no evidence that a council was ever actually assembled, and as Mr. 
IMiller died before the close of the j'ear, it is probable that the calling 
of the council was deferred on account of his ill-health. 

[1789.] The next year a committee was appointed to pa}- the 
executor of Mr. Miller's estate the amount of his salary due him at the 
time of his death. A committee was also chosen to secure another 
minister on trial. 

[1790.] A committee was chosen in April, 1790, to invite Rever- 
end Mr. Cornwell to preach on probation; but in August the town 
voted not to settle him, and a committee was chosen to secure some 
other minister. 

[1791.] The following proposal was made to the town in Decem- 
ber : — 

" Six months I propose, at the desire of the Committee to supply 

the people of Brunswick as a Preacher, allowing me to be absent two 

months in the Winter, more or less as convenient, provided it is 

agreeable to the town. 

"Abra" Moore. 
"Decemb" 2<i 1791." ^ 

[1792.] In Januar}', 1792, the proposal of Mr. Moore was accepted, 
and he was engaged to preach for six months on pi'obation. In Au- 
gust the town voted unanimousl}- to give him a call to settle, at a salary 
of £100 and with a settlement of £100, to be paid him in one 3'ear 
after his settlement. 

It was also voted that the Baptists in this town who can produce a 
certificate that they belong to a Baptist society shall have a right to 
draw the money that was last assessed as a ministerial tax, to be 
appropriated to pay their own preacher, and that the}- l)e no longer 
taxed in the ministerial tax. 

It was also voted that the minister should preach every other Sunda}' 
at the east end of the town. 



1 Which was needless, in viae of the vote taken the precedinr/ year. 
^Pejepscot Papers. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BEU^'SWICK. 365 

Mr. Moore declined the call to settle permanently and in September 
of the following year [1793], the town voted nnanimously to extend 
a call to the Reverend Ebenezer Coffin, and to give him a salary of £100 
and £200 for a settlement. He was ordained June 23, 1794:. 

[1801.] Mr. Coffin left in 1801. There is no account in either the 
town or church records of an}' formal dismissal, but there is probably 
no doubt that he was compelled to resign. From this time until 1806 
there was occasional preaching in the old meeting-house. 

[1806.] At that time the old house was abandoned by the First 
Parish, and a new one on the hill was occupied instead. 

The participation of the town in the doings of the First Parish having 
now ceased, the remainder of its history will be included in that of the 

CHURCH OF THE FIRST PARISH. 

It does not appear anywhere, as a matter of record, that there was 
an}- cliurch organization during the pastorate of Reverend Mr. Ruther- 
f(jrd, or that he was regularl}- ordained. Ko mention is made of any 
church act at the time of the settlement of Reverend Mr. Dunlap, but 
it is said that, soon after that event. Reverend Mr. Murray formed a 
church in this place, in connection with the presbyter}-. Samuel Clark 
is said to have been the first deacon.^ 

It is narrated that on one occasion, while Mr. Murray, of Boothbay, 
w-as here for the purpose of organizing the church and was engaged in 
preaching, Aaron Hinkley, displeased Avitli something that ha had .said, 
stepped out into the aisle, and addressing Mr. Murray, inquired of 
him if he knew in whose presence he was speaking ; to which Mr. 
Murray replied that he was aware that he was in the presence of the 
Judge of the Inferior Court. Mr. Hinkley then said, " I say to you 
as the Lord said to Elijah, 'What dost thou here,' John Murray?" 
The question, with the verse follow-ing in this connection, "I have 
been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts ; for the children of 
Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and 
slain thy prophets with the sword " (1 Kings xix, 9, 10), gave a text 
to Mr. Murray upon which he continued to preach, making some very 
severe and sarcastic remarks, and putting an end to all further 
questions. 2 

There is no doubt but that this church was originally established on 
Presbyterian principles, and continued so during the ministry of Mr. 
Dunlap. 

^ Woodman' s notes. ^McKeen, MS. Lecture. 



366 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

The male members of this church in 1761 were ^ John Minott, Sam- 
uel Clarke, Ebenezer Stanwood, William Simpson, David Dunning, 
John Orr, Samuel Whitney, Isaac Snow, James Thompson, Aaron 
Hinkle}', Samuel Stanwood, James Elliott, William Ross, William 
Stanwood, Thomas Adams, Thomas Skolfield, and John Smart. 

After the settlement of Mr. Miller, the church assumed a mixed 
character for about seven years. The number of church members was 
then about seventy, among whom were seven deacons. ^ 

Mr. Miller was ordained November 3, 1762. The council con- 
sisted of Messrs. Smith. Loring, Elvin, Wibird, Robbins, and Eaton. 
At a church meeting held a few days subsequentlj-, it was voted : 
" Whereas this church as to its government since it has been gathered 
and more especiall}' while Mr Duulap was their pastor, has not been 
duly kept up in the beaut}' and order of the Gospel, b}' reason of 
which the}' have greatly separated in the Ceremonials of Government, 
it was therefore voted : That all those who are not in full communion 
with the church and who never had any children baptized or were 
never baptized themselves, in order to receive the ordinances either 
for themselves or their children are required to be propounded to the 
church at least the Sabbath before Baptism, in order to own the Cov- 
en-ant of Baptism." 

Reverend Mr. Miller was ordained as a Congi'egationalist, but after 
some 3'^ears the church and parish returned to the Londonderry Pres- 
bytery, from which they had seceded.^ 

How much soever a portion of his congregation mav have been edi- 
fied by his preaching, some of them were not sufficiently so to give close 
attention to him, and it was not at all uncommon for numbers of people 
to be asleep. At such times, it is narrated, Mr. Miller was in the habit 
of stopping in the midst of his sermon, and saying, •' AYake up, hearers !" 
After a while it was made the duty of old Mr. George Coombs to wake 
the sleepers by rapping on their pew-doors with his staff. "* 

At the council for the ordination of Mr. Miller, Reverend Thomas 
Smith was the moderator, and Mr. Loring, scribe. At the ordination, 
prayer was made by the Reverend Mr. Loring, the charge hy Mr. 
Smith, the right hand of fellowship by Mr. Eaton, and the sermon by 
Mr. Miller himself. 

The following, in regard to church government, was found on an 
old paper, undated, and ver^' much worn : — 



^Pejepscot Papers. 2 Greenleaf, Ecclesiastical Sketches. ^McKeen, MS. lecture. 
* James Curtis's Journal, in Library of Maine Historical Society. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 



167 



" These concerning the Church of Christ in Brunswick as to the 
order and Constitution of this Cliurch. It was at first set up in the 
Presbyterian order to be governed by a Session and since we have 
left off that order and govei'nment we have got into Disorder and 
have no government at all, therefore we the subscribers hereof advise 
the members of the Church to look to God for a blessing and direc- 
tion herein, in setting up their old Constitution and choose ten or 
twelve elders and have them ordained to their charge and duty, herein 
to act for the glory of God and the good of this church, and in all 
Ecclesiastical affairs belonging to this church that maj" come before 
them to decide them impartially without favor or affection. This is 
our deliberate judgement and advice and that we cannot come into 
peace and good government without taking these steps. 



"JuDAH Chase. 
Robert Dunning. 
William Stan^vood. 
Samuel Stanwood, Jr. 
Samuel Stanwood, ;5d. 
Lkavis Simpson. 
Stephen Skolfield. 
William Woodside. 
Daniel W^oodside, Jr. 
Anthony Woodside, 
David Dunning, Jr. 



David Dunning. 
Andrew Dunning. 
Samuel Stanwood. 
John Dunlap. 
William Stanwood, 2d 
William Spear. 
Samuel Dunlap. 
John Swett. 
James Gary. 
James Elliott. 
"William Stanwood, 3d. 



[1762.] At a meeting of the church, held Monday, November 15, 
it was — 

Voted ^ '•'■ That all such as desire admittance into full Communion 
with the Church, shall privately signify' their desire to the minister, 
and [make a statement of their religious] views, after which the min- 
ister shall propound them to the Church at least a week before the 
.Sacrament, that if -mxj of the Communicants have anything to object, 
they ma}' have time so to do before the Sacrament, which objection is 
to be made to the Deacons, who shall before Sacrament day acquaint 
the minister of it, that the minister ma}' have time to inform the per- 
son, but if no objections appear, the minister*shall proceed to admit 
the person." Also, " That the sacrament of the Lord's Supper be 
administered once in two months in the winter, beginning the first 
Sabbath of December, and once in six weeks in the summer months." 

[17G3.] On May 12, the church voted, "That the contribution be 
continued at both ends of the town in order to purchase utensils for 
this church. 



31)8 msrom' of urunswick, topsiiam, and harpswkll. 

"To i)iii\'h:isi' four tl;i>;t)ns, oiglit t;iiik;»i(ls, Iwt'lvo cups, four tlishes, 
two t:il)loc-lotlis, ;»u(l two uapkins for the use of this church. 

'' That Aarou lliuUlcv ami Doacou l)uunini>; take charge of the 
coutributiou, and see the articles purchased as soon as may be. 

'' That Deacon Chirk and l)caev)U Sanuiel Stanwood take an 
account of the money eoUected at the west meeting-house, and Dea- 
con Snow and Deacon Whitney take account 'of the money coUeeted 
at the east meeting-liouse, before (K'livered into the hands o[' Deaeon 
Dunning and IMr. llinkley." 

It is dillicult to uniKM-staiid tlie necessity for this vote to purchase 
Ihigons. etc.. because (if tliere is no mistake in tlie date inscribed 
upon them) two thtgons, three phites, and four cni>s were presented 
to the i'hurch in \~M by In-njamin Larrabcc and John Minot. They 
are now in the pi>ssession ol' rrofesstn' A. 8. Packanl. 

At this same meeting of the church, it was " voted to sing Tate and 
Brady's version with the hymns aiuiexed thereto. comi>osed by Isaac 
Watts, D. D." JMr. .\arou llinkley declined serving as «leacon, and 
was excused. 

[17(>l.] This year an individual who desired baptism for his two 
children was obligeil to make a i)ublic confession of his crimintd inti- 
macy with Ann C\)nner, who subsetiuently connnitted suicide. 

[17('>.").] Septembers, the chuit-h mi>t and voteil to have a covenant 
drawn up and signed by each member. 

The t'oUowing is t'ound on the cover oi' one oi' the old records : — 

'• CH-tober 17G,') The people in IJrunswick began to quarrel with their 
minister, John ^lillcr, headed by William AVoodside Senior.*' 

[17()('>.] On May 9, ii church meeting was held to consider this 
"quarrel"; and at an adjourned meeting, held JNIay '22, the church 
voted that Mr. Woodsidc should apologize to the pastor He refused 
to ilo so, and the church then voted that '• Mr. Miller's Character stood 
fair in the eye of the church." 

[17()7.] May l;?. William Woodsitle was suspended until he con- 
fessed his fault to the ehuri'h and [)astor. 

[17()S.] July 2\K At a meeting of the church on this day objec- 
tion was otlercil to the l)ai)tism of a child oi' Thomas Thompson, ''■ on 
account of said 'lliomas standing iq) and reading the Psalm in the 
publii' worship of (»od." I'he child was, however, baptized. At a 
meeting on September ('>, William Woodsidc, Senior, opeidy asked the 
forijivcness of the chuich and the pastor, as to his i)ast misconduct, 
and was receiveil again into the church. A number of the members 
were also reconciled to each other at this meeting, an uncommon spirit 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BUUNSWICK. 369 

of forgiveness prevailing, and the nienibers appearing to be " of one 
heart and of one mind." At this meeting Mr. Miller openly declared 
himself to be the pastor of a chnrch on the Congregational plan. 

[1770.] In Ma}-, 1770, the church records show that the members 
had been led to consider the decline of religion ; and accordingly a 
day of fasting and praj-er was appointed "to implore pardon of God, 
and his aid and help." The day was seriously observed. After 
public services the church met, confessions were made, alienations 
and differences composed, and tokens appeared of a reviving spiritual 
influence among the Christian portion of the community. 

[1771.] The question whether the church should be Congrega- 
tional or Pres1)yterian in form came up this j'ear. A meeting was 
held at the west meeting-house, which the members of the east end did 
not attend. Subsequently a meeting was held at the east end Avhich 
was attended b}- both parties. The next day some of the members at 
the east end met at Captain Thompson's, without notifying the other 
members. To reconcile the difiicnlties a meeting was held on [1772] 
.June IG, and the following agreement was drawn up and signed : — 

" In the first place we propose that this Church and the Discipline 
thereof be governed agreeable to the Congiegatioual Constitution and 
l)latform of the churches in New England — excepting the adminis- 
tration of the ordinance of Baptism and the Lord's supper to be 
administered agreeable to the custom of the Presbyterian Churches, 
and to have only one preparation day before each sacrament. 

" Consented to by me, " John Miller. 

" David Dunnixg \ 
Aabon Hinklkv I 

Samuel Clakk / > 

James Thompson ) Church 
Samuel Staxwooi)( G'^'nittee. 
-s=»4sAAC Snow j 

Thomas Skolfield/ 

" Voted and accepted in Church. 

" N. B. It is to be understood by the Pastor and the Church that 
the above writing was drawn up and executed in consequence of all 
difl[erences and uneasiness that did subsist between the Pastor and 
Church, and the same were adjusted and settled in an amicable 
manner." 

[1774.] At a meeting of the church, on May 16, at the west 
meeting-house, the above vote having caused some uneasiness, and 

24 



370 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

some of the members at the east end of the town not being disposed 
to comply with it, it was A'oted that the sacrament might be adminis- 
tered at the west meeting-house from the long table, the communi- 
cants sitting around it or in the body-pews as they might see fit ; and 
that it might be administered at the east meeting-house in the Con- 
gregational form. The ordinance of baptism to be administered in 
either form as persons might choose. 

[1785.] At a meeting held on September 13, the church consid- 
ered the matter of lay exhorters, who were becoming quite common 
in town. No action was taken, however, as some of the church evi- 
dently favored such persons. 

[1786.] At a meeting held April 17, the subject of chosing ruling 
elders was brought forward, and it was voted not to choose any. The 
church then considered in regard to the new mode of singing adopted 
at the east end of the town, and it was voted that the psalms and 
h3-mns should be read by the deacons, i. e., line by line, until all had 
had time to furnish themselves with books. Charles Thomas was 
chosen chorister at the east end, and John Dunning at the west end of 
the town, with liberty to appoint their own assistants. 

At a meeting held -lul^- 5, there was a pretty warm discussion in 
regard to the mode of singing. After a while the discussion turned 
upon the question whether the church was Congregational or Presb}'- 
terian. The meeting closed without settling the point. 

[17U0.] At a meeting held iu March, there being no minister, 
Stanwood Dunning was chosen permanent moderator. Several per- 
sons being asked why they had absented themselves from church 
meetings, etc., one replied, " because there was no order in the 
church" ; another, that he could not sit down to the Lord's table with 
a certain member; and others answered that "they had joined the 
Baptists." 

[1793.] Decemlier 18 the church voted a call to Reverend INIr. 
CotHn, and that the twenty-third of January be set for liis ordination. 

[1794.] Januar}- 22, the council for the ordination met. It con- 
sisted of Daniel Little, Kennebunk ; Paul Coffin, Buxton; Thomas 
Brown, Stroudwater ; Alfred Johnston, Freeport ; Samuel Eaton, 
Harpswell ; Jonathan Ellis, Topsham ; and the usual la\^ delegates. 
The ordaining services were performed the next day in the west meet- 
ing-house. 

The minutes of onlj- two church meetings are recorded during the 
whole of Mr. Coffin's pastorate. May 10 of this year it was voted 
that there should be four communions a year. June 26 it was voted 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BliVNSWICK. 371 

"that candidates for the baptism of their first child should be pro- 
pounded as such one fortnight, that if there should be any objections 
made, they may be made in season to the minister that he may act 
accord ingl}-." 

On July 21, 1808, the new meeting house, which had been built by 
subscription, was given to and accepted by the parish, the north gal- 
lery being reserved for the use of the students of Bowdoin College, 
that institution having contributed funds towards its erection. After- 
ward, in the present building, the south galler}' was substituted in 
lieu of the north. 

On Februar}^ 8, 1810, the parish extended an invitation to Reverend 
"John Bartlett to settle over them. The call was not, however, accepted. 
On the twenty-first of April, of this year, the parish voted to petition 
the Court of Common Pleas for a remission of the fine that had been 
imposed upon them " for not being supplied with preaching." 

Since 1802 there had been no settled minister over them and a por- 
tion of the time no preaching, tlaough during tliis time Presidents 
McKeen and Appleton often officiated. 

On April 2, 1811, the parish voted " to appoint a suitable person to 
care for the meeting-house, sweep the same, and ring the bdl." This 
is the first allusion to any bell in town and this bell was undoubtedly 
the one on the college chapel. In October, 1824, however, the parish 
authorized a bell to be put in the tower of the meeting-house, and it 
was done shortly after. This, the first parish bell, was bought b}' 
subscription, and cost about five hundred dollars. ^ The college paid 
fift}' dollars towards its purchase, on condition that the parish would 
give them the right to use both it and the meeting-house, for literary- 
exercises on Commencement week and at other times for special pur- 
poses, upon ten days' notice being given. 

In 1817 the question of heating the meeting-house came up, and on 
the eighteenth of Januar}^ the parish voted to grant permission to 
have stoves put in. This was probal)!}' not done, though, at this 
time, for in 1824 the matter again came up and was referred to a 
committee, who reported it inexpedient to use stoves. Jn November, 
1838, the parish authorized the assessors " to adopt the plan used in 
Eeverend Mr. Ellingwood's church, in Bath." 

In 1819, John Schwartkin, of Holland, was allowed to partake of the 
communion without a letter of recommendation, because he was a 
stranger in a foreign countr}'. 

1 At all events, (he subscriptions amounted to a trifle over this sam. 



372 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

In Reverend Mr. Mead's replj' to a call of the church, in 18 2, he 
made it a condition of his acceptance that he should have the right to 
dissolve the connection with the church whenever the compensation 
he received failed to amount to seven hundred dollars a j-ear. 

His ordination services were held this year and were as follows : 
introductorj' prayer, by Reverend IVIr. Mittimore, of Falmouth ; 
sermon, by Reverend Doctor Fayson, of Poitland ; consecrating 
prayer, by Reverend Mr. Gillet, of Hallowell ; charge, by Reverend 
Doctor Packard, of Wiscasset ; right hand of fellowship, b^- Reverend 
]Mr. Smith, of Portland; address to the people, by Reverend Mr. 
Ellingwood, of Bath ; closing prajer, b}' Reverend IMr. Pomcrcjy, of 
Gorham. 

Mr. Mead was dismissed, at his own request, in July, 182'J. On 
the fifth of that month he preached his farewell discourse, which was 
printed by request, and a cop}- of wliich is preseived in the libiary of 
the Maine Historical Society. During his ministry a creed and cov- 
enant were adopted by the church and a church librarj^ started, to 
which the books of the Brunswick Female Humane Society were 
added. 

About this time the attention of the parish was directed to the 
question of the ownership and boundaries of the meeting-house lot. 
The fencing of this lot and the legal contest connected therewith is 
mentioned in another connection. 

Jn Kovember, 1829, Reverend George F. Adams was invited to 
become the pastor of this parish. Having already been ordained, 
although without a charge, he was installed Tuesday, December 2'J. 
The installation services were as follows : — 

Introductory prayer, Ijy Reverend Seneca White, of Bath ; sermon, 
by Dr. Tyler, of Portland ; installing pia3er, l)y Dr. II. Packartl, of 
Wiscasset; charge, by Re^erend Asa Mead, of Gorham ; right hand 
of fellowship, by Reverend Jacob C. Goss, of Topsham ; address to the 
church and to the people, by Reverend Benjamin Tappan, of Augusta ; 
concluding prayer, b}' Reverend William Mittimore, of Falmouth. 

On November 27, 1834, Thanksgiving day, the meeting-house, hav- 
ing been repaired and somewhat altered, was dedicated anew. 

In 1835 the parish voted to receive an organ, in trust, for the 
church. Two years later the debt due upon this organ was assumed 
by the parish. On May 16, 1840, a motion was made in parish meet- 
ing to pay the organist fift}' dollars. This motion produced an ani- 
mated discussion. One individual remarked, " I don't wish to wound 
the feelings of an^- one. I have felt ver^- unpleasant ever since the 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 373 

oigan came into the ineetino-liouse. It is not acceptable to God. It 
is very offensive. It begins to make a noise after tiie liymn is read, — 
before they begin to sing. It has a verj' immoral tendency. It keeps 
our minds from other things." No objection to the motion was made 
1)V any one else, and the amount was therefore voted. 

In 1812 a n2w b'ill was p it in the to-.v3r in plac3 of the old one. 
which had been cracked in consequence of ringing a fire alarm on the 
seventeenth of December of the previous 3"ear. The cost of this new 
bell was about one hundred and fifty dollars, and the sum was raised 
by subscription. 

On February 15, 1815, the parish voted to have a new meeting- 
house built, and to dispose of the old one. Work was at once com- 
menced on it, and it w'as finished early the next year. Its cost was 
S13,101.68. It was dedicated on March 18, 1846. The public exer- 
cises were as follows : A voluntary on the organ ; an anthem by the 
choir ; reading of Scripture by Reverend Ray Palmer, of Bath ; prayer, 
by Reverend Jonathan Clement, of Topsham ; hymn, by Reverend 
John O. Fisk. of Bath ; sermon, by the pastor. Reverend George E. 
Adams ; prayer, by Reverend John W. Chickering, of Portland ; hymn, 
b}- Reverend E. G. Parsons, of Freeport ; benediction, b}' Reverend 
James Drummond, of Lewiston. 

Doctor Adams closed his ministry in August, 1870. When he went 
to Brunswick he was called from the Professorship of Sacred Rhetoric, 
in the Bangor Theological Seminar}', and by experience and culture 
seemed unusually well endowed for the work of the ministr}', which, 
with uninterrupted unanimit}', was continued fortj'-one 3'ears. ■' With 
p3rhaps as few trials as have fiillen to the lot of any of his contempo- 
raries, he was permitted to witness repeated special manifestations of 
the Divine favor, and a large increase of the church and of the societ}'. 
Having come to it when it was comparative!}' weak, he closed his long 
service when it had become one of the strong societies of the State. 
AVhen at last, after an unusually prolonged pastorate, at his own 
request, moved to it b}' an inviting call to Orange, New Jerse}', he 
asked to be released from this ministr}', he received a united and 
costly testimonial from his whole people of their affectionate and 
grateful esteem and affection." ^ 

Notwithstanding Doctor Adams's resignation was accepted b}' the 
parish, his formal connection therewith was never severed by an}- act 
of council, and he died the legal pastor of the society. 

1 Church Manual. 



374 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

In December, 1870, Eeverend Ezra IT. Byington (University of 
Vermont, 1852) was invited to supply the pulpit, and on January 10, 
1871, he received a quite unanimous call to settle. He accepted and 
has remained to the present time, but no formal settlement has yet 
occurred. 

To this history of the church and society we add a brief notice of 
their Sabbath school. 

The following sketch of the origin and earh' history of the Sab- 
bath school is obtained from the church manual. The particulars 
were obtained from a private journal of the late Deacon John Perry, 
for many 3'ears an active and efficient member and officer of the 
church : — 

"In the winter of 1811-12 an account of a Sabbath school in 
England, in a newspaper, suggested to Mr. Perrv the idea of attempt- 
ing the same agency for good in this connnunity. He consulted the 
minister. Reverend Mr. Bailej', and President Appleton, about the 
expedienc}' of such a movement and the proper method of conducting 
it. They favored the project, but were not informed of the way in 
which such schools were managed. They, however, thought that 
nothing but reading of a religious character should be allowed. To 
the inquiry whether small children, abecedarians, should be admitted, 
after deliberMion of some daj's, they decided in favor of it, on the 
ground that unless such children were taught to read, the}' could 
never read the Scriptures. Mr. Perry then. Ma}', 1812, gathered 
some eighteen of his own and neighbors' children in the red school- 
house. School Street, during the hour before morning service. After 
the hour was spent, most of his school accompanied him to the church. 
The school was opened by Scripture reading and prayer ; lessons 
were recited in the Bible and primer. Those that could read, read in 
the Bible at least once, and the portion read he explained as he best 
could. That first season, closing in October, passed without an 
assistant or a visitor ; and so his service of love continued until in 
1810, Mr. David Starret, a student in college (1819), was secured as 
an assistant, and more interest was taken in this humljle work. 
President Appleton exhibited decided interest in the movement. .\t 
his suggestion, several of the church and parish met in 1817 to con- 
sider its claims, and the first formal organization of a Sabbath school, 
as an element in the work of the church, was made. A superintend- 
ent was chosen, teachers were appointed, wider interest awakened, 
and the institution permanently established." 

According to another account with which we have been favored, 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 375 

" the first school of this kind was opened earl_y in 181G, in the cloth- 
room of the factory, hy Mr. Jacob Abbott, Mr Bourne, and Mr. 
Edwai'ds, the credit of suggesting it belonging to the former gentle- 
man. Deacon John Perry and several other gentlemen were invited 
to act as teachers. As the cold weather came on, the school was 
moved to the school- house near Miss Narcissa Stone's, and David 
Starrett and a Mr. Vance were the teachers. After a while it was 
moved to the red school-house." The writer of the above was con- 
nected with tliis school from its formation until 1826, and says that 
if one was formed earlier it certainl}' died out, as there was none in 
town wlien this school was formed, in 1816. 

The following is a list of the settled pastors of the cluircli, and 
of the deacons and members prior to the present centur}' : — 

PASTORS. 

Reverend Robert Dunlap, 1747-1760 ; Reverend John Miller, 1762- 
1788; Reverend Ebenezer Coffin, 1794-1802; Reverend Winthrop 
Bailey, 1811-1814; Reverend Asa Mead, 1822-1820; Reverend 
George Eliashib Adams, 1829-1870; Reverend Kzra B3'ington, 1871. 

DEACONS. 

Samuel Stanwood, David Dunning, Samuel Clark, Isaac Snow. 

MEMBERS. 

(This list of members is supposed to be quite imperfect, but it 
includes all the names which can be found in the records.) 

List in the Handwriting of Reverend John Miller, waio was 
ORDAINED November 3, 1762. — John Miller, pastor; Jolni Orr, Mair 
Point ; Samuel Stanwood, deacon ; Ebenezer Stanwood, died July 
18, 1772 ; Tliomas Adams, recommended to the church in Scotland, 
Jul}', 1765; William Ross ; David Dunning, deacon; Williarn Simp- 
son ; Samuel Clark, deacon ; James Ilewey ; Robert Given ; John 
Given ; Thomas Skolfleld ; John Gatchell, Senior ; Isaac Snow, dea- 
con ; Peter Coombs, died January, 1768; Peter Coombs, Junior; 
Aaron Hinkley ; James Thompson, renounced the church ; Alexander 
Thompson; James Curtis, received May, 1763; Samuel Whitney, 
deacon, dismissed to a church to be gathered at St. John's River, 
eastward ; Reverend Robert Dunlap ; Enoch Danforth, received May, 
1763, from church in Arundel; Benjamin Stone; George Hayden, or 
Ileadon, or Iladdean, received September, 1765 ; Joseph Snow, 
received September, 1765 ; William Wilson, received December, 1762 ; 



376 HISTOBY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Samuel Snow, son of Deacon S., received October, 1765 ; Robin Mil- 
ler (colored man); Robert Dunnina;, received May, 1772; 

Allen; Andre^j- Dunning, deacon, received July, 1772; William Cot- 
ton; Daniel Browne, received July, 1772: Thomas Pennell , Susan- 
nah Orr ; Hannah INIoody, removed to Falmouth ; Hannah Minot, 
Catherine Smart, removed to Penobscot ; Jane Rutherford, removed 
to Georges, eastward ; Eliza Stanwood, wife of William ; Jane Stan- 
wood ; John Smart ; ^ John Minot ; - Jane Dunlap, wife of Reverend 
Robert ; Mary Spear, wife of Robert : EUzabeth Ross, wife of Wil- 
liam ; Mary Dunning ; Hannah Harward ; Agnes Simpson, wife of 
William : Martha Clark, wife of Samuel ; Anna Given ; Mary Skol- 
field, wife of Thomas ; Mar^- Snow, daughter of Deacoii-S., received 
October. 17(15; Mary Whitney, wife of Deacon S. W., dismissed to 
St. John's River, October, 1765; Sarah Gra^-, received September, 
1765 ; Dorothy Gray, received September, 1765 ; Thompson; Thomp- 
son ; Ilinkley ; Ham; Elizabeth Hayden, wife of G., received Sep- 
tember, 1762; Dorcas Danforth, wife of E., received Maj-, 1763; 
Sarah Gray ; Mar}- Snow ; Sarah Dunning, wife of Robert, received 
July, 1772; Mary Hunt; Margaret Miller, wife of Reverend John; 
Elizabeth Dunning, wife of Andrew, received Jul}-, 1772 ; Mrs. Wil- 
liam Cotton, received July, 1772 ; Mrs. Daniel Browne, received Jul3^ 
1772 ; Alice Pennell, wife of Thomas, died 1839 ; Sarah Car}-. Total 
number of members, seventy-two. 

The following names are found in a list of those admitted to 
the church during Mr. IMiller's ministry, which are not found in 
the preceding one. This list is apparently also in Mr. Miller's 
handwriting. 

Daniel Hunt, James Elliot, William Dunning, Ephraim Hunt, 
Samuel Dunlap, Joseph Morse, Joseph Hale}-, Janett Hunt, wife of 
Daniel, Ruth Elliot, wife of James : all received April 20, 1783. 

A List of Members who signed a Church Document which is 
WITHOUT Date, but is at least as late as 1783, as it includes three 
Names admitted in 1783. — Judah Chase; Robert Dunning; William 
Stanwood ; Samuel Stanwood, Junior ; Samuel Stanwood, 3d ; Lewis 
Simpson ; Stephen Skolfield ; William Woodside ; Daniel Woodside, 
Junior ; Anthony Woodside ; David Dunning ; David Dunning, Junior ; 
Andrew Dunning ; Samuel Stanwood ; John Dunlap ; William Stan- 
wood, 2d ; William Spear ; Samuel Dunlap ; John Swett ; James Cary ; 
William Stanwood, 3d. 

> Pcjepscot Papers, 5, p. 311, et seq. 2 Jijid. 



ECCLESIASTICAL IIISrORY OF BRUNSWICK. 377 

In a list of cliurch iiicinhors (liiring the ministry of Keverenfl Eben- 
ezer Coffin and subsequently, the following are not found in previous 
lists : — 

William Owen ; Patrick Kincaid, deacon, July, 1800 ; Tobias Still ; 
James Curtis, deacon, removed to Lisbon ; Mary Owen ; Sarah Given ; 
Martha Ross ; Mrs. Eunice Harding : Mrs. Hannah Lunt, received 
August, 1795 ; Jeremiah Minot. received August, 1796 ; Jane Dunlap, 
received August, 179G; Mrs. Goss, received May, 1801. 

On account of the former connection of the First Parish with the 
town, an account is here inserted of the 

r^^RISn FUND. 

The origin of the fund was this : The meeting-house, which Avas 
built in 1806, was built by individuals with the understanding that the 
pews should be sold at auction, and that all that was paid over the 
amount needed to reimburse the builders was to go to the parish as a 
ministerial fund, only the interest of which was to be available for 
parish purposes. This fund could be added to by donations and other- 
wise, but the principal was not to be used. In 1816 the oveiyhis of 
the town Commons — one hundred and uinetN'-seven acres — was set 
off to the parish and was afterwards sold to Mr. John Given. The 
l)i'oceeds of the sale were added to this fund. This overplus of the 
Commons was the amount of land over the one thousand acres, which 
by the jn'oprietor's deed of 1783 was to go to the First Parish. It 
was not the '• ministerial lot" of one hundred acres laid out by the 
proprietors in 1741. What became of the proceeds of the sale of the 
latter, we do not know. It may have been expended in building the 
first two meeting-houses. It formed no part of the parish fund. 
This fund is said at one time to have amounted to $5,000 or more. 
At first it was loaned to individuals, and some of the loans were lost 
by the parties dying insolvent. Afterwards the trustees of the fund 
bought some thirt}' or more pews in the meeting-house, and loaned the 
balance of the funds to the parish. By bad management this fund 
has dwindled away, and nothing now remains but a small lot of land 
back of the church. 

BAPTIST SOCIETIES. 

The first services in Brunswick by an}' preacher of the Baptist 
denomination were held in the year 1783. About this time Elders 
Case, Potter, and Lord preached here in some private houses, and 
though it is not known that they made an}' converts, the attention of 



378 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

the people was thus drawn to their particular theological A'iews. On 
October 21, 1783, Reverend Isaac Case arrived in town. The next 
afternoon he preached at the house of a Mr. Woodard, and on the 
afternoon of the following da^-, he preached at the house of Mr. 
Samuel Getchell.^ 

In 1789^ or 1790, ^ Samuel Woodard and others formed tliemselves 
into a Baptist Society and refused taxes to the First Parish. In May, 
1790, Joseph Morse entered in the town records his protest against 
ever paying an3'thing to any Congregational or Presbj-terian preacher. 

On June 20, 1794, Judah Chase, William Mariner, Aaron Snow, 
Samuel ^Mariner, John Getchell, John Mariner, Charles Cowan, Peter 
Jordan, Robert Jordan, Anthony Woodside, David Ferrin, John Fer- 
rin, Robert Dunning, David Clark, Benjamin Getchell, Stephen 
Getchell, John Williams, George Williams, Philip Higgins, Reuben 
Higgins, Sylvanus Combs, Philip Higgins, Jr., Samuel Williams, 
AYilliam Thompson, Joseph O'Donehue, Joseph Morse, Richard Orr, 
William Stanwood, Samuel Dunlap, Daniel Brown, Philip Owens,"* 
Samuel Iluey, Joseph Ross, John Mariner, Jr., Josiah Simpson, 
Michael Grows, Nathan Combs, George Winsjlow, Joseph Saint 
Combs, AVilliam Dunning, Samuel Woodward, Peter Woodward, Wil- 
liam Gatchell, Jr., Fzekiel Spaulding, Ezekiel Spaulding, Jr., John S. 
Gatchell, John Ridout, Samuel Gatchell, John Matthews, David Lin- 
scot, William Woodside, Jr., George Combs, and George Combs, Jr., 
were incorporated by the name of " The Baptist Religious Society 
IN Brunswick, Haupswell, and Bath." ^ Previous to this time the 
society had no legal existence. 

In May, 1795, the town voted to pass by the fourth article in the 
warrant concerning allowing the Baptists to use the meeting-houses a 
part of the time. 

The following is a list of the names of those who joined the 
Baptists in 1796 : — 

On jNIarch 4, David AVhiine}', Simeon Whitne}', Saiuuel Bean, Joshua 
Purinton, Abraham Capelon, Lemuel Standish, Jonathan Osgood, Jr., 
Jonathan Osgood, Francis Winter, Benjamin Chefford, Charles Peter- 
son, William Grace, John Grace, James Ward, Thomas Crawford, 
Thomas McKenny, Isaiah Crooker, Hannah Crooker, Elijah Williams, 
Thomas AVilliams, Jr. 



> Millctt. 2 Greenleaf's Ecclesiastical SJi-ctches. ^Pejepscot Papn-s. 

*Said to have been the first person ever baptized by immersion in Brunswick. 
5 Massachusetts Special Laws, 1, p. 529. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 37!) 

On March 10, William Swauton, Jr., John Lowell, Otis Little, 
Patnck Murray, 

On March 12, Joseph West, James Wakefield. 

On March 14, John Whitmore, James Mitchell, Eliphalet Lowell, 
William S. Crooker, Samuel Lumber, Joseph Lumber, Birduck Berry, 
Thomas Mitchell. 

On March 16, John McFarlan, John Eneos, Patrick Williams, 
Thomas Williams, John Williams, Joshua Williams, John Campbell, 
John Lemont, Stephen Combes, Stephen Combes, Jr., Thomas Combes, 
John Holbrook, John Sprague, Simeon Higgins^ Jacob Low, James 
Low, Zedoc Lincoln, William Marshall, William Marshall, Jr. 

On March 17, William Jackson, Edward Oliver, Christopher 
Daley. 

On March 18, Samuel Davis, James Davidson, Samuel Todd, 
Simeon Tumor, Charles Lincoln, Jonathan Ryon, Benjamin Brown, 
Jr., Elliphalet Brown, David Coultson, Patrick Grace, Nathaniel 
Springot, John Sinclair. ^ 

In 1798 the town voted " to allow the Baptist Society their extraor- 
dinary' expense in the lawsuit between them and the other society in 
this town," which was to be in full of all demands. The object of 
this suit is nowhere stated, but the record of the Court of Common 
Pleas shows that at the October term of Court in 1795, "Samuel 
Woodward of Brunswick in the County- of Cumberland, Clerk and 
Teacher of Piety, Religion and Morality," brought a suit against the 
inhabitants of Brunswick, one of whom was Thomas Thompson, a 
deputy sherif}', in a plea of the case that the inhabitants were indebted 
to the said Woodward in the sum of £10 17s. Gd. The plaintiff 
failed to recover, and costs were awarded to the defendants for nine- 
teen dollars and eight3'-six cents. The plaintiff appealed to a 
higher court. This was probably the lawsuit referred to, though we 
cannot be certain about the matter, since the oiiginal papers cannot be 
found. It is probable that there was an assessment of taxes made by 
the town, which was also the First Parish, upon property of some kind, 
to sustain preaching, and the suit was instituted by this society to obtain 
its share of the amount collected. 

Li 1799, Philip Owen, William Dunning, Daniel Brown, Judidi 
Chase, Samuel Dunlap, J( siah Simpson, Anthony Woodside, Michael 
Grows, and Joseph Ross withdrew from this society and formed one 
at Maquoit. 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 



380 HIsrORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HAHPSWELL. 

The nieetiiisi-lKMise of the Bninswick, IIari)swell, ami Bnth society 
was at New Meadows. The date of its erection, accovdina: to the 
inscription upon the present building-, was about 1800. The records 
of this eliureli are in existence, but we liave not been able to procure 
the loan of them and are tlierefore unable to give any furtlier account 
of it. 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OK BRUNSWICK. 

[1791).] A small number of persons having been led to embrace 
" Believers' Baptism," thought it miglit conduce to the glory of God 
and their comfort to be embodied togetlier in church order. They 
therefore applied to the church in North Yarmouth and the church in 
Harpswell. of tlie Bai)tist order, for tlioir assistance. Agreeably with 
this request tlie elders and messengers fi'om tliosp churches, together 
with Eldei' Williams, met at the Bai)tist meeting-house at Maquoit, on 
the second week in September, 1 7!tl). Elder Woodward preached a ser- 
mon in the forenoon on the nature of church order. 

The brethren and sisters who met to be embodied were examined 
with regard to their articles of faith and covenant, and it api)earing 
that they had adopted the same which is embraced by the Bowdoin- 
ham Association, a summary of which is printed in their minutes, the 
council decided to give them the hand of fellowship as a distinct Bap- 
tist church. The names of those thus embodied were, Judah Chase, 
Samuel Dunlap, William Stanwood, Sarah Woodside, Philip Owen, 
Mrs. Ross, wife of William Ross, and J. Merrill. 

Mr. Merrill was dismissed from the Bowdoin church and the 
others from the Harpswell church in order to form this new church in 
Brunswick. 

William Woodside was baptized, and then the church made choice 
of Samuel Dunlap as deacon. 

Elder AVilliams having for some time preached to the Baptist 
society in Brunswick and in Topsham, they mutually requested him 
to remove his residence among them and preach for the two societies 
alternatelv. The invitation was accepted, and he moved with his 
family to Brunswick, January 24, 1800, i)reaching half the time for 
the Baptist society in Brunswick, and half for the Baptist society in 
Topsham. 

On the fifteenth of April, 1800, an arrangement was made by 
which Pillder Williams should preach for the ensuing year for the socie- 
ties of Brunswick and Topsham, each society paying one hundred 
dollars for his services. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUM'S WICK. 381 

In April, 1801, Elder AVillianis was engaged to preach for the 
Brunswick society alone at a salar}' of two hun(h-ed dollars, and in 
April, 1802, he was engaged to supply the pulpit for another year. 
In the spring of 1803 he removed to Beverly, Massachusetts, having 
preached his farewell discourse on the tvvent3--fourth of April. 
" After Elder Williams left us, a Brother Kendall providentiall}- fell in 
here and preached for us." ^ 

On the twent}'- second of February, 1803, Philip Owen, William 
Dunning, Daniel Brown, Judah Chase, Samuel Duulap, Josiali .Simp- 
son, Anthon}- Woodside, Michael Grows, Joseph Ross, Sanuiel Stan- 
wood, William Woodside, Andrew Blake, Abraham Toothaker, VN'il- 
liam Starbird, David Curtis, James Stanwood, Adam Woodside, 
David Dunning, AVilliam Ross, Frederic French, Nathaniel Chase, 
James Chase, AVilliam Swett, Shimuel Owen, Al)ner Melcher, AN illiani 
Low, Charles Rjan, Ephraim Hunt, William Lunt, Andrew Dunning, 
William Hunt, Anthou}' Chase, Gideon Toothaker, John Given, 
Daviil Given, and Uriah Elliot were incorporated as the Baptist 

SOCIKTY IN BkUNSWICK. 

TIk^ following is a list of the members of the church in 1803 : 
Deacon Samuel Dunlap, Jndah Chase, Philip Owen, John IVIerrill, 
Esquire, Wm. Woodside, Mis. Sarah Woodside, Mrs. Ross, wife of 
Wm. Ross, Abraham Toothaker and his wife, Betse}' Owen, Molly 
Toothaker, Jane Curtiss, Molly Merryman, Mr. Browning and Mrs. 
Browning, Elisha Snow, Jean Dunning, Betsey- Alexander, Martha 
Hunt, Jane Martin, Mrs. Snow, wife of Elisha Snow, Mrs. Brown, 
wife of Daniel Brown, Sarah Alexander, JNIrs. Sparks, Hitty Hase}', 
Abner Melcher, Nal)!)^- Atherton, Katharine Willson, Andrew Blake, 
lleziah Blake, Peggy Stanwood, Ann Chase, and Shimuel Owen. 

On September 8, 1804, Elder Titcomb, of Portland, at the request of 
the church and society, agreed " to minister to them in holy things." 
This invitation was formally extended by the society on August 29, 
1805, and was accepted by him on the first of the following September. 

On June 2, 1821, Elder Titcomb was dismissed at his own request, 
and received a letter of recommendation to other churches. The 
church was destitute of a settled pastor for some time, but had occa- 
sional preaching from Elder Titcomb and others. 

On January 23, 1822, Benjamin Titcomb, Jr., was ordained, the 
churches in Topsham, Portland, North Yarmouth, Bath, Harpswell, 
and Freeport assisting. On November 1 1 of the same 3'ear a com- 

'^All of this account Js from the church and parish records- 



382 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

mittec consisting of David (iivon, Jolm O'Brien, and Ephraini Brown 
was chosen " to provide a suitable place in the village and also an- 
other at Maqnoit.' to meet in the winter for worship, and to take into 
consideration cjur present difficult situation in regard to making a 
selection of a teacher for the present j-ear." 

On the eleventh of March, 1824, it was voted tliat Elder Benjamin 
Titcoml) continue his labors in the church as usual. 

On the ninth of August of that year Shinuicl Owen, a member of this 
church. Avas ordained as an evangelist. In Xovember, a conunittee 
was appointed to ascertain the minds of the individual church members 
as to whether they were satislied with the labors of Elder Titcomb. 

It appears from the records that the church had been somewhat 
divided, and on the sixth of April. 182."), it was voted that -'this 
church views with abhori'ence and detestation their present state as a 
church, and feeling desirous to walk together in the faith and fellow- 
ship of the gospel, we do hereby unitedly agree to bnr}' forever in 
oblivion all hardness which we mav have felt or do now feel in onr 
minds against any of our brethren or sisters, and that we will, with 
the help of the Divine Spirit, freely and voluntarily forgive all that 
ma}' have trespassed against us." Up to this time the whole member- 
ship of the church was about one hundred and fifty. - 

On the tenth of April the following members requested to be dis- 
missed to form themselves into a church, or to join some other church, 
and the request was granted : — 

Aaron Dunning, Philip Owen, Catharine II. Putnam, INIarv Hum- 
phreys, Sarah Owen, Margaret Donahue, Elizabeth Gould, Nancy 
Swift, Elizabeth Dunning, Marj' Blake, Marv Chase, Betsey Petingill, 
and Sarah Stanwood. 

At the same meeting the church refused to grant permission to two 
of^its members to withdraw and join the church of the Second Societ}', 
and a committee was chosen to prci)arc a statement of facts relative 
to the conduct of the other church since its formation. 

On the twenty-sixth of June. 1820, a petition was addressed to 
Peter O. Alden, Esquire, a justice of the peace, requesting him to 
issue his warrant to one of the subscribers, directing him to call a 
meeting of those persons who were desirous of being incorporated 
into a religious society, to be called the Eiust Baptist Rkligious 
Society of Brunswick. 

1 There was no chimney in the Maquoit meeting-house, and there was therefore no way 
of hcalinrj it. 
' -^Millet. 



ECCLESIASTICAL IlISTOUY OF BRUNSWICK. 383 

In accordance with this petition, P^squire Aklen issued his warrant 
to Ephraim Brown, directing him to call a meeting of the petitioners 
on the eighth day of Jul}'. 1826. At this meeting the society was 
organized by the choice of the following officers : — 

John Brown, moderator ; Jonathan Snow, clerk ; David Given. John 
Brown, and Captain John Given, Jr., assessors; David Given, col- 
lector and treasurer; John Brown, David Given, Ephraim Brown, and 
Samuel Given, standing committee; Ephraim Brown. William II. 
Morse, William James, wardens ; Nathaniel Melchcr, sexton. 

This organization was virtually the same as that incorporated in 
1803 as the '• Baptist Society in Brunswick." Many of its members 
had withdrawn and had established themselves as a society in the 
village, called the " Second Baptist Society." It is quite probable 
that the officers of the old societ}' were among those who seceded, 
and being thus left without an organization, the remaining members 
applied to a justice of the peace under the laws of Maine, for authority 
to reorganize under a slighth' different name. 

In Jul}- the society voted to raise two hundred dollars for the ensu- 
ing year. 

On September, 1826, the churches of the First and Second Societies 
met to discuss their differences. The church of the First Society 
claimed that the other church had no right to admit as members those 
who were excluded from the former, until the}' had been restored to 
fellowship and regularly dismissed by it. The church of the Second 
Society claimed that they had a right to admit such members, so long 
as the other church had nothing against the Christian character of 
these individuals. No agreement was reached between the two. In 
November, Adam Wilson was invited to preach one half the time. 

On January 8, 1827, it was voted to join in fellowship with the 
Second Church, which had acknowledged some irregularities in receiv- 
ing members who were excluded from the First Church. 

On February 23, Elder Benjamin Titcomb asked permission to 
preach to those of the society who resided in the village, or to hold 
meetings in that part of the town, and it was voted " that it is the 
opinion of this church that Elder Titcomb is at liberty to preach any- 
where in this town where he views it to be his duty." In April some 
of the members of the old society complained that many members 
absented themselves and attended Mr. Titcomb's meeting in the vil- 
lage instead of their own. 

It had been the practice for some years to hold the meetings of the 
society in the village in the winter, and at the old meeting-house at 



3S4 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, JOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

Maqiioit in the summer. This year, on June 1, the vinage members 
requested that the meetings might continue in the village through the 
summer, but it was voted not to do so. A few days later thirteen 
members petitioned for liberty to attend meeting in the village, as it 
would be more convenient for them, but their request was not granted. 
In October, Elder Titcomb asked a dismissal, Avhich was granted him, 
and also to Mar^-, his wife, and to Elizabeth Titcomb, Ephraim Brown, 
and Kebecca, his wife, Thomas Stanwood and wife, Thomas JVoycs, 
Joanna Moore, and Marj- R. Dunlap ; and on the third of November, 
Joshua Bishop, David Wilson, William Kandall, Mary Perkins, 
Patience Bishop, James Wilson, Isabelle INIerryman, and Puth Skol- 
field, of Harpswell, were dismissed to form a church in that town. 

On January- 4, 182«, a resolution was passed that Elder Titcomb, 
Ephraim Brown, John O'Brien, and others, " having asked dismission 
for the purpose of uniting with some otlier church, and having joined 
the Fu'st Church at Bath, and under their patronage have established a 
meeting in the villnge while there is already one church of this faith 
there, causes us grief, and we i'eel in duty bound to express disfellow- 
ship with such a procedure." 

During the summer of this j'ear, thirt3--eight were added to the 
church. 

In consequence of the action of the First Baptist Church in Bath in 
sustaining the new movement in Brunswick village, a council was held 
February 2!), 1821), to settle the ditficulties between that church and 
the First Baptist Church in Brunswick, but the action of the council is 
not recorded. On Maj' 31, however, the Bath church sent a confes- 
sion of their wrong-doing in having set up a branch church in Bruns- 
wick without consultation with the churches already existing there. 
This action of the Bath church evidently reconciled this church to tlie 
formation of the new one in the village, for on October 11, Jonathan 
Snow and Thomas Ward were chosen delegates to assist in organizing 
the branch of the Bath church, known as the Federal Street Church, 
in Brunswick, into an independent church. 

The pulpit of the Maquoit or First Baptist Church had been sup- 
plied during the past three years by Elders Sanuiel Mariner, Adam 
Wilson, iShimuel Owen, and Ilenr}' Randall. ^ 

On May 22, 1830, it was agreed to try to raise mone}' by subscrip- 
tion for the support of the gospel. 

On the twentieth of August, 1831, it was voted that Elder John 



' Millett. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF URUXSWICK. 385 

Bailey, formeil3' of AViscasset, take the pastoral care of the church. 
He resigned his pastorate in June, 1833. 

Elder "William Johnson became pastor of the church in 183G, and 
continued in that capacity until 1840. In Jul}', 1836, Elder Noah 
Norton and wife were received bj' letter from the Baptist Church in 
Bowdoin. In 1838 the parish voted to raise by tax one hundred and 
fifty dollars for the ensuing year's expenses. 

In April, 1840, it was voted to engage Elder Noah Norton, and to 
raise one hundred and fift}- dollars by tax, and fifty dollars b}' sub- 
scription. 

It was voted this vear that all pew-ownors should give up their 
pews, and that thereafter they should all be free. 

On Ma}- 1, 1841, it was voted to build a new meeting-house, and 
that it should stand on the west side of the twelve-i'od road, near the 
road leading to Harpswell ; and Captain William Stanwood, Jonathan 
Snow, Jacob Skolfield, and William Stanwood, 2d, were chosen a 
building committee. Although there is nothing further upon the sub- 
ject in the records, it is known that instead of building a new meeting- 
house, the one on Federal Street, belonging to the Universalists, was, 
about 184G, purchased and moved to a lot near the junction of the old 
Harpswell and Mair Point roads, and it was thereafter known as the 
" Forest Church." 

From 1841 to 184.5, Elder Norton was annually chosen preacher. 

IClder Joseph Hutchinson was chosen pastor in 1848, and in 1852 
was dismissed at his own request. 

Meetings seem to have been held in the years 1853, 1858, and 
1866, but there is no record of any settled pastor, or of any impor- 
tant transactions. 

On May 19, 1867, Grenville M. Atkins was invited to become their 
pastor, and accepted the invitation. He was ordained June 13, 1867. 
He preached a few days over a year, resigning his charge on May 31, 
1868. Since then there has been no settled pastor of this church. 

The last entry in the records is dated April 29, 1867, and is to the 
effect that the parish met on that day and reorganized, and voted " to 
raise all we can for the support of the gospel." 

Connected with the history of this church is the following anecdote 
which is told of W^illiam W^oodside. He became " converted" under 
the preaching of Elder Potter, and at one of the meetings related his 
" experience," and, as was the custom in those days, he had much to 
say derogatory of himself. He was in reality a very good man, but 
iu his remarks he called himself a bad man, one who was wholly evil, 
25 



386 HISTORY OF DRUXSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HABPSWELL. 

whose CAen' act was wicked, and whose imaginations were all vain. 
When he sat down, a relative arose and with becoming gravit}' said 
that he conld vouch for the truth of all William had said ! 

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 

On Tuesday, Ma}' 5. 1825, a church was regularly constituted in this 
place, agreeabl}' to the Baptist platform, by a council assembled for 
the purpose, under the title of the " Second Baptist Church in Bruns- 
wick." The council consisted of delegates from eight churches, who 
were unanimously agreed in giving the right hand of fellowship. The 
records of this church have not been found, and it is not positively 
known who were its members. It is probable, however, that Aarou 
Dunning, Philip Owen, Catharine H. Putnam, Mary Humphrejs, Sarah 
Owen, Margaret Donahue, Elizabeth Gould, Nancy Swift, Elizabeth 
Dunning, INIary Blake, Mary Chase, Betsey Pettingill, Sarah Stanwood, 
Heman Pettingill, and Stanwood Dunning were among the first mem- 
bers All of these persons were previously members of the First 
Baptist Church, and were dismissed from that church on the tenth of 
April of that year in order '' to form themselves into a church, or to 
join some other church." The Second Baptist Society was not formed 
for a year later. 

In 182(j a meeting-house was erected on School Street. Elder 
Shimuel Owen was pastor of this society from 1827 until it dissolved, 
in 1840.' The building was then sold to the Congregationalists, and 
has been used by them ever since as a vestry. 

FEDERAL STREET BAPTIST SOCIETY. 

In 1828, Elder Benjamin Titcomb, Ephraim Brown, John O'Brien, 
and a few other members of the First Baptist Society, asked and 
received dismission from that church and united with the First Baptist 
Church of Bath, under whose patronage the}' established meetings in 
the village of Brunswick. Notwithstanding there was at the same 
time another Baptist society in the village (the Second Baptist) , and 
notwithstanding the opposition made toward this new movement by 
the First Baptist Society, it was successful, and in 1829 it was organ- 
ized as a church. In April, work was begun upon a meeting-house, 
and the building was completed on the twelfth of the following Sep- 
tember. It was situated on Federal Street, at the corner of what is 
now Franklin Street. ^ This church, it is said, was under the pastoral 



Millet. 2 ji J.5 yl(J•^^^ fji^ Catholic Church. 



ECCLE.'ilASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 387 

care of Elder Titcomb during the whole period of its existence. It 
was dropped from the association of Baptist churches in 1839. No 
records of tlie church having been found, we are unable to give a more 
complete and accurate sketch. 

MAINE STREET RAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 

In the earl}' part of 1840 a very extensive revival took place in 
Topsham and Brunswick. In October, twent3'-four persons from the 
church in Topsham, who resided in Brunswick, were organized into a 
church. The society was formed in the same year, and a meeting- 
house, containing seventv-tive pews, was erected on Maine Street, a 
few rods north of Lincoln Street. ^ The Reverend Paul S. Adams, 
from South Berwick, was the first pastor, from January- 3, 1841, to 
IS 13. He was succeeded by Reverend Dudley C. Ha3'nes, whose 
pastorate lasted between two and three years. 

Reverend John Hubbard, Jr., was chosen pastor January, 1846, at 
a salary of two hundred dollars per annum. His pastorate ended Oc- 
tober 4, 1851. Reverend J. W. Coburn was pastor from March 15, 
1852, until June 2, 1853 ; and in November of the latter 3'ear he was 
succeeded b}' the Reverend Charles Ayer, who remained until Septem- 
ber 1, 1856. Reverend E. Andrews, an evangelist, then supplied the 
pulpit for a few months, and was succeeded by the Reverend James 1). 
Reid, in October, 1857. In 1859, RcA-erend Charles Aj-er again sup- 
plied the pulpit. 

In June, 1860, the Reverend George Knox was installed as pastor 
of the society. In June, 1861, Mr. Knox was granted a leave of 
absence to act as chaplain of a Maine regiment, and Reverend S. 
W. Taylor was engaged to supply the pulpit during his absence. 
The former was discharged from his pastorate, at his own request, 
November 17, 1861. He was afterward killed by a fall from his 
horse. 

In 1862, Reverend T. J. B. House was chosen pastor, and remained 
with the society' three jears. In 1865, Reverend C. M. Ilerrino- was 
chosen pastor. During his pastorate a vestr^^ was built and the 
meeting-house was repaired and remodelled. 

Mr. Herring resigned his pastorate Jul}' 26, 1868, and was suc- 
ceeded, the next spring, b}' Reverend S. W. Emerson, who remained 
l)ut one 3"ear. 

Reverend B. F. Lawrence became pastor in June, 1870, and 



' The present Baptist Church. 



388 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AXD HAEPSWELL. 

remained for four years. Revereiul E. S. Small, the present pastor. 
began his pastorate February 20, 1876. 

The foregoing sketch of this parish is made from notes furnished by 
the parish clerk. It is not so full as could be wished, but is as com- 
plete as possible from the notes furnished. 

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 
There has never been any organized society of Friends in Bruns- 
wick, but about 1772 several (Quakers moved into town and settled 
not far from the line between Brunswick and Durham. Some of 
them had previously been living in Ilarpswell.' Others joined them, 
and there are now a number of excellent people in the west end of the 
town who belong to tliis denomination. Their meeting-house is in the 
town of Durham, and they belong to the society of tliat town. 

FREE-WILL BAPTIST SOCIETIES. 

About 1703, Elder Pelatiah Tingley, of AVaterboro', formerly of 
Sanford, began, with others, to hold religious meetings in Brunswick. 
These meetings were usually held at the house of William Alexander. - 
About 17!)9 the Fikst Free-Will Baptist Society, or as it was some- 
times called, the •• Ciikistiax Ciilkcii in Bruxswick axd FREEroiiT," 
was formed. The first church meeting was lield at James Elliot's on 
October 23, The members were Obadiali Curtis, Adam Fdliot, Vs"\\- 
liam Alexander. Anthony Morse. Joseph Ward, John Coombs, Susan- 
nah Morey, Hannah and Margaret Coombs. 

In 1807 the records state that there was considerable contention in 
the church, but the cause thereof is not given. On August 27. of 
this 3ear, the church numbered fort}' members. In 1809 there was a 
" considerable want of union and many backsliders." 

In 1810 the church was more prosperous, and man^- converts were 
made. This j'ear their meeting-house was built. It was a one-story 
building, and was situated near Noah Melcher's, on the old Freeport 
road. It was, it is said, the second meeting-house of this denomina- 
tion in the State. 

In 1813, on December 16th, Elder Adam Elliot, who had been set- 
tled about August, 1803, died, and the pulpit became vacant. In 
1816. Inkier George Lamb was settled. The whole number of mem- 
bers up to June 1, 1817. was one hundred and fift}*. 

On Ma^- 2, 1818, a division occurred in the church, on the question 

• P^epscot Papers. '^Stewart's Free-Will Baptists. 



ECCLESIASTICAL lilSTORY OF BRUNSWICK. oSO 

of washing of feet after the manner of the earl^' disciples, and a few 
members withdrew because the rite was not observed. 

On February 22. 1823, owing to the small number of members and 
the low state of interest existing, the society was declai'ed dissolved. 
On January 17, 1H26, the church was reorganized by a committee from 
the Qnarterly Meeting. The first meeting after the reorganization was 
held on the fourtli of Februar}-. On November 14, 1827, the Union 
Meeting-Honse at "Growstown" was finished, and the future meetings 
of this societ}' were held in it. 

In 1831, June 25, the church voted to use a bass-viol with their 
singing. A resolve to use no ardent spirits, except as a medicine, 
was passed at this meeting. On February 22, 1834, it was voted to 
deal with all church members who bad taken the pledge of temperance 
and had violated it. Elder Lamb resigned his pastorate on September 
25, 1835. He died in Brunswick. December 14, 1836, having served 
as pastor nineteen years. August 12, 1837. Elder Andrew Eollins 
was received as pastor of the church. The whole number of members, 
between 182G and 1839, was one hundred and ninet3'-three. 

On May IG, 1840, it was voted to increase Elder Rollins's salary 
from three hundred to three hundred and fifty dollars. February 20, 
1841, it was voted to recognize singing as a means of worship, and to 
make regulations in regard to the same. On July 22, 1842, Amos 
Lunt, Amos Lunt, Jr., Thomas Coombs, George Cobb, and Phineas 
Collins were dismissed, to organize the Freeport and Brunswick 
Church. On June 30, Elder Ezra Crowell was ordained. 

June 8, 1844, Elder E. G. Eaton was elected as pastor. He was 
dismissed February 12, 1847. During the latter 3'ear Elder E. F. 
Page officiated. On Februarj- 12, 1848, Elder Alraon Libby was 
settled. He was dismissed Februar}' 14, 1852, and in May of that 
j^ear Elder Rollins was again settled. The whole number of mem- 
bers up to 1851 was three hundred and sixty-eight, of which two 
hundred and twentj'five were females. 

February 12, 1853, the church repealed the old covenant and adopted 
the New Test imrmt as a covenant. On September 20, 1856, Elder D. 
Waterman was settled. In 1859, Elder Chaney was settled over the 
church, but his pastorate was a short one, as he resigned in the Octo- 
ber following. On Februarj^ 16, 1860, Elder Hutchinson was settled. 

TiiK Free Baptist Society of Brunswick Village was originally 
composed of members of the church at Topsham who resided in 
Brunswick, and who, on account of the distance, resolved to form a 
church of their own. 



390 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, ToPSHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

The first sermon was delivered in McLellan Hall, by Reverend 
Doctor Graham. No step had at that time been taken to form a soci- 
ety, though the matter had been somewhat discussed. On the evening 
of October 25, 186'), five men met at the house of ]Mr. Ezekiel 
Thompson to form a society-. Church oflicers were appointed to serve 
six mouths, and on the next Sabbath Reverend A. II. Heath, then of 
Bates College Theological School, was invited to preach at the Good 
Templars' Hall. The Sunday school was organized at the second 
meeting of the society, November 5, 1865. Mr. Heath continued to 
preach until the spring of 187G, when he returned to his studies at 
the Theological School, and Reverend E. C. B. Hallam, a returned 
missionar}', was engaged to preach in his stead. 

On the afternoon of April 12, 18G6, a council of ministers met at 
McLellan Hall, — to which place the society had moved its meetings, 
— to formally organize the church. Forty persons, including five con- 
verts, composed the society at this time. The council approved the 
course that had been taken, accepted tlie letters of recommendation 
that were presented, and extended the right hand of fellowship to the 
new society. Mr. Hallam was then installed as pastor. On the third 
of June following, the first communion service was held. Mr. Hallam 
was requested by the Missionar}^ Board to return to India, and in con- 
sequence of his acquiescence, he was obliged to preach his farewell 
sermon on Sunday eve, November 1 1 . 

In 1867, Reverend S. D. Church was called to the pulpit, and 
preached for two years. During his pastorate eleven persons weie 
received into the church. Reverend W. Y. Smith commenced to 
preach to this society on August 22, 1869. The church at that time 
had sixty-five members and a growing congregation. Upon the com- 
pletion of Lemout Hall, in 1870. the majority of the society desired to 
occupy it, and it was accordingly engaged for the Sabbath services. 
This change of place met with earnest opposition, however, from a 
few members, who refused to enter the new hall and withdrew their 
support to the societ}'. Consequent!}', upon the eighth of June, nine 
persons, including both deacons, were excluded from church member- 
ship. During Mr. Smith's pastorate forty-three persons were added 
to the church by baptism or by letter. 

On November 30, 1872, the resignation of Reverend Mr. Smith was 
accepted. He was succeeded by Reverend H. P. Lamprey, wlio 
})reached for one year, then by Doctor Heath, of Hallowell. The time 
of the latter was divided between two churches and the practice of 
medicine. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 391 

In the early part of 1875, Reverend B. M. Edwards, the present 
pastor, was settled. The society had for some time desired a house of 
worship, and in 1874 a lot of land upon O'Brien Street was purchased 
for the site of one. In the autumn of 1875 the building was com- 
menced. The vestry on the lower floor was finished before the middle 
of the following summer, and on the ninth of July, 187G, the first ser- 
mon in the new house was preached by Mr. Edwards. It was owing 
hirgely to the efl!orts of the pastor that the building was erected. 

This church in its first years was unfortunate in losing many of its 
leading members by death, among whom were Deacon Dresser, Mr. 
Ezekiel Thompson, and Mrs. Smile}^. '' Aunt Smile}-," as she was 
called, had prayer-meetings at her house for more than thii'ty 3"ears, 
and wlien this sociel}" was formed, their weekly pra3'er-meetings were 
held there until after her death. Mr. Thompson was elected a deacon 
after Mr. Dresser died, and served faithfuil}' up to the time of his own 
decease. Deacon Dresser was one of the most active members in 
forming the society and was always zealous in its support. 

A good degree of religious interest has always been kept up in this 
society, and the church shai'ed largely in the revival work of the past 
winter. Tliere are now one hundred and twenty-nine members. The 
Sunday school has been well supported, and there are now connected 
with it nine teachers and one hundred and thirty scholars. ^ 

UNIVERSALIST AND UNITARIAN SOCIETIES. 

The records of the Universalist Society, previous to its uniting 
with the Unitarians in 1850, having been lost or destroj^ed, a per- 
fectly accurate history of the society is impossible. It is believed, 
however, that the following sketch is substantially correct, and it is as 
complete as could be made from the material at our disposal. 

The first movement toward sustaining Universalist preaching here 
was made in the year 1H12. The nature of that movement is best 
shown by the following agreement, the original of which is now in the 
possession of Mr. Harvej' Stetson, son of the Ilarvej^ Stetson who is 
named in the agreement : — 

" Brunswick, January 20tli, 1812. 

" We, whose names are here under written, Do Profess to believe 
jn the Doctrine of Universal Salvation by our Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ : And feeling it our Dut}^ as well as our privilege and 

' For the particulars of the foregoing sketch, ive are indebted to the pastor and to the 
parish clerk. 



392 HISTORY OF BRUySWICK, TOPS TI AM, AND HARPSWELL. 

highest happuiess to worship the one hving and true God in Christ 
Jesus : Do liereb\' agree and enter into Solemn Covenant to assemble 
together as a Religious Society on the Sabbath as often as we can 
convenienth' to worship the most high God : And that we will pay 
our proportion towards the expense of procuring a convenient place 
for convening together for publick and social "Worship : and for the 
support of Publick Teachers of Piet}-, Religion and Christian Morality 
in our Societ}* : 

" Lemfel Swift Dean Swift 

Jonathan Eastman ISTath^ Badger 

James Merkill Harvey Stetson 

James Gary Edward Raymond 

James Jones James Maxavell 

Robert Eastman Edw'ard Welch 

E. II. Goss Phineas Taylor 

James Gary Jr. Ira Fuller 

Roger Merrill Joseph Kimball 

Elijah Hall John Lee 

John Marston Edmund Prady 

Abner Pratt Solomon Gray 

Benj. Stephens Reed Welch 

John Gray Burt Townsend 

Abner A. Kelley Allen Wing. 
Stephen Lennox 31 " 

They were incorporated in October of that year as the First 
Universal Christian Society in Brunswick. Mr. Dean Swift is 
probably the only one of the signers of the foregoing paper who is 
now living. 

Soon after this agreement was made, arrangements were made with 
the Reverend Thomas Barnes, of Norway, to preach here once a 
month. The meetings were held in Washington Hall. Mr. Barnes 
came here on Saturday, on horseback, and returned on Monday. 
After the cotton-mill was ])uilt. in 1812-13, he received a good part 
of his pay in cotton yarn, which lie carried home in his saddle-bags. 
lie preached here for, probably-, a 3ear and a half. INIr. Barnes was 
called the "Father of Universalism in Maine." He came to Maine 
from Massachusetts in 1 799 as an itinerant pi'eacher. He was ordained 
over the united societies of Norway, New Gloucester, Falmouth, and 
Gray, Januaiy 6, 1802. He died in Poland in 1814. 

Reverend Jacob Wood, of Saco, succeeded Mr. Barnes, preacliing 
here occasionally, but for how long a time is uncertain. Probably- 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 393 

other itinerants visited the place from time to time. In 182G, Reverend 
S,ylvanns Cobb ^ preached here several Sabbaths. 

On the twenty-seventh of January, l.'^27. INIajor Burt Townsend,^ 
Captain Roger Merrill,^ Captain Joseph McLellan,^ Thomas Tay- 
lor,2 Colonel Andrew Dennison,^ Joshua Lnfkin,^ Harvey Stetson,^ 
James Derby,^ A. C. Raymond, Joseph Lnnt, John L. Swift, 
and others wliose names we cannot ascertain, formed a society 
under the name of The Universalist Society of Bruxsavick and 

TOPSHAM. 

Arrangements were at once made with Reverend INIr. Cobb to 
preach once in three or four weeks. The meetings were held in Wash- 
ington Hall. This engagement continued until Februarj', 1828 (about 
one .year), when it terminated. 

In April of that year Reverend Seth Stetson (Father Stetson, as he 
was called in later j'ears) came East on a missionary tour, and 
preached here, for the first time, on Thursday evening, April 17, 1828. 
On the following Sunday, as he says in his diary, he " preached in a 
large hall to a good number of men." The next day he went to Tops- 
ham, where he was the guest of Major William Frost, and in the 
evening he preached in the court-house. From Topsham he went to 
Bowdoinham and other places in the vicinity, and soon after returned 
to Boston, where he then resided. 

About tlie first of June following, he received an invitation to 
remove to Brunswick, and preach in the three towns of Brunswick, 
Bath, and Bowdoinham. alternately. He accepted the invitation, and 
on the twenty-second of June, 1828, he preached in Brunswick, and 
continued to preach there ever}- third Sabbath imtil May 10, 1829, 
when his engagement closed. 

A meeting-liouse for this parish was ev cted in 1820. It was 
situated on Federal Street, directly' opposite the present high- 
scliool building. Reverend Mr. Stetson was invited to preach 
in the new meeting-house during the winter, for which he received 
eight dollars a Sabbath. After the twenty-first of Februar}', 1830, 
he i)reached a few Sabbaths for what he could get. a collection 
being taken up each Sabbath. The amount collected being too 
small for his necessities, he gave up the field and went on a mis- 
sionary tour, and in May following removed Avith his family to 
Buckfield. 

' He teas afterwards, settled at Maiden, Massachusetts, ivhere he died. He loas a prorn- 
in"7tt clprcpjman in the denomination. 
^ Deceased. 



394 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

From this time until 1835 the Univcvsalists were witliout preaching, 
and their meeting-house was occupied by the 

UNITARIANS. 

On tlie eleventh of December, 1829, a meeting of Unitarians was 
held, and it was decided to form a society for the establishment and 
maintenance of Unitarian preaching in Brunswick. The organiza- 
tion was effected on the third day of January, 1830, under the 
title of The Second Congregational Society op Brunswick, ^ 
and was composed of twenty -three members, all of whom were 
avowed Unitarians. No records having been kept, we are unable 
to give a complete list of the members. Among them, however, 
were the following: Benjamin Weld, Charles Weld, Governor 
Dunlap, Professor Henry W. Longfellow, Ebenezer Everett, John 
Coburn, John S. Gushing, Humphrej' Purinton, and Major AVilliam 
Frost. 

A subscription paper was soon after circulated to raise funds to sup- 
port preaching. This list numbered fift^'-five, and included some 
Universalists who s^-mpathized with the Unitarians, and were willing 
to aid in support of Unitarian preaching. 

The Universalists gave the use of their meeting-house, and in June, 
1x30, the first Unitarian sermon was preached in Brunswick. Reverend 
Andrew Bigelow was the preacher. 

From ,Iune, 1830, to June, 1835, there was regular Unitarian 
preaching, but there was not any of this time a settled minister. 
Of those who supplied the pulpit, Mr. Wiswell remained the 
longest.^ He preached here from 1832 to 1834, — a little more 
than two years. 

The other ministers supplied for a longer or shorter time, var3'- 
ing from two to ten or twelve Sundays each. The meetings were 
well attended, the building being generally well filled, but seldom 
or never crowded. Professor Longfellow conducted a Bible class 
for several years, which was largel^y attended, and which is spoken 
of by members of the class as having been exceedingly interesting 
and instructive. 



1 This society had, however no legal existence. 

2 The ministers supplyinrj the pulpit after Mr. Bigelow, were : H. Edes, Allen Put- 
nam, Caleb Stetson, William Newell, John II. Williams, Alonzo Hill, Sidney Willavd, 
A. B. Muzzey, John Goldsbury, William D. Wisivell, William A. Whiticell, Jabez 
WTiitman, R. A. Johnson, A, Davis, and Charles A. Farley. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 395 

A part of the congregation was composed of Topsham people, and 
after a time the meetings alternated between Brunswick and Topsham 
to accommodate them. Finally it was agreed between the Universal- 
ists and Unitarians that the former shonld maintain preacliing in 
Brunswick and the latter in Topsham. (See sketch of Unitarian soci- 
ety of Topsham.) In 1835 the 

UNI VERBALISTS 

Made a third engagement with Reverend Seth Stetson to supply 
their pulpits. Accordingly he again removed to Brunswick with 
his fiimily, and ever after resided here. His engagement began 
on the twent^'-eighth of June, 1835, and ended on the twenty- 
eighth of February, 183G. 

Early in June, 1836, Reverend Stephen A. Sneathen came here 
from Massachusetts, and preached occasionally during the months of 
June, July, and August. Reverend G. M. Quinb3% then settled at 
Yarmouth, also preached here occasionally during the same period. 
On the tenth of August, in this year, Mr. Sneathen entered into an 
engagement to preach every other Sabbath, a part of the time in 
Topsham. This arrangement was continued during the remainder of 
the year. On the twenty-fifth of January, 1837, Mr. Sneathen was 
ordained, and became the first settled minister of the society. He 
was a young man, physically a cripple, but said to be a speaker of 
more than ordinary abilit}'. Ilis pastorate ended in the spring of 
1838. 

Mr. Sneathen was succeeded by Reverend Sidney Turner, whose 
pastorate commenced in June or Jul}', 1838, and lasted until about 
the first of September, 1840. Father Stetson says of liim in his 
diar}', " He was a young Congregational minister who turned 
Universalist, but after a 3ear or two he turned back again. He 
married a minister's widow in Bingham, where he was settled in 
1849 " 

In October, 1840, ''Father" Stetson began his fourth and last 
engagement, preaching every other Sunday- until April, 1842. 

He was succeeded by Reverend Giles Baile^y,! who began a 
supply of the pulpit in April, 1842. In July he removed hore 
from Winthrop, the place of his first pastorate, and where he 



^ Noio paMor of the UniversaliM Church in Reudinr/, Pennsylvania, and to whom we 
are indebted for many of the facts contained in this sketch. 



306 inSTOIiY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HABPSWELL. 

was ordained. He preached regularly during the 3'ear, Init was 
not formally installed until January 7, 1843. The installation 
sermon was preached by Reverend INIr. Gardiner, of Waterville. 
The pastorate of Mr. Baile}' continued until September, 1848, when 
he resigned to enter npon the duties of the missionary agenc}' of 
the Maine Universalist Convention. The society was, during the 
pastorate of Mr. Bailey, in its most flourishing condition. The 
olficers of the society' at that time were Colonel Andrew Dennison, 
and Anthou}' Eaymond (or ''Father" Raymond, as he was called), 
deacons ; Isaac Center, clerk ; Nathaniel Badger, collector and 
treasurer. During this pastorate the Mason Street Church was 
built. It was dedicated in December, l^A^Q. 

After the resignation of Mr. Bailey the church was without a pastor 
for several months. Earh' in the year 1849, Reverend W. C. George 
was called to the charge. He remained onh- a year, when the societ}' 
was again without a pastor. 

The Universalist Society of Brunswick and the Unitarian Society of 
Topsham were both at this time in a feeble condition, the result 
chiefly of deaths and removals. It was therefore proposed to unite 
the two societies in one organization, to be known as 

THE MASON STREET RELIGIOUS SOCIETY. 

The necessary arrangements were made, and went into effect on the 
first Sunday in November, 1850. Reverend Amos D. Wheeler, of 
Topsham, Unitarian, was the pastor. 

There was a debt of one thousand dollars upon the house, six hun- 
dred dollars of which was procured b}' the pastor ft-om prominent 
Unitarians in Boston, and the balance was paid by individual sub- 
scriptions in the society. 

The engagement of Reverend Doctor Wheeler was for live years 
onlv, and the salary was to be raised in equal proportions by the 
members of the society from the two towns. Doctor Wheeler's 
engagement was renewed from time to time, so that his services 
were not discontinued until October 1, 18G5, at which time he 
delivei'ed his farewell discourse, having been aj^pointed liy the 
American Unitarian Association to act in a missionarv' capacity in 
the State of Maine. 

During Doctor Wheeler's pastorate the ladies of this society formed 
an association, the object of which was : — 

^^ First, the promotion of kind, social. Christian intercourse and 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 397 

feeling among its members and generally thronghout the society with 
which it is connected ; and secondly^ to aid in the accomplishment of 
any religious or benevolent purpose from its funds or otherwise as a 
majority of its members may determine." 

Doctor Wheeler was succeeded by Reverend. William Ellery Cope- 
land, who was ordained on Thursday, July 26, 18GG. The services 
were as follows : — 

Introductory pra^'er, by Reverend Casneau Palfre}', D. D., of 
Belfast ; reading of Scripture, hy Reverend John Nichols, of Saco ; 
anthem, by choir; sermon, by Reverend George Putnam, D. D., 
of Roxbury, ]\Iassachnsetts ; hymn ; ordaining prayer, b}' Reverend 
A. D. Wheeler, D. U. ; charge, by Reverend Edward E. Hale, 
of Boston ; right hand of fellowship, by Reverend Charles C Sal- 
ter, of West Cambridge, Massachusetts ; address to the people, hy 
Reverend Charles C. Everett, of Bangor; hymn; benediction, by the 
pastor. 

Mr. Copeland, like his predecessor, was a Unitarian in his views. 
The society, however, owing to the various causes which usuall}' com- 
bine to weaken any religious association, became gradually feeble, and 
as it became so, the Universalist element preponderated. Mr. Cope- 
land gave good satisfaction while pastor, though he laid himself open 
to the objection that was made, that he eared more for the temperance 
cause than he did for the success of this church. He resigned his 
charge in 1&6'J, and in 1870 Reverend William R. Erench. a Universal- 
ist, was chosen to fill his place, and continued as pastor of the society' 
until 1875, when he resigned. During his pastorate Mr. French 
labored faithfull}' and well for the interests of the society. Since his 
resignation no regular services have been held bv either the Universal- 
ists or Unitarians. 

THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF BliUNSWICK. 

This societ}' was legall}' organized on the fifth (\(\y of August, 1874. 
The incoiporators numbered fifty-three. Stephen J. Young, W. B. 
Purinton, A. G. Poland, Emeliue Weld, and Harriet Tebbets were 
elected a standing committee ; Henr}' W. Wheeler, clerk ; A. V. 
Metcalf, treasurer ; Humphre}- Purinton, collector; H.P.Thompson 
and Alonzo Da}', assessors. 

A code of b^'-laws was adopted and a committee chosen to 
present, at some future time, plans for a chapel suitable for the 
accommodation of the society, and to take measures to secure a 
suitable lot. 



398 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

In IMnrch. LS?;"), a lot was purchased on tlie corner of Federal and 
Tearl Streets for $1,500; the amonnt havino- been subscribed l»y mem- 
bers of the society. The society has not yet erected a church edifice, 
but the organization is maintained. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY OF BIIUNSWICK. 

The first Methodist preaching in Brunswick, of which we have 
any account, was in the year 1821. At that time Melville B. Cox, 
while laboring on a circuit approaching within eight miles of this 
place, came here and, securing the use of the school-house near 
the colleges, commenced a course of Sunday-evening lectures. His 
devout appearance and the pathos of his words interested his 
hearers and soon drew a considerable congregation, among whom 
were many students. One f:imily in the place kindly opened their 
doors for his entertainment. After he had continued his appoint- 
ment for some time, he came one Sabbath evening, wearied with 
the labors of the day and a long ride, from his place of preaching 
during the day, and called at the house of his host. lie saw no 
signs of any one in the house, and knocked at the door several 
times, when at length the man came to the door and said that he 
was very sorry to inform him that he must turn him awa}' from his 
house or be turned away himself. The preacher repaired to the 
place of meeting without a supper, preached liis last sermon in 
Brunswick, and then rode eight miles to find a lodging ; such was 
the opposition at that time against the Methodists. 

In the latter part of 1828, or earh- in 1829, Reverend AVilliam II. 
Norris, then stationed at Bath, preached a few times in this place, 
after which meetings were held occasionally by local preachers from 
Bath. At the Maine Annual Conference, held in Jul}', 1820, Rever- 
end Benjamin Bryant was appointed to the Bath circuit, including the 
upper part of Bath, New Meadows, and Brunswick. He spent a few 
Sabbaths in this village and formed a "class" of five members, 
namel}', Mrs. Snowden, Miss Jane Blake, Miss Eunice McLellan, 
Miss Margaret Todd, and Miss INIaria Walker. The last two are still 
living. 

The encouragement was so small that the place was abandoned, and 
at the succeeding Conference the circuit was merged in the Bath 
station. 

Soon after the above-mentioned class was formed, two Methodist 
students entered Bowdoin College (in 1828 and 1820). One of 
these, John Johnston (afterwards Professor of Natural Science 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 399 

ill Weslej-an Univorsit}-), manifested a firm attachment to Metho- 
dism and cordially identified himself with the humble society at 
Brunswick. The other, Charles Adams, was a licensed preacher, 
and preached in the neighborhood of Brunswick as occasion offered 
during his college course. Under his direction the small class 
increased in numbers, strengthened by occasional recruits from the 
college students. 

In the fall of 1833 the class consisted of about fourteen persons, of 
whom five were students in college. 

In the winter of 1834 an arrangement was made with a number of 
preachers in neighboring towns to supph' preaching one half the time 
on the Sabbath, until the session of the Conference in the following 
.lul}-. The preaching was gratuitous, the society paying the travelling 
expenses of the minister. 

At this Conference (1834) an application was made for a preacher 
to be supported in part b}^ funds of the Missionary Society. But the 
condition of the funds would not allow such an appropriation. The 
services of Reverend James Warren, a very acceptable local preacher, 
were obtained one half of the time. The request for a preacher was 
renewed the next year, 183;"), and Mr. Warren was apiiointed to Bow- 
doinham and Brunswick circuit. In consequence of ill-health, Mr. 
AN'arren retired from the circuit in two or three months, and Asahel 
Moore, who had just graduated at Bowdoin College, and who had al- 
ways been warmly interested in the society, was engaged to take 
charge of it and visit it once in two or three weeks, being then engaged 
in teaching school at Gardiner. Earl}' in the spring of 1836 he closed 
his school and devoted his whole time to the society in Brunswick. 
At this time there were about forty members in the society, including 
seven college students. 

'I hese meetings were held on the Sabbath in the Congregational 
conference-room, or in the Universalist meeting-house, which was 
hired for this jjurpose. 

On the sixteenth of April, 1836, Eliphalet S. Br3ant, Daniel Smith, 
Charles Evans, Rufus Rich, Ebenezer Stockbridge, and Albert Mer- 
rill requested Moses E. Woodman, Esquire, a justice of the peace, 
to issue a warrant to one of the applicants, directing him to call a 
meeting of the applicants for the purpose of organizing a religious 
society or parish, by the name of the Methodist Episcopal Society, 
in Brunswick. The warrrant was issued, and on the twentj'-fifth 
of April the applicants referred to met at the Baptist Meeting- 
House on Federal Street, and after appointing Asahel Rloore, 



400 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AXD HARPSWELL. 

Saiidford K. Bnllard, Stephen jNI. Yail, and Samuel G. Lane to 
be their associates, organized by the choice of Sanford K. Ballard, 
chairman, and Stephen M. Vail, clerk. A constitution was then 
adopted, and a board of trustees was elected, consisting of Honor- 
able ^VUen F. Cobb, of Durham, John Wilkinson, of Bath, Eben- 
ezer INIoore, of Gardiner, John jNIoore, of Gardiner, Eliphalet Bryant, 
of Brunswick, Ephraini Sturdivant, of Cumberland, and Samuel G. 
Lane, of Brunswick. 

In September following, the meeting-house on the east side of 
Federal Street, called the "Baptist Branch Meeting-IIouse," previ- 
ously occupied by the society of which Reverend Mr. Titcomb was 
pastor, was bought by the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Society 
for the sura of $1,900, and the lot upon which the building stood was 
purchased for fifty dollars additional. In payment the trustees gave 
notes payable at the expiration of one year. Something more than 
one half the amount was paid during the year, and new notes were 
given for the balance. 

On the tenth of January, 1838, the house was paid for, and on the 
seventeenth of April following the society was entirely free from debt. 
The whole pecuniary responsibility in the purchase of the meeting- 
house was assumed b}' Mr. Sturdivant. Some help was received from 
abroad, but in order to relieve Mr. Sturdivant from his heavy burden 
the parsonage (wliich had been built mostly b}' the generosity of 
Thomas Knowlton) was deeded to him, and the debt due to him 
mostly' paid. 

At the annual Conference, held in August, 1836, the Reverend 
Mark Trafton was appointed to Brunswick. He remained with the 
society about three months, and left in the apprehension that he could 
not receive a support. The societ}' was thus thrown into great dis- 
couragement. In this emergenc}' the pulpit was sujiplied by Isaiah 
McMahon, a student in college. 

In 1837, Reverend C. P. Bragdon took charge of the society-. His 
labors were quite successful, and a considerable number were added to 
the church. From 1838 to 1840, Reverend C. C. Cone was the preacher 
in charge. His labors were quite successful, and the society- was 
increased from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty-seven. He 
was succeeded by Reverend A. P. Hillman. During the two years' 
appointment of this preacher the society was reduced to ninety-three 
members. No cause for this diminution of membership is given in 
the society's records. 

In the year 1842, Reverend Asahel Moore was appointed to Bruns- 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 401 

■wick. The society was laboring under great embarrassment from its 
feebleness, but was consi(leral)ly improved under the labors of IMr. 
Moore, there being one hundred and fifteen members at the close of 
his two years' labor. 

Reverend Cornelius Stone was the preacher in charge in 1844. A 
few conversions occurred during the year, but the number of deaths 
and removals was more than sufficient to offset the gain. 

In 1845, Reverend Daniel Fuller was appointed to Brunswick. 
During the second year of his labors his health broke down and he 
did not long survive. His last sermon was preached in Janua,ry, 
1857, his subject being the Eternal World. He was a good preacher 
and a fiiithful pastor. 

His successor. Reverend John W. True, was appointed at the Con- 
ference held in Saco the same year. The church at this time was 
much enfeebled ])y removals and in consequence of being deprived of 
their pastor most of the year. The pastor was considerably inter- 
rni)ted in his work by sickness and other embarrassments, and the 
society hardly held its own during these two years. 

During the year 1849 the society was without a preacher. 

In the spring of 1850 the society raised the sum of two hundred 
dollars and repaired the meeting-house. Reverend P^zekiel Robinson 
was the preacher in charge. 

Reverend Charles Hunger was pastor in 1851-2, and Reverend 
Joseph Hawkes in 1853. 

Reverend J. C. Peny was appointed to Brunswick in 1854, and a 
considerable revival occurred during the year. 

In 1855, Reverend Parker Jaques was the preacher. 

In 1856-59, Reverend Charles AY. Morse spent three years and ten 
months at Brunswick with varied success. 

From 1845 till 1854 Brunswick was a missionarj' station. There 
was no appropriation subsequent to that time. Mr. Morse was retired 
from active duties, but, on account of the protracted sickness of his 
wife, he had charge for the fourth year at Brunswick. 

In 1860 and 1861 no material change occurred in the condition of 
the society. Reverend Jolm Cobb was pastor. 

In 1862-3, Reverend Josiah H. Newhall was preacher in charge. 
During the second year there was considerable religious excitement in 
the village, caused by the labors of the revivalist. Reverend Mv. Ham- 
mond, and a considerable revival occurred in the Methodist Society. 
Mr. Newhall was a fine scholar, a native of Lynn, and a graduate of 
Wesleyan University. He died suddenly of paralysis in 1866. 

26 



402 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AXD HARPSWELL. 

Ill 18G4, Reverend W. W. Baldwin, an energetic young man, was 
preacher in charge and had considerable success. The following ^'ear 
he went to Montana as a missionary. 

Reverend John B. Lapham was ai)pointed to Brunswick in 18(35 and 
1867. Under his labors there was considerable revival and accession 
to the strength of the society'. In 1866 the old meeting-house was 
sold and the present one erected. In 1868 furniture for a parsonage 
Avas purchased, and a new communion service was bought. 

Reverend Stephen Allen was preacher in charge for two years, 1867 
to 1869. Under his pastorate there was a gratifj'ing gain in member- 
ship, and he left his charge with good prospects for the future. Mr. 
Allen was a graduate of Bowdoin College, class of 1835. He is a fine 
scholar, an interesting preacher, and is one of the leading men in the 
denomination. He was succeeded b}- Reverend James McMillan, who 
had charge of the parish for three years, 186!J to 1872. There was an 
extensive revival during his second year, resulting in large additions 
to the church. 

Reverend H. C. Sheldon, a graduate of Yale College and a ripe 
scholar, succeeded Mr. McMillan, remaining here two ^ears, 1872 to 
1874. He is now a professor in the Boston University'. He was suc- 
ceeded, in 1874, by Reverend C. W. Morse, who was also pastor here 
from 1856 to 1859, and who has won the sincere respect, not only of 
the members of his jmrish, but of the citizens of the town generally. 

Reverend W. S. Jones is the present pastor. 

ST. PAUL'S PARISH. 

The first Episcopalian service ever held in Brunswick was held in 
the college chapel in 1842. The Reverend J. Cook Richmond, on his 
way from Gardiner to Portland, was obliged to stop over night at 
Brunswick. AVishing to improve the opportunit}' to present the ser- 
vices of the church to the people of the town and the students of the 
college, he asked the consent of the Congregational minister to sucli a 
sei'vice, which he failed to receive. He then appealed to the president 
of the college (Doctor AVoods), who said to him, '•' There is one place 
in this town over which I have control, and 3'ou can hold a service in 
the college chapel." Timel}' notice was given, and at half past seven 
in the evening a large congregation w'as gathei-ed to hear (manj' of 
them for the first thne) the evening service of the Prayer-Book. Mr. 
Richmond then preached and held the attention of his hearers for 
nearly two hours. 

This was the first step towards introducing the services of the 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF DRVXSWICK. 403 

church here, and doubtless suggested and encouraged the idea of the 
permanent establishment of a parish. The next service of the church 
was held in tlie Congregational A'estry on School Street, bj the Eight 
Reverend J. E. K. HenshaAV, Bishop of Rhode Island and Provisioni.l 
Bishop of Maine, on his first visitation to this State, in October, 1843. 
He was accompanied by the Reverend Messrs. James Pratt of Portland, 
and Thomas F. Fales of Rhode Island, and after evening prayer 
" preached to a respectable and attentive audience." Mr. Fales after- 
wards returned as a missionary, and on the fifth of November, 1843, 
being Sunday', lie began regular services in what was then known as 
the Pleasant Street Seminar}', nearly opposite the present Metliodist 
Church, but which has since been removed to Maine Street, and is now 
used for business purposes. 

Mr. Fales thus became the first rector of this parish. lie was edu- 
cated for the. ministry at the General Theological Seminar}^ in New 
York City ; was ordained deacon hy Bishop Griswold in Rhode Island, 
July 22, 1840, and priest by the same bishop in 1841 ; and on the 
same day of the same month, July 21, he received the degree of B. A. 
from Bristol College, Pennsylvania, and M. A. from the University of 
New York. 

Mr. Fales continued to hold meetings in the school-house from 
November, 1840, until the completion of the church in July, 184.'). 
There was at first considerable opposition to the establishment of this 
church, but it soon passed awa}'. This parish has from the first been 
a mission, supported mainly b}' the "•General Board" and b}- the 
'•'• Diocesan Board of Missions." Up to 1848 no contribution had 
l)een made by the parish towards the support of the rector, and then 
it only amounted to a small sum. At the time Mr. Fales's labors 
began, the number of Episcopalians was very small. There were only 
three connnunicants, Daniel R. Goodwin, Mary R. Goodwin, and 
Isabella McDougal. 

The families of Professor Goodwin, of the college, and of Mr. Sam- 
uel Harris, of Topsham, were the onl}' entire households which identi- 
fied themselves with the church. Five or six of the students were 
Churchmen. The attendance on the services, however, increased, and 
on the eighth of January, 1844, a parish was dul}' organized according 
to the laws of the State. There were seven original members, namely. 
Professor D. R. Goodwin, Joseph Badger, Samuel Harris, George 
Earle, John O B. Dunning, Ebenezer M. Johnson, and Samuel 
Dunning. 

The first otlicers elected were, for wardens, D, R. Goodwin and 



404 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, ANT) HARPSWELL. 

Joseph W. Sargent; for vestrymen, Abner B. Thompson. Joseph 
Badger, George Earle, Samuel Dunnuig, John O. B. Dunning, Eben- 
ezer M. Johnson, and Samuel Harris. 

It was then voted that the parish assume the name of aSY. Panrs, 
and that the Reverend T. F. Fales he invited to settle as rector of 
the church. The invitation was accepted on the twelfth day of Feb- 
ruary, 1.S44. 

From the very organization of the parisli, the Toadies' Society has 
been most faithful and most efticient in raising and supplying all that 
was needed. Nothing except the improvements made ]»y Mr. Taylor 
has been done without them. In fact, if it had not been for the self- 
sacrificing labors of the ladies of the parish, it might never have lived 
for thirty years. In 1845 the}' furnished the church with the read- 
ing-desk and pulpit, altar and chairs. In 1H48, chiefly through their 
exertions, an organ was procured and placed in the gallery. Previ- 
ously stringed instruments were used. 

The communion set used from the first till now was presented by 
Mrs. Griswold of the " Eastern Diocese," as it was called. The stone 
font was given in 18G1 by a number of persons, chiefly graduates of 
Bowdoin College. The organ was removed from the gallery to the 
east transept in 18G7, and was replaced b}- a new one in September, 
1873. 

There have been six rectors. The Reverend Thomas F. Fales, the 
first, remained here just six years. He has since been rector of 
Christ Church, Waltham, Mass. 

The Reverend Andrew Croswell was here three years and five 
months. He now resides in Cambridge, INIass. 

The Reverend Professor D. R. Goodwin supplied services for six 
months, when there was a vacancy for ten months with only occa- 
sional lay-reading. 

The Reverend William Stone Chadwell was the third rector, and 
remained here three 3'ears and eight months. He is now rector of 
Grace Church, Brooklyn, Long Island, New York. 

The Reverend Edward Ballard immediately succeeded him, and 
was rector of the parish for twelve years and seven inonths (See 
Biographical Sketch.) 

After a vacancj^ of six months, during which time there were 
occasional services, Reverend Joseph Pemberton Taylor entered on 
the charge of the parish, and remained here two years and four 
months. He was innnediately succeeded by Reverend Frederick S. 
Sill, M. A., and is now residing in Camden, New Jersey. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 



405 



Reverend Mr. Sill was succeeded h\ Reverend H. P. Nichols, who 
was ordained to the priesthood, May 27, 1877. 

In this parish, since its formation, one hundred and thirt}' individ- 
uals have been baptized, eight3'-three confiruied, sixt^'-three buried, 
and thirty married. The present number of communicants is about 
twenty-nine ; of individuals, about seventy-five. 

ROMAX CATHOLICS. 

The formation of a societ}' of believers in the doctrines of the 
Church of Rome was begun in this town about 1S60, or a short time 
previously. Services were at first performed b}' the priest stationed 
at Bath. The society, however, gradually increased in numbers, and 
in 18G6 purchased their present church building on Federal Street, of 
the Methodist Society, and Father Powers was soon after sent to 
them. This society is now, numericall}', by far the largest in town. 
About five sixths of the congregation are French Canadians. They 
number about eight hundred. The present priest. Father Noiseux, is 
a French Canadian. 



STATISTICS OF CHURCH-GOERS, ETC , IN 1S73. 

In 1873, Mr. Charles Hill, agent of the Brunswick Bible Society', 
canvassed the town and collected statistics relative to the number of 
church-goers, etc. The following is a summary of his report, and 
shows the religious views of the citizens as well as such a canvass can, 
but it is not, probablj', absolutely correct. 



Number attending; chiircli (uomiuall}') 

" not attending chui'cli .... 

" children attending Sabbath schools 

" children not attending Sabl)ath scliools 

" Catholics (French, 477; Irish, 131; colored, 

" Protestants 

" Congregationalists (Orthodox) 

" Free Baptists 

" Methodists 

" Baptists 

" Friends 

" Universalists 

" Adventists 

" Unitarians 

" Episcopalians ...... 

" For Union of Churches .... 

" Spiritualists 



,9) 



056 

001 

794 

122 

667 

389 

598 

574 

361 

306 

159 

151 

82 

()1 

56 

39 



40 G lIISrOKY OF BKVN^WICK, TOFSIIAM, A^'D HAEPbWELL. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 

But little is known concerning tlie condition of reli<>"ions matters in 
Topsliani prior to the incorporation of the town. In the year 1721 
the Tvcverend Isaac Taylor was employed by the proprietors to preach 
there one half the time. In 1730 there was a chaplain at the Fort in 
Brunswick, supported by the proprietors, who attended to the religious 
needs of the seyeral neighboring communities, but who, most likel}', 
preached on!}- in Brunswick. There is little doubt that preyious to 
the erection of the first meeting-house in Topsham. the inhabitants of 
that place were accustomed to attend religious seryices at Brunswick. 
In 1739 the inhabitants of Topsham contributed to the support of 
preaching in Brunswick, and it is probable that such had been the 
custom for some years previous. ^ The town was incorporated in 
17()4, and at this date, therefore, properly begins the history of the 

FIRST PARISH. 

[1 7G4.] At the second meeting of the town, held June 2, 1764, John 
Fulton, John Beed, and John ]\Ierrill (the selectmen) were chosen a 
committee ''to get an orthodox minister to preach for the space of three 
months." They eyidently employed lleyerend INIr. I>uzzell, for at a 
subsequent meeting he was employed for "four Sabbaths longer." 

Whether he was unwilling to remain still longer, or whether he 
failed to give satisfaction, is not known. He could not haye remained 
oyer the pai-ish more than the four months for which he had been 
employed, or the town would not haye chosen a committee " to get a 
minister by next spring to preach to us." 

[17()G.] On INIarch 18, £60 was raised " for a minister and school- 
master" for this year. As the same individual was sometimes em- 
plo^-ed for both purposes, it is probable that such was the intent of 
that yote. 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 407 

At a subsequent meeting the town decided ver}' strongly in favor 
of the Presb^-terian form of worship, and voted to extend a call to 
Reverend Stephen Scales. Goin Fulton, Adam Hunter, and Thomas 
Wilson were chosen a committee to make an agreement with him. 

[1767.] In Jul3% Reverend Mr. Thompson was engaged for two 
months after the expiration of his first contract. 

In consideration of the agreement made at the time of the confir- 
mation of their title b}' the government of Massachusetts, as well as 
in conformity to the laws, the proprietors about this time set apart a 
lot of land in Topsham "for the use of the Ministry" and one for 
"the first settled Minister." The ministerial or parsonage lot was 
" Number Twenty-six lying in the Range of Lotts fronting on Pejeps- 
cott River containing one hundred acres." The lot for the minister 
was " Number sixtj' four, containing One hundred acres, lying on the 
Rear of Lotts belonging to Alexander Potter and James Potter, Jr., 
bounding Northeast on Land of Robert M'^Farlands and Southwest on 
the School Lott." 

[1768.] In 1768 the town voted to give James Hunter a lot of 
land called the School-house Lot, in exchange for which he was to give 
the town one hundred acres where the meeting-house stood. Mr. 
Southmaid was emploj'cd to preach in the winter "as a probationer." 
[1 770.] At the annual meeting this 3'ear a Mr. Stuart was engaged 
to preach until the first of the following November, and it was voted 
to assess one fourth part of the minister's salar}- on the holders of 
pews. 

[1771.] The first church organization, as distinct from tliat of the 
parish, was organized in 1771. It was of the Presln'terian order, and 
was organized by Reverend Mr. Murray, a Presbj'terian minister of 
Boothbay, and by Reverend Joseph Prince. It consisted of twenty- 
seven members.! Who these members were is not now known, but it 
is not improbable that two of the earl}' members of the Congregational 
Church, Messrs. Alexander Patten and James Fulton, were among 
the number. This "church was at no time ver}' strong, and ceased to 
exist about the 3'ear 1789. No records of its meetings can be found. 

Committees were appointed in the 3'ears 1771 and 1772 to obtain 
the services of a minister, so that it is probable that there was preach- 
ing a part of this time. 

[1773.] Reverend Samuel Wheeler probablv officiated for a while 
this year, as the town voted, November 29, "to send a man west- 

1 Greenlea/'s Ecclesiuiitical Sketches. 



408 IIIiSTOliY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIAL'PSWELL. 

ward to bring Mr. Samuel Wheeler's character, provided Mr. Samuel 
"Wheeler will pay the charges " ; and John Merrill, consenting to go 
upon these terms, was dul_y chosen for that purpose. 

[1774.] Mr. Merrill's report as to Mr. Wheeler's character must 
have been satisfactory, as he this year received a call at a salar}' of 
£6G 13.S. 4d., lawful money, and with £100 as a "settlement." The 
town this jear reversed its former action, and decided to adhere to the 
Congregational form of worship. This action of the town gave serious 
offence to the minority. INIessrs. Adam Hunter, Goin Fulton, James 
Henry, Johu Orr, John Fulton, James Fulton, and Alexander Potter 
entered their protest against the meeting as being illegal and destruc- 
tive to the church. These persons were evidenth" strong in the Presby- 
terian faith, and probably some, if not all of them were members of 
the First Church. There is no evidence that Mr. Wheeler was ever 
formally installed over the church and society of the First Parish, and 
his pastorate could not have been a very satisfactor}^ one, as the next 
3'ear [1775] a committee was appointed to obtain a minister, and also 
cue " to converse with Mr. Samuel AVheeler concerning the abatement 
of his w'ages and to make return." 

[177G.] In December of the next year the town also vot d not to 
pa}' his board nor his horse keeping. From this time to 178.'1, there 
is no record of any settled minister in the town, although there is no 
doubt but that there were I'eligious services held for a few Sundays in 
each 3'ear, since the town in some at least of these years chose a 
connnittee to obtain a minister. In 1778, however, the connnittee 
were instructed not to agree with one for more than a service of two 
months Avithout the consent of the town. 

[1783.] At a meeting of the town held Ma^- 27, 1783, the commit- 
tee to obtain a minister Avere instructed to emplo}' the Reverend Mr. 
Unjuhart to preach eight Sabbaths after the Sabbath next ensuing, 
and to use their own discretion as to the terms. At a later meeting 
of this 3-ear, held September 10, it was voted to emplo}' Mr. Urquhart 
^'' one Sabbath when he returns from the westward.-" At this meeting 
there was also a committee appointed to see why the porch to the 
meeting-house, which the town voted in 1770 to have built, was not 
finished. The citizens of the town can easil}' be excused for getting a 
little impatient, after having waited thirteen 3-ears for the construction 
of this porch. At a meeting held two months later, Mr. Urquhart was 
emploj'ed for one 3'ear at a salary of £80, he to have the privilege of 
leaving if he had a call to settle elsewhere. 

[1784.] At a meeting held in October, 1784, the town voted to 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOP SHAM. 409 

hire Eevereud Mr. Urquhart for one 3'ear more after the expiration of 
bis first 3ear. To this action of the town, Messrs. John Merrill, Jon- 
athan Whitne}', Actor Patten, Peletiah Haley, Alexander Graj', and 
William Reed declared their disapproval " for several reasons, bnt 
more particularl}^ because we have reason to believe that the said Urqu- 
hart has two wives now living, and we think that disqualifies him to 
administer any of the Gospel ordinances." 

This charge was sustained b}' tlie facts, ^ and it is not probable that 
Urquhart preached in Topsham after the expiration of his second year, 
if indeed he was allowed to complete his engagement. 

In regard to Urquhart as a preacher, it has been said that " his 
mode of preaching was marked for its humor and quaintness, and he 
would arouse his drows}' listeners on a summer afternoon b}' some 
stiri'iug anecdote or exclamation. On one occasion he stopi)ed sud- 
denly in his sermon and then exclaimed, ' I 'm 3'our shepuixl o'er all o' 
ye, and Wull}' Wilson is me grant bull-dog.' The deacon, eitlier not 
relishing this publicity, or to signalize that he ivas not asleep, sturdil}' 
called out yet louder still, ' I 'm 7iot 3-our bull-dog ! What did you saj' 
that for? '"2 

[178G.] In 178G the town voted to give Mr. Kellogg an invitation 
" to return and preach with us after he has been to stud}' divinity six 
months, provided he will settle with us if desired." 

[1788.] This 3'ear Reverend Jonathan Ellis was invited to settle in 
town at a salary of £85 and a " settlement" of £150. The " settlement 
to be paid in boards, shingles and other Lumber, or any produce of the 
countr}'." Mr. ElUs did not accept this call, but [1789] the next 
year, at a meeting held June 9, the town agreed to settle him on con- 
dition that he would take his dismission if two thirds of the legal voters 
of the town should, at an}' future time, prefer not to remain under his 
ministry and should so declare at a legal town meeting, and that, in 
case such a thing should occur, he should be allowed to continue six 
months thereafter and no longer. Mr. Ellis was present at the meet- 
ing and agreed to these conditions. 

On August 31 of this year there were two legal meetings of the 
town. The first was called by warrant of John Merrill, a justice of 
the peace, upon the application of more than ten voters, the principal 
object being to see if the town would consent that those not walling to 
settle under the ministry of Mr. Ellis should be allowed to withdraw 
from his support and maintain a minister for themselves. The second 

1 See Annals of Warren, p. 172 et seq. 2 j)r. James McKeen's Kates. 



410 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

meeting was on the usual Tvan-ant issued by the selectmen, and was 
for the purpose of taking action in regard to Mr. Ellis's ordination. 
At the first meeting thirtj'-five persons voted to withdraw from being 
under Mr. Ellis's ministry, and sixty-seven voted to l)e under his 
ministry. At tliis meeting the town also A'oted that one-fourth pail 
of the expense of repairing the meeting-house should be assessed on 
the pew-holders, and the remainder paid by the town. At the second 
meeting the town voted that the council which was to be at the 
ordination of Mr. Ellis should meet and sit at Mr. Joseph Foster's 
house, and that they and their attendants should be entertained at 
Captain David Reed's and James Fulton's houses. It also voted 
that Doctor Philip Iloyt, James AVilson, and Joseph Hale}-, dothiei', 
should be a committee to attend upon the council on the day of 
ordination. 

The ordination of Mr. Ellis occurred September Ifi, 17S9. The 
sermon on the occasion Avas preached b}' Reverend Andrew Lee, of 
Lisbon, Connecticut. The charge was b}' the Reverend Jolni Ellis, 
of Rehoboth, INIassachusetts. The right hand of fellowship b}- the 
Reverend Josiah Winship, of Woolwich, Maine. The sermon was 
printed, but no copy of it can now be found. The following is the title- 
page, which has been preserved : — 

" The Duty of Gospel Ministers | Illustrated in a Discourse preached 
I at the ordination of the Rev. Jonathan Ellis ] to tlie |)astoral 
otlice in the church | at Topsham, Massachusetts, Sept. | 16th 17<S9. 
By Andrew Lee A.M., | Pastor of a church at Lisbon, | Conn, | Keep 
tliyself pure — St. Paul. | Portland — Printed b}- Thomas | Baker 
AVait. MDCCXC." 

The Congregationalist Church held its first meeting in June, 1789, 
at which a day of fasting was appointed, and it was voted to send for 
a council. This council met June 2Q, 1789, for the ordination of 
Reverend Jonathan Ellis, and voted " that the members of the church 
at Topsham be considered as a regular church of Christ, on the Con- 
gregational form of worship and discipline." 

On October 23 of the same year the church adopted a covenant. 

On June 27, 1790, the first sacrament since the organization was 
administered. It was administered in the Presbyterian manner, the 
communicants sitting around the talile. Eleven members were pres- 
ent, beside five from the church in Brunswick. 

[1791.] The only thing noticeable in any of the records this year 
is the fact that the town appointed a committee of three '' to keep the 
dogs out of the meeting-house." 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 411 

[1793.] This year the followiug names of members appear upon 
the church records : — 

Captain John Patten (deacon), Mrs. Mary Fulton, 
Captain James Mustard, Mrs. Esther Hale}', 
Alexander Patten, Mrs. Hannah Henrj', 
James Fulton, Mrs. Anna Winchell, 
John Small, Mrs. Mary Ellis, 
Joseph Haley, Mrs. Nancy Stockman, 
Whitnm, Mrs. Perry, 



William Randall, Mrs. Jane Randall, 

Doctor Philip Hojt, Mrs. Rachel Reed, 

Reverend Jonathan Ellis, Widow Jameson, 

Mrs. Mary Patten, Widow Sarah Cobb. 

[1794.] At a meeting of the town, held May 20, 1794, it was 
voted not to oppose the petition of John Merrill, Esquire, and others, 
praying the General Court for an Act of Incorporation as a Baptist 
society, provided they would withdraw their suit at law, of Job 
Macomber vs. The Town of Topsham, in which case the town agreed 
that the execution against Abraham Cummings ^ should not be put in 
force, and that all future taxes for the minister's salary, of members 
of the Baptist society, might be drawn b}' them from the treasurer or 
the constable, they producing a certificate that they had paid an equal 
sum for the Baptist society', provided they obtained an Act of Incor- 
poration within one year. An attempt was made this year to obtain 
a two-thirds vote to dismiss Reverend Mr. Ellis, but failed. After 
this date the First Parish held meetings distinct from those of the 
town, and the latter, therefore, has only occasionall}- since then taken 
an}' action in regard to religious matters. 

[179').] The incorporation of the Baptist Society which had just 
occurred had the unfortunate and rather singular effect of depriving 
the First Parish of all its officers. It is certainly rather remarkable 
that all these officers should have affiliated with the Baptists. That 
such was the actual fact, however, is shown b}- a petition to John 
Merrill, Esquire, justice of the peace, requesting him to call a meet- 
ing of the freeholders of the First Parish. This petition expressl}^ 
sets forth the fact that the First Parish had no officers and " were 
consequently incapable of conducting and managing its affairs." 
This petition was dated April 20th, and on April 30th the first meet- 
ing of the parish, after the separation, was held at the meeting-house. 



1 Prohahly for non-payment of minister's tax. 



412 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

A new board of parish officers was chosen, mone^' raised for siippoi't 
of the minister, and Richard KnoAvles elected sexton, "with allow- 
ance of twelve shillings." At a subsequent meeting this year a com- 
mittee was chosen to wait upon ]Mr. Ellis and to concert measures for 
rendering the ministerial lot of some benefit to the minister and 
parish. 

[17'.»7.] In 179G and 1797 considerable repairs were made to the 
meetino-liouse. In Ma^- of the latter year a committee was chosen 
'' to wait on the Reverend Jonathan Ellis for the purpose of obtaining 
information how his proposals may in the best way be answered, and 
report to the Parish." What proposals the pastor had made is not 
known, but on the twent3--sixth of June following, the parish decided 
not to increase his salary '' at the present time, on account of the 
depreciation of money." 

[1799.] At a meeting of the parish, held September 9, Captain 
Alexander Rogers, James Fulton, and Arthur Hunter wei'e chosen to 
settle with Mr. Ellis and to pay him the arrearages due to him. They 
were also authorized to grant him a dischai'ge from the parish if he 
desired, and to supply the pulpit for a while. 

[1800.] At the annual meeting of the parish this 3'ear, the sum 
of three hundred dollars was raised for current expenses. This sura 
was between thirty and fortj' dollars less than had usuallj' been raised 
for the minister's salary- alone. At the annual meeting of the town, 
Messrs. John Merrill, William Wilson, James Purinton, Doctor Porter, 
and Alexander '1 hompson were chosen a committee to consider the 
practicabilit}' of uniting the two societies. The desire for such union 
probably arose in consequence of the difficulty experienced, at that 
time, in furnishing adequate support to two ministers. 

[1801.] The committee for supplying the pulpit were instructed b}^ 
the parisli '' to write to the Professor of Divinity at Harvard College 
requesting him to recommend a candidate to them of ability and good 
moral character," and were also instructed to emplo}' no transient 
preacher until it was positively' ascertained that no suitable candidate 
could be sent. The parish also voted " not to employ Mr. Thompson 
any longer to supply the Desk." It would appear from this action 
that Mr. Ellis had received his discharge from the committee appointed 
in 1799 to settle with him. 

[1802.] The Reverend JMr. Western was employed as a preacher 
until October, 1802. At a meeting of the parish in June, lienjamin 
Plasey, Esquire, Doctor Porter, and Ezra Smith were chosen a com- 
mittee to petition the legislature " for permission to sell the Parsonage 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOP SHAM. 413 

Lot, or take measures to render the same protitalile to the Parish, 
agreeable to the original intentions of the Grantors " 

[1803.] On April 23 of this 3'ear, the parish passed a vote invit- 
ing ]Mr. Ellis to preach for one year at a salarj' of two hinidred and 
eight^'-three dollars and thirty-three cents, he to have " the privilege 
of keeping school such part of said 3'ear as he shall choose." 

[1805.] An effort was this year made to unite with the Second 
Parish in ol)taining a minister to preach alternately in the two parishes. 

[1800.] At a town-meeting, held November 3, 1806, it was voted 
"that the town having heard and dul}' considered the proposal of 
the Honorable Benjamin J. Porter and others, to build a meeting- 
house near the Court House, do unitedly approve of the same and do 
earnesth' recommend it to the members of both parishes of the town 
to become united as soon as may be into one corporate body for the 
purpose of supporting public worship in said town when [it shall be] 
erected. 

" And it is further voted that the town, with a view to promote an 
union of the i^arishes, for the support of public worship, agreeabl}- to 
the proposal of said Porter and others, will appoint a committee of 
seven persons with full power to pui'sue any measures necessary and 
proper on the part of the toAvn to promote the building of said house 
and to su[)port pul)lic worship therein." 

In December the parish voted to hold their business meetings and 
religious services in the Court House until a new meeting-house should 
be built, but the vote was subsequent!}- changed so as to have the 
meetings for pnl)lic worship held one half the time at the Court House 
and the remainder of the time either at the old meeting- house or at 
the school-house near it. 

[1810.] At the annual meeting this 3'ear the parish yoted " that 
the treasurer be directed to renew or exchange the securities or col- 
lect, if necessar}', the mone}^ that is now at interest, belonging to the 
parish, and also to receive the interest annuall3' or take notes for the 
same." It is evident from this that the parish had something of a 
fund at this time, but from what source it was derived is not so eas}' 
to understand. The amount of mone3' raised each 3'ear was seldom 
more than enough to pay cm-rent expenses and often not sufficient for 
that purpose, and the ministerial lot was not sold, notwithstanding 
the vote in 1802, until 1819. 

At this same meeting Benjamin Orr, Esquire, was appointed to 
obtain from the committee chosen in 1799 a certificate of the dis- 
charge of Reverend Mr. Ellis, and to deposit the same with the 



414 IIIbTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

parish clerk. This document, which was the only legal anmilment 
of the contract between the pastor and parish, was dated May 7, 1810. 

Owing to the separation which had occurred in the parish, and to 
other causes, the church had gradual!}' dwindled away, and after the 
dismissal of their pastor it became nearly extinct. During the period 
of ]Mr. Ellis's ministry it was Congregational in name, but not what 
would now be called strictly Orthodox, since it paid more attention to 
the form of church polity than it did to uniformity of belief. Rev- 
erend Ezra S. Ooodwin had been preaching this year, and on October 
12. the parish expressed to him their approbation of his past services 
and requested him to continue with them awhile longer. 

[1811.] An attempt was made this 3"ear, unsuccessfully, to have 
the minister o\er the First Parish supply the pulpit of the Second 
Parish also. The thanks of the parish were again given to Mr. 
Goodwin for his services, and the regret expressed that the financial 
situation did not admit of their employing hira longer. 

[1814.] Nothing further of special importance occurs in the 
parish records until the 3'ear 1814, when an attempt was again made 
to unite the two parishes. The committee on the part of the First 
Parish chosen to confer with the other parish were instructed that " if 
an union of said parishes could not be obtained on any other princi- 
ple, that the meetings for public worship be holden two thirds of the 
time at the Court House and the other third at the upper meeting- 
house." 

[181.').] In 1815, Messrs. Benjamin Orr, Alexander Pogers, and 
Jehiel Abell were appointed a conuiiittee to petition the legislature, in 
behalf of the parish, " for leave to sell the parsonage lot in Topsham, 
under such restrictions and limitations as the}' shall think proper." 

[1818.] The meeting-house, about this time, must have been get- 
ting sadly in need of repair, since, in April, 1818, the parish commit- 
tee were instructed to repair it, "■ b}' building doors, glazing the 
windows, and underpinning the house so as to secure it from falling." 

[1819.] On May 10, 1819, the committee appointed in 1815 to 
sell the ministerial lands, reported that " they have sold the whole of 
said lands at auction to the highest bidders on the 2 2d da}* of April 
1819, as follow's, to wit. To Samuel Hunter twelve acres and 80 
rods for the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars : To Arthur 
Hunter thirty-eight acres and seventy rods for the sum of two hun- 
dred and thirty dollars and 62^ cents ; To Thomas Patten twenty-four 
acres and ten rods for two hundred and sixteen dollars and fifty-six 
cents ; To George Rogers tweutyfive acres for two hundred dollars. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOP SHAM. 415 

All and singular of which sums to be paid, with interest, in four years 
from the time of sale, one quarter part of the principal of each sum 
to 1)0 paid annually, and interest semi-annually on the whole amount 
of salens Amounting in the whole to the sum of $772.18 

"(Signed) " Actor Patten, 

Humphrey Purintox, 
Tiios. G. Sandford." 

[1821.] In the year 1821, a committee was chosen to ascertain 
and report, at an adjourned meeting, who were members of the Plrst 
Parish. The parish this 3'ear, moreover, agreed to accept the new 
meeting-house on the terms offered b}' the proprietors of the same, 
which were as follows: "That the proprietors of the meeting- 
house present the same to the First Parish, reserving the right to the 
proprietors of selling all their right thereto and receiving the pro- 
ceeds ; and whether the same is sold or unsold, it shall not be liable in 
any manner whatever to be taxed hy the First Parish ; and it is 
understood bj' the foregoing reservation that the paiish shall never 
assess anj' moneys that it ma}' hereafter raise either wholly or in part 
upon the pews or seats of anv indiA-idnal proprietors therein ; and the 
l)roprietors further present the parish with one of the front pews on 
the lower tloor, numbered thirty-one, and the two pews in the gallery 
behind the singing seats, and the ovei'plus of monej's arising from the 
sale of pews in said house, after pacing the bills of said house, shall 
be annexed to the funds of the First Parish. 

'' That in future the meetings for publick worship be holden one 
third of the time at the old meeting-house, and two thiids of the time 
at the new meeting-house, for six months in the 3'ear, commencing 
the first Sabbath in Ma}' ; the remainder of the year at the new meet- 
ing-house." 

At a subsequent meeting, a number of persons who had previously 
joined the Second Parish were accepted as members of the First 
Parish. At the same meeting an agent was chosen to obtain a deed 
of the meeting-house from the proprietors, and to give deeds of pews 
to the owners thereof. 

On August 26, 1821, the church was reorganized. The following 
persons constituted its membership at this time : — 

William Randall, John Harmon, Deacon Samuel Winslow, Mrs. 
Jane Randall, Mrs. Margaret Patten, Mrs. Mary Ellis, Mrs. Hannah 
Patten, Mrs. Martha Rogers, Mrs. Betsey Perkins, Miss Hannah 
Patten, Widow Mary Foy, Widow Mary Patten, and Widow Rachel 
Reed. 



416 JIISrORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

[1823.] This year an attempt ^n-as made to settle Eevereiul ISIr. 
Danforth, at first for five j'ears and then for one year. There was a 
good deal of difficulty in raising the necessary' amount of. money b}' 
subscription, and it is evident that he was not engaged, as at a-meet- 
ing held on the twent^'-second of November, the parish committee 
were instructed to employ a preacher, and to pa}' him out of the 
money already raised. 

[1824.] The parish this j-ear invited Reverend Jacob C. Goss to 
settle as their pastor, " until six months' notice on either side shall be 
given for a discontinuance of his services." The salary ottered was 
five hundred dolhirs. To this invitation Mr. Goss made an answer 
containing the following proposals, which were accepted b}' the 
parish : — 

" First. Provided that I may have liberty to be al)sent fonr weeks 
each ,year, and during this time shall not be under obligation to supply 
the desk. 

" Second. Provided eitlier party ma}' have liberty to dissolve this 
connection, giving to the other one year previous to such dissolution. 

" Third. Should the salary which you ofi^'er me be found on trial 
insufficient to meet my expenses, I shall expect it will be increased." 

Tliomas G. Sandford, Actor I'atten, Colonel Samuel Veazie,, Charles 
R. Porter, Doctor James McKeen, and Major Nahum Perkins were 
chosen on behalf of the parish, and Samuel Winslow on behalf of the 
church, to make the arrangements for the ordination. 

On December 7 the council for ordination met at the house of 
Natlianiel Green. There were present, Reverend Hezekiah Packard 
and David Owen, Wiscasset ; Reverend EHphalet Gillett and Samuel 
P. Ingraham, Ilallowell ; Reverend William Mittimore and Jona- 
than Moody, Falmouth ; Reverend John W. Ellingwood, David Stin- 
son, and Gillett Trufant, Bath; Reverend Enos Merrill and Nathan 
Scales, Freeport ; Reverend Asa Cummings and Cushing Prince, 
Bruusrt^ick; Reverend Seneca Wliite, Levi Houghton, aul Daniel 
Marston, 2d, Bath; Reverend Caleb Hobart and .Jacob Hayes, North 
Yarmouth ; Reverend Benjamin Tappan and John Evelcth, Augusta, 
and William Allen, D. D., president of Bowdoin College. 

Reverend Doctor Allen was chosen moderator, and Benjamin 
Tappan, scribe. 

The ordination took place December 8, 1824, The introductory 
prayer was made by Reverend Mr. Mittimore ; the sermon was by 
President Allen, from Isaiah lii, 7, " Hoiv beautiful upon the mountains 
are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings " ; the consecrating 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOP SHAM. 417 

prayer was bj' Reverend Doctor Gillett ; the charge to the pastor, l\v 
Reverend Doctor Packard, of Wiscasset ; the right hand of fellow- 
ship, b}- Revei-end Mr. Mead ; address to the church and society, b}' 
Reverend Mr. Tappan ; and the concluding pi'ajer, by Reverend Mr. 
Ellingwood. 

[182.5.] At a church meeting held January 20, it was decided 
" that the ordinance of the sacrament should be administered the first 
Sabbath in ever}- other month, and that a regular church meeting 
should be held every Thursday- previous to communion." 

[1826.] This year the parish voted that the notice of its meetings 
"be in future posted on the meeting-house door and in the publish- 
ment-box 1 to said meeting-house." 

On May 1 1 of this j-ear Samuel Winslow was chosen as deacon. — 
the first one since the reorganization of the church. On August 10, 
one of the members was charged with a " too frequent use of spirit- 
uous liquors," and was suspended from fellowship and afterwards was 
excommunicated . 

[1829.] In April, 1829, Mr. Goss sent in his request for a dis- 
missal, on the ground of dissatisfaction with his present condition and 
prospects. A committee was appointed by the parish to confer with 
him and to make to him a full disclosufe of the condition of the 
parish, and to inform him, if the}' found it expedient, that tlie parish 
felt unable to support him after the expiration of the year. At a 
sul)scquent meeting the assessors were iustructed to devise measures for 
paying the arrearages due him. Notwithstanding his resignation, Mr. 
Goss seems to have remained for some time longer, for at a meet- 
ing held earl}' the next year [1830] another committee was appointed 
to inform him " of the embarrassed situation of the parish on tlie 
sul)ject of dissolving his connection with said parish"; and on Jul}' 
16, a committee was chosen " to invite him to dissolve the connection 
between him and the parish and discontinue his services as early as 
may be convenient to him and prior to the first of December next, 
and that the connection be now accordingly dissolved." A week later 
Mr. Goss sent a letter to the parish in which he consented to the 
annulment of their contract, provided all arrearages were paid and his 
salarv paid up to the date of the termination of his services, other- 
wise his resignation was to be null and void. Upon the receipt of 
this communication, the parish voted to use so much of the interest of 

I A box with a glass door, in tvhich the toivn clerk posted the names of those intendin;/ 
marriage. 

27 



418 HISTORY OF BRUXSWICK, TOFSIIAM, AND JIAIiPSM'ELL. 

the parish fund as might be found necessary to pay what was due. 
This terminated tlie civil contract between the parish and pastor, but 
the pastoral connection of tlie cliurch with ]\Ir. Goss was not severed 
by act of council until June 10, 1835. JMr. Goss commenced his 
lal)or.s under very favorable ausjiices, and so far as can be determined 
from the records there was no dissatisfaction with him, and his dis- 
missal was owing solely to the feeble condition of the parish at this 
time. 

[1<S3().] At the annual meeting of the parish in 183C, a committee 
was appointed to examine the records of the parish, and ascertain 
wlio were members of it and report a list of the same. This report, 
on account of the information it contains in regard to parishes in gen- 
eral, is herewith given in full : — 

"The committee appointed at a meeting of the First Parish in 
Topsham, held on the twelfth instant, to ascertain who are the legal 
members thereof, respectfully report that they have examined the 
statutes and reported cases in i)oint, and have unanimously come to 
the conclusion that all inhabitants of twenty-one years of age and 
upwards, within the bounds of said parish, and Avho have not Avith- 
drawn therefrom by leaving a written notice thereof with the parish 
clerk, are members of said parish, with the excei)tion of such persons 
only as are legal members of some poll parish. That all inhabitants 
coming to reside within the limits of the said First Parish and who are 
not memliers of a poll parish, with all such as reside therein and with- 
drawn from the i)oll parish to wliich they were connected by leaving 
a written note tliereof Avith the clerk of said parish, do on their 
claiming and exercising their rights of membership thereby become 
members of said First Parish. 

" To visit each individual within the limits of said First Parish, and 
to ascertain from them personallv whether they belong to the parish 
or not, would require more time than your committee could conven- 
ientl}' bestow on the subject. '1 hey therefore have examined the 
records of the poll parish, within the bounds of the First Parish, and 
from which it appears the following named persons^ are members of 
the Second Parish of this town. . . . Your committee further report 
that they are divided in opinion, in regard to the point Avhether the 
members of a poll-parishioner's family, at arriving at twenty-one years 
of age, do thereby, without first withdrawing from the poll parish, 

■ These names appear- in the account of tlie Baptist Society, and are therefore omitted 
here. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOPSIIAM. 419 

become members of the territorial parish within the hounds of which 
the poll is situated. A majority* of your committee, Messrs. Perkins, 
Tihbets, and Ellis, are of opinion that the}' do. The other members 
of your committee are of a different opinion. The case has been sub- 
mitted to two of our most able counsellors, who differ in opinion on the 
subject. Your committee, therefore, to avoid all uncertainty, recom- 
mend to persons so situated to withdraw from the poll parish, in case 
they are desirous of connecting themsehes with the territorial, or 
from the territorial if they prefer continuing with the poll. They 
would fui'ther recommend, in case the parish should resort to taxes, 
that such persons so situated, and arriving at the age of twenty-one, 
should not be taxed or considered as members of said parish until 
they claim and exercise their rights of membership. 

'• Xahum Perkins, 

per order of Committee.'''' 

The ministerial fund of the First Parish amounted at this time to 
seven hundred and thirty-sixty dollars and sixt3'-one cents. No 
j)ai-ish meetings were held later than this, and the majority of the pew- 
holders became members of the Unitarian Society. The continuation 
of the history of the First Parish Church organization will be given 
further on, under the title of the " Congregational Church." The lat- 
ter is the direct lineal descendant of the old First Parish Church, 
though, for reasons given elsewhere, the members of it no longer 
belonged to the P^irst Parish, but formed a new poll parish. 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY, OR SECOND AND 
THIRD PARISHES. 

The first Baptist preaching in Topsham was by Elder Simon Locke, 
it is believed, in 1779. On the fifth of June of that year he bap- 
tized Miss R. Puriugton, who was the first one in town to receive the 
ordinance by immersion. 

After 1782, Reverend Mr. Potter preached occasionalh' for several 
years, but without making many converts. During the years 1783 
and 1784, Elders Case and Macomber preached occasionallj'.^ 

Reverend Job Macoml)er also preached here in 1 789, 1 790, and 1 79 1 . 
These ministers were paid for their services b^' the voluntar}' contribu- 
tion of individuals, as appears from a receipt given by Macomber to 
Actor I^atten, Joseph a)jd Pelatiah Haley, and John Merrill. 

The General Court of Massachusetts, b}' an Act passed in June, 

' From Millet. 



420 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

1794, incorporated Jolin Merrill, Esquire, Stephen Donty, Actor 
Patten, Hugh AVilson, Kobcrt Cleaves, Jr., Jani^s Purington, Jr., 
Ebenezer Parrin, AVilliain Bragdon, John Starboard, Jr., John 
Hewev, John Duggan, Joseph Jack. Elnathan Ilinkle}', Alexander 
Thompson, Elijah White, Benjamin Woodard, Moses Hodgkins, .)ohn 
Sandford, John Ware, William Hunter, Samuel AVilson, Calvin AYade, 
Thomas Smith, John Starboard, Luther Hall, Thomas Rideout, John 
Reed, William jMalcom, Robert Cleaves, John Wilson, Joseph Haley, 
Humphrey Thompson, Willard Sears, Moses Owen, William CoUa- 
more, Nathan Wyman, Hezekiah W3-man, William Wyman, and 
James Purington into a society by the name of the "Baptist Religious 
Society' in Topsham." ^ 

The first meeting of this society was held at the house of Actor 
Patten on February 9, 1795. This society constituted the Second 
Parish of the town. At this meeting James Purington was chosen 
moderator, and John Merrill parish clerk. It was voted to build a 
meeting-house "fort}' feet long and thirty feet Avide, this season, and 
that it be set between Joseph Haley's house and Benjamin Eaton's." 
It was to be owned by each proprietor in proportion to the amount 
subscribed. 

This meeting-house, subsequently known as the " old yellow meet- 
ing-house," was built principally b}- Joseph Haley, Captain Actor 
Patten, 1st, John Merrill, Esquire, Captain Pelatiah Hale}', and 
James Purington, the tanner. 

April 17, 1797, the parish voted to give Elder PLlihu Purington, of 
Bowdoinhani, an invitation to preach for them one half the time. 
This invitation was accepted. 

In the year 1800, Reverend Mr. Williams preached in the meeting- 
house of the Second Parish. ^ 

The following is the list of members subsequent to the incorporation 
of the parish, down to April 7, 1808: 179G, James Sampson, Obed 
Burnham ; 1797, Andrew Whitehouse, Joshua Whitten, Joseph Whit- 
ten, John Whitten, Stephen Pennell, William Wilson, Jr. ; 1798, 
Nathaniel Melcher, Benjamin Eaton, Charles Gowell, Joseph Graves, 
Joshua Graves, Samuel Graves, Moses Plummer, Gideon AValker; 
1799, Francis Douglass, Benjamin Metcalf; 18bo, James Potter; 
1803, John Rogers, John Hern, David W^ork, Jeremiah Staples, IVins- 
low Staples, Moses Graves, Joseph Berry, James Staples, Thomas 



1 Massachusetts Special Lav)s, Vol. l,p. 537. 

2 Lkirij of Reverend Jonathan Ellis. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOP SHAM. 421 

Hunter, Arthur Hunter, ]gn])prl. Alfty-uu^ William Malcom, Jr., 
John Given, William Reed, Thomas Reed, Robert Reed, David Reed, 
William Reed Hunter, Timothy Hern, Joseph Quint, Josiah Staples, 
John Graves, Jr., Jacob Graves, Samuel Staples, Ebenezer Work, 
William Given, Jacob Stockman, Daniel Gray, Caleb Curtis, Lemuel 
Thompson ; 1808, Daniel Holden, Nathaniel Green, Jotham Chick, 
Stephen Harris, James Cook, Samuel Towns, Jonathan Blaisdell, Moses 
We3'mouth, David Foster, Timothy Foster, Gideon Larrabee, Aaron 
Thompson, John Rogers, Jr., Joshua Haines, Isaac Johnson, Samuel 
Perkins, Joseph M. Perry, Robert Sager, Nathaniel Quint, James 
Thompson, John Jameson, Francis Card, James G. Goold, William 
Frost, Nahum Houghton, Joseph Haley, Jr., David Flagg, Jesse T. 
Hale}^, and Peter H. Green. 

[1808.] On April 28, 1808, the parish voted to raise four hundred 
dollars for the support of the ministry, but the vote was reconsidered 
in June, and two hundred and fifty dollars was then voted. From this 
time until about 1833, the amount annually raised for the supply of 
the pulpit and all other expenses was, ordinarily, only one hundred 
dollars. 

[1815.] In September of this 3-ear three males and five females 
belonging to this society w-ere organized into a church at Oak Hill, 
under the title of " The Predestinarian Baptist Church of Topsham." 
It is probable that Mr. Elihu Purington was then ordained as an elder, ^ 
since the records of the church state that at this time Elder Kendall 
preached the introductory sennon. Elder Titcomb gave the right hand 
offdUm-ship^ and Elder Temple made the concluding praj'er. 

[1818.] On June 4, 1818, Mr. Winslow Staples Avas ordained by 
council ; Elder Stearns preached the sermon. Elder Persons offered a 
pra^-er. Elder Temple gave the right hand of fellowship. Elder Stinson 
gave the charge, and Elder Frost made the concluding prayer. The 
church at this time numbered over fifty members. ^ 

At a meeting held April 18, of this 3'ear, the parish voted that a 
committee which had been chosen to settle the accounts of the parish 
should be authorized '' to move the meeting " to an^^ part of the town 
if they judged it expedient. Accordingl}', the meetings were held 
this year in two places, — in the " old 3dlow meeting-house " and in a 
school-house. 3 

[1819.] In April, 1819, the frame of a new meeting-house was 



1 Adam Wilson'. i Historical Discourse, p. 10. 2 Millett. 

3 Autobiography of Elder Kendall. 



422 msTORY OF uhunswick, topsiiam, aisD iiahpswell. 

rniscMl, niid in Xovoniher the building' was completed. It -wns small, 
eontaininii" only tliirty i)e\vs.i This Iniilding was the one, oi)|)osite the 
villai>e graveyard, Avhich was afterward used as a town-house. 

This year '' one half of the male and several female members of the 
chureh were expelled for intemperance, mitil only eight were left." ^ 

[1820.] Elder Staples's pastoiate could not have been a very suc- 
cessful one. as in Februar}- 26, 1820, the church and paiish, in joint 
session, i)assed a vote of censure against him. At a parish meeting, 
held April lo of this year, a connnittee was appointed to confer with 
Elder Henry Kendall as to the terms on which he would consent to 
become their settled minister. 

At a meeting held April 29, bS20, it was voteil to acccitt Elder 
Heni'v Kendall's proi)Osals, and to consider him as their settled min- 
ister, agreeably to the conditions specitied by him. These conditions 
were as follows : — 

"■ 1. It will not be exi)ected by me that the society bind itself to 
pay me any spccilied sum for my services as their minister, nor would 
it l)e pleasing to me on my settlement that any obligatory grant sliould 
be made to me, but that the v>hole subject should be left with the soci- 
ety to give me annually much or little as they may consider duty or 
l)roper. 

'* 2. That a committee, to be composed of members of the church 
and society, be annually raised, Avhose duty it shall be to confer with 
me on the subject of m}' situation and the number of Sabbaths I ought 
to serve the society for the sum they may by grant or suliscription 
annually raise, and report as soon as may be the result of this con- 
ference to me and the assessors of the society. 

'' 3. That whenever I shall think it dut}- to request a dissolution of 
my ministeiial connection with this society, and shall oflicially make 
known my desire, the society shall, without any unnecessary delay, 
attend to the subject, and if the}' are not disposed to grant my request 
they shall join me in choosing a council of the elders and churches of 
our order, to hear and deternjine the subject of tlie recjuest, whose 
decision shall be binding on the parties. 

"■ 4. That whenever a majority in parish meeting, legally called for 
that purpose, shall by vote declare that my ministerial labours is no 
longer useful, and vote my dismission, then my ministerial connection 
shall be considered dissolved." 

V\) to this time the Second Parish contained both Calvinist and 

1 Atitobioyraphi/ of Elder Kendall. 2 IJjid. 



ECCLESIASnCAL HISTORY OF TOrSlIA.}/. 423 

Free-AVill Baptists, Tmt a separation now occurred, and in 1821 Joshua 
and John W kitten were dismissed to the Frce-Will Baptist Society. 

[1824.] At a meeting held April 17, 1824, the parish voted " to 
dismiss Elder Henry Kendall from being any longer their settled min- 
ister, — agreeable to his request." The church records contain a state- 
ment to the eti'ect that the dismission of Elder Kendall gave rise to 
some dissatisfaction. 

Nothing of importance occurs in the records of the Second Parish 
subsequent to this date, though the records do not close until the year 
1832. As the Baptists withdrew that 3'ear, and formed a new society, 
it would seem as though the Second I'arish must thereafter have been 
composed exclusivel}- of Frce-AVill Ba[jtists or else that there were 
two religious societies in one poll parish. 

THE BAPTIST CHUFICH SOCIETY. 

On January 19, 1824, Henrj' Kendall, Jabez Perkins, James Cook, 
Richard Orr, Samuel Wilson, James Wilson, Elijah White, George 
Ilowland, and Daniel Welch petitioned the legislature for incorpora- 
tion as a religious societ3'. The petition was granted, and on Fel)- 
ruar}' 2, 1824, the societ}' met and elected Henry Kendall, moderator, 
and James Cook, clerk. Jabez Perkins was chosen collector, and 
Deacon Elijah White and Mr. James Cook as parish committee. 
The memljers of this society constituted the third parish of the 
town. 

Josei)h Foster, Jr., Daniel Welch, Leonard Blondcll, .Jal)ez Per- 
kins, David Scribner, James Cole, John Owen, Charles White, Joshua 
Haskell, Aaron Ilinkley, Charles Hunter, Edwanl Welch, David 
Dunlap, William Randall, 'Jr., Jonatlian Baker, James Rogers, Benja- 
min Ilasey, John Hunter, 2d, Benjamin Thompson, Francis Tucker, 
George Rogers, William Work, and John Mustard joined the societ}'' 
about this time, though a number of them afterwards went back to the 
First Parisli. The members at their first meeting voUhI to call them- 
selves In* the name of "The Baptist Church Societ3-." They built 
this year a small meeting-house in the village, at a cost of about six 
hundred dollars. 

[1825.] This 3'ear there was a powerful revival in the church, 
though but little mention is made of it in the records. 

[182G.] At a meeting held on April 3, the society voted that as 
less money than was needed had heretofore been raised, "if the 
society' should not be able to raise b}' voluntary subscription at least 
one hundred dollars for Elder Kendall the present j'^ear, that they will 



424 HIS 1 on r of br ux-i > 1 1 ck, top sua if, and ha nrs well. 

not vcquiro his ministerial laliors he^'ond a proportion of the time for 
the sum they shall raise and pay over to him." 

[l'S;-;4.] At a church meeting, held February 2?, the subject of 
building a n(!w meeting-house was discussed, and it was thereupon 
voted "• that Jabez Perkins, David Scribner, Sanuiel Perkins, Josiah 
Sanford, and L. Ilibbard be a committee to solicit means to carry the 
same into etfect." On October 4, of this year, .Samuel Perkins and 
David Scribner were chosen deacons. 

At a meeting of the society, held April 7, it was decided to accept a 
lot of land for a meeting-house, that had been purchased of Pelatiah 
and Xanc}' Ilaiey. Jabez Perkins and David vScribner were chosen a 
committee to raise subscriptions for and to build a new meeting- 
house. 

[1835.] On April 6, 1835, this committee reported that they had 
contracted with S. & R. D. Melcher for the erection of a meeting- 
house. That the whole expense would be $2,250, and that the build- 
ing would probably be completed in about six weeks. At this meeting 
Jabez Perkins, Samuel Perkins, and James Cook were appointed a 
committee to sell the pews. Imt were instructed to reserve one pew 
next the desk, on each side, and two floor pews near the stove, for free 
pews.' The society also authorized their agent to sell the old meeting- 
house if the consent of the pew-OAvners could be had. It Avas bought 
b}' Deacon Joshua Haskell for the Free-Will Baptist Societ}'. At a 
meeting of the church, held JNIarch 21, Flder Charles Johnson was 
invited to settle on a salary of three hundred dollars per annum. The 
next meeting of the society was held May 21 in the ncAV or present 
Baptist meeting house. At this meeting, PHder Johnson was ordained 
and the new church building was dedicated. The year was remark- 
able for a revival in this and the other societies. 

[1837.] On Febrnar}- 25, 1837, the church extended a call to Pev- 
erend Edwin R. Warren, and the amount of salary to be offered him 
was left to the discretion of the church officers. 

[1838,] During the year 1838 a controversy commenced between 
the committee of management of the " Eastern B'iptist " and ]Mr. E. 
Brown. It continued several years and caused consideraltle trouble 
in this church. 

[184U.] At a meeting of tlie church held October 25, forty-four 
members were dismissed from this church, in order to be organized 
into a Baptist church in Brunswick village. Tliere was a great revi- 
val this year. Meetings were held for more than one hundred succes- 
sive evenings, and one hundred and iifty-two persons were added to 
the church by baptism. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOIiY OF TOP SHAM. A2b 

[1841.] Oil July 25, Elder Warren resigned the pastorate, and 
Reverend George Knox was invited, November 1, to succeed him on 
a salary of four hundred dollars. On December 14, forty-nine dele- 
gates, representing eighteen churches, met in council for the purpose 
of his ordination. The services were as follows : — 

An anthem ; reading of Scriptures, by Elder P. S. Adams ; a hymn ; 
a prayer, b}- Elder F. Merriam ; a sermon, by Elder Z. Bradford ; an 
anthem ; an ordaining pra3-er, b}' Elder Z. Adlam ; the charge, by 
Elder Adam Wilson ; a hymn ; the right hand of fellowship, by Elder 
E. H. Gray; an address to the church, b}' Elder II. G. Gott; an 
anthem ; a closing prayer, by Elder Vj. R. Warren ; and the benedic- 
tion, by the pastor. 

[184().] On May 2o, 1845, Elder Knox resigned, and on February 
1, of the following year. Reverend James Gilpatrick was invited to 
settle as pastor, on a salarv of four hundred dollars. lie accepted 
the call February 5, and was installed April 22, 1846. The services 
were as follows : — 

Reading of Scripture, b}' Elder J. Hubbard ; prayer, by Elder N. 
Norton ; sermon, hj Elder N. W, Williams ; prayer, by Elder H. 
Hawes ; charge, by Elder W. C. Grant ; right hand of fellowship, by 
Elder INI. Ilanscom ; address to church, etc. by Elder William Baile}' ; 
piayer, b}' Elder J. Ricker ; benediction, by the pastor. 

[1853.] Elder Gilpatrick, having determined to move with his 
family' to Kansas, — then beginning to be settled, — sent in his resig- 
nation April 2, 1853, and it was accepted b}- the church to take place 
in June following. On July 17, Elder A. Robbins was invited to set- 
tle as pastor, on the same salary as his predecessor. On the twenty- 
fourth of the following September, however, his salary was increased 
to four hundred and fifty dollars. 

[1859.] On June 5, 1859, Elder Robbins resigned under circum- 
stances that led many to have doubts as to his fitness for his position. 
When his resignation was accepted, however, some commendatory 
resolutions were passed b}' the church. These resolutions Avere dis- 
pleasing to some of the members, and for a time the matter seriously 
disturbed the church. 

[i860.] March 25, 1860, Reverend L. P. Gurney received a call 
from the church to settle as their pastor, and accepted the invitation 
the following Ma}'. 

[1862.] At a meeting held on April 6, 1862, the church was 
pi-esented b}' Deacon William Barron with a complete silver commu- 
nion service. 



426 IIISTOEY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIABPSWELL. 

[1865.] At a inoetino- of the church, held July 1, l.Sfi"), Ecvereiul 
L. P. Gurne}', Deacons David Scribner and William Barron, AVilliam 
Skolfield, George A. Rogers, and W. E. Haley were chosen a Com- 
mittee of Arrangements for a semi-centennial anniversary of the for- 
mation of the church. On September 2 the anniversary was celebrated 
in an appropriate manner. Reverend Adam AVilson, D. D., delivered 
an historical discourse, which, in accordance with a vote of the church, 
was printed in LSCU!. 

[lsf,(3-l.S(;8.] March 1, 18GG, Elder Gurney resigned his charge, 
and the church was for a time without any settled minister. On Eeb- 
ruar}- 2, 18G7, however, Reverend A. Bryant united with the church 
and sup[)iied the jndpit until Eebruary 11, 18G8. 

In l8Gi), Reverend Ira P. Leland, the present pastor, was in- 
stalled. 

THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY. i 

[178,".] The first minister of this denomination who preached in 
Topsham was Elder Benjamin Randall, Avho preached once or twice 
in John IMerrill's barn about the year 1783. 

[1815.] The Second Parish, as already stated, was made up of 
both Calvinist and Free-AVill Baptists. Their first pastor was Elder 
Purington. He sympathized in his views with the Free-Will Baptists. 
In 1815 he baptized six persons, who sul)sequently joined tlie Free- 
Will Baptist Church. The next preacher of this denomination was 
Elder Benjamin Thorn, who preached one season or more in the " old 
yellow meeting-house." The precise time that he was engaged with 
this church is not stated, but it must have been between the fall of 
1815 and the fall of 181G. 

[181G-17.] In 1816, Elder George Lamb preached a few times 
and was succeeded by Elder Farwell, who preached to the society in 
1817. 

[1822.] There was occasional but not regular preaching after this 
up to about 1822, wdien Elder Briggs settled for about one year. He 
l)reached a portion of the time in the Topsham Court House, and the 
remainder of the time in a hall in Brunswick village. Why services 
were not lu'ld in the yellow meeting-house is not known. It was not 
occupied by the Bajjtists, and the presumption is that the Court House 
was used because the meeting-house was so fiir out of the village. 
About this time the Free-Will Baptists began to leave the Calvinist 

1 From a sketch of the same by the late Mr. Williaiyi Whitten. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 427 

Baptist Church. As the latter had given up the Second Parish Meet- 
ing-House, and had Ijeen incorporated into a new societ}-, it is by no 
means unreasonable to suppose that the former constituted then, and 
are now, the Second Parish. 

[1825-G.] In the autumn of 1825, Elders Clement Phinney, 
Allen Files, and Abizer Bridges came to Topsham and preached 
occasionally. On December 15, 1825, the church was organized bj' 
Elder Bridges, Avho baptized the eight individuals of which it was 
composed. 

Additions continued to be made to the church, and on Saturday-, 
February 4, 182G, a meeting was held at John Haley's, near the yellow 
meeting-house. At this meeting Elder Bridges, having been chosen 
moderator, the church elected Elder Allen Files, pastor ; Andrew 
Jack and Josliua Haskell, deacons ; and Uriah Jack, clerk. 

[1830.] After five 3'ears' service. Elder Files resigned, and was 
succeeded by Elder Dexter Waterman, in 1830. He remained but one 
3'ear, and after he left the church was without a pastor and had 
preaching only occasionallj', for a1)0ut five years. During this time 
the church became very low and feeble. Some of its meml)ers had 
died, others had left town, and but a few remained who were able to 
be of much assistance in sustaining a preacher. 

[1836.] March 22, 183('., Elders George Lamb and Clement Phin- 
ne}' were sent b}- the Bowdoin Quarterl}- Meeting to visit the church, 
and try to revivifs' it. Accordingly, on that day, the church met at 
the old red school-house and chose Elder Lamb, moderator. At the 
commencement of the meeting the members were very much discour- 
aged, and were inclined to give up their organization and join other 
churches. Elder Lamb, however, said to them, " You ought to be 
ashamed to let your own fire go out, and then crawl in and warm 
yourselves b}' another man's." This and similar remarks served to 
inspire them with ncAv zeal, and the}' determined to make strenuous 
efforts to support a church and society'. They at once voted to engage 
Elder Lamb to preach one half the time. As the society owned no 
meeting-house, the 3'ellow one being owned by members of both Bap- 
tist societies, a committee was chosen to purchase one. This com- 
mittee was, however, saved from all trouble in the matter by 
Deacon Joshua Haskell, who purchased the former Baptist meeting- 
house or vestry (the one aftei'wards used as a town-house) at an 
expense of about three hundred and fiftj' dollars. Elder Lamb com- 
menced his pastoral labors in May, 1836, and remained over the church 
luitil his death, which occurred on the fourteenth of the following 



428 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

December. At the same time that Elder Lamb was preaching in the 
village, Polder Cliarles Bean was preaching in the '^Mallett" neigh- 
borhood. He made man}" converts, who all joined the church in the 
village. 

Tn 183C) it was decided to build a new meeting-house. This enter- 
prise received the heart}' encouragement of all the members, and the 
present building was according!}- completed in August, 1837, at an 
expense of $3,000. A. C. Raymond, of Brunswick, was the builder. 

Previously to the erection of this building a Sabbath school Avas 
organized, in which A. R. Bradbury and J. J. Butler, students in 
Bowdoin College, took an active part. 

After the death of their pastor, Mr. J. J. Butler supplied the pulpit 
for a wliile. Elder Phinney also preached for a few months, but there 
was no one settled until May, 1837. On May 20, 1837, Elder 
Daniel Jackson moved to town with his family, and was settled as the 
pastor of this church. He remained over them until some time in 1840. 

[1842.] He was succeeded in the autumn of that year by Elder 
Andrew Rollins, who remained until the spring of 1842. 

[1843.] Elder Rollins was succeeded by Elder Peter Eolsom, who 
continued until February, 1843, when he was obliged to leave on 
account of illness. 

[1843-184G.] In the summer of 1843, Elder DanielJackson was 
again engaged to take the pastoral care of this church. He remained 
until some time in the early part of 1846. During his last pastorate, 
in 1843 and 1844, the " Miller " excitement prevailed in the town. 
The members of the church, not wishing " to stand against anything 
that looked like truth," permitted their church to be used for the pro- 
mulgation of the new views. The result was a loss of some ten or 
more members, and some disaffection amongst those who remained. 
The trouble was not, however, of long duration. 

Elder Peter Folsom succeeded Elder Jackson, and preached for one 
year, when he was huuself succeeded by Elder Charles Bean, who 
remained about two years. 

[1849.] In September, 1849, E. B. Fernald, a student from the 
Biblical School at Whitestown, received a call and commenced 
preaching to this church. He was ordained at the meeting-house in 
Topsham in October following. He remained pastor of this church 
about two years and a half.^ 



> Mr. Whitten's sketch ends at this point. He intended bringing it down to a more 
recent date, but his sickness and death prevented, and we are now unable to give a more 
complete accouiit. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOPSIIAM. 429 

Since then the following preachers have been settled over this 
society : — 

Reverend William T. Smith, from 1852 nntil 1857 ; Reverend M. W. 
Biu-lino-ame, from 1857 until 1803 ; Reverend S. D. Stront, from 1863 
until l.S(U ; Reverend A. A. Smith, from 1864 to 1870 ; Reverend E. 
Manson, from 1870 to 1874 ; J. A. Simpson, for about six months in 
1874-5, after which there was no settled minister until June, 1877, 
when Reverend A. G. Hill, the present pastor, was settled over the 
society. 

ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 

The Congregational Church was, as stat(Ml in the account of the First 
Parish, the churcli of that parish, though the society constituted only a 
portion of it. The following sketch is therefore, so far as it concerns 
the church, a continuation of that of the First Parish. 

[1835.] On INIay 16, 1835, the church adopted their present con- 
fession of faith, and this date may be considered as probably the last 
meeting of tlie church prior to the dissolution of the First Parish. 

[l.S3(;.] In May, 1836, Reverend J. T. Ilawes, who had been set- 
tled over the First Parish in 1831, resigned, and was succeeded by 
Reverend Mr. High, who supplied the pulpit for eight weeks, b}- Rev- 
erend Mr. Cleaveland for eleven weeks, and by Professor Smyth, of 
Bowdoin College, for eight months. A new house of worship' was 
erected this year by volantarj' subscriptions. 

[1837.] In July, 1837, Reverend Thomas N. Lord commenced 
preaching to this society and was ordained in August. He was invited 
at a joint meeting of the church and society held in the Court House 
in Januaiy, 18;>7. His salary was five hundred dollars per annum. 
The council for his ordination met August 7. 

The ser\ices were held on the next day and were as follows : — 

Singing by the choir : prayer, by Reverend Ray I'almer, 2d church, 
Bath; singing by the choir; sermon, b}- Reverend David Thurston, 
Winthrop ; consecrating prayer, by Reverend Josiah T. Hawes, Edge- 
comb ; charge to pastor, by Reverend Jacob C. Goss, Woolwich; 
singing bj' choir ; right hand of fellowship, b}' Reverend George E. 
Adams, Brunswick ; address to church and people, b}' Reverend Tim- 
othy Davis, Litchfield ; concluding prayer, by Professor Smyth, Bow- 
doin College ; benediction, by the pastor. 

[1841.] At a meeting held September 21, 1841, the church passed 
the following resolutions : — 

1 The present edifice. 



430 HISTORY OF BRUXSWICK, lOFkHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

" Resolved, that we have entire confidence in tlie ability and piety 
of our pastor, and that the welfare of this church and the interests of 
religion in this place demand that the connection be continued. 

" Resolved, that in the opinion of this church, Reverend Mr. Lord 
has faithfull}' preached the gospel, and the church is willing to sustain 
him." The foregoing resolutions evidently indicate the existence of 
some dissatisfaction in the society, though not in the church. 

At a joint meeting of the church and societ}', held July 2, 1842, IVIr. 
Lord in a verbal communication requested to have the connection 
severed between himself and the society, on account chiefly of the 
state of his health, but partly on account of some disati'ection which he 
thought existed. The meeting voted that Major Nahum Perkins and 
Matthew Patten be a committee to settle up the affairs of the society ; 
" that John Barron, Alfred Perkins, and Samuel Douglass be a com- 
mittee to take charge of the meeting-house, ring the bell, settle with 
the minister, etc. 

" That Deacon Sprague, Nahum Perkins, Given Jameson, and 
Alfred S. Perkins be a committee to consult with Reverend ]Mr. Lord 
concerning his request." 

[1842.] On July 5, 1842, this committee reported that Mr. Lord 
still wished to dissolve his connection with them, and the church and 
society accordingly gave their assent and voted to call an ecclesiasti- 
cal council. On Jul}' 12 the council met, and after long deliberation 
agreed by a ver^' small majority to sever the connection. 

At a church meeting, held September 18 of this year, the standing 
committee of the church was instructed to make an agreement with 
Reverend Daniel Sewall to suppl}' the pulpit for that vear, commen- 
cing July 1, 1842, and ending July 1, 1843. He had already preached 
five Sabl)atlis. 

[1843.] Between October 2, 1842, and August 5, 1843, the 
slavery question began to be discussed in the church, and caused 
some disatfection. One memlier was refused a letter of recommen- 
dation to a church of which the members were slave-owners, and sev- 
eral resolutions against slavery* were passed, which so offended a 
number of the members that they absented themselves from church 
meetings for some time. 

[1844.] At a meeting held May 16, 1844, complaint was made 
against several persons that they had withdrawn from the comnuinion 
and had embraced " unscriptnral and erroneous doctrines," having 
accepted the views of the Second Adventists. A couunittee was 
appointed to visit and argue the matter with them, but their argu- 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOP SEAM. 431 

iiicnts had no effect, and these individuals were excommunicated about 
a month later. 

On Jul}' 14 of this year a letter was received from the nctinf/ pas- 
tor, Eeverend David Sewall, urging the church to settle a perma- 
nent minister. Isaac L. Cook, Deacon Willis Sprague, and Samuel 
Jameson were chosen a committee " to ascertain if a sufficient sum 
could be raised to secure a minister." 

[1845-6.] In August, 1845, the church extended an invitation to 
Reverend Jonathan Clement, of Chester, New Hampshire, to preach 
to them as a candidate for settlement, and on September 5, 1S4G, the 
church voted, " To concur with the parish in extending a call to the 
Reverend Jonathan Clement to become pastor over the church." He 
accepted, and Avas installed February- 1, 1847. 

[1852.] May 13, 1852, Reverend Mr. Clement and his wife were 
dismissed from this church, and recommended to the Congregational 
Church in Woodstock, Vermont, where he had receiA^ed a call to settle. 
During Mr. Clement's pastorate the church was prosperous, and noth- 
ing appears on the records save a few cases of discipline not neces- 
sary to be mentioned. 

From the time of the dismission of Mr. Clement until his successor 
was installed, the pulpit was supplied I)}' Professor Alpheus S. Pack- 
ard, of Bowdoin College. 

In December, 1852, a call was extended to Reverend John Wilde, 
of Falmouth, and a council was called for his installation. 

[1853.] This council met Januar}' 4, 1853, and the following 
services Avere held : — 

Prayer, b}' Reverend P. F. Barnard ; sermon, by Reverend William 
Warren ; insialling pra3-er, by Reverend J. W. Turner ; charge to 
pastor, b}' Reverend J. W. Ellingwood ; right hand of fellowship, 
by Reverend George E. Adams, D.D. ; address to people, by Rev- 
erend J. O. Fisk ; concluding prayer, b}' Reverend E. Whittlesey ; 
benediction, b}* the pastor. 

[1854.] On August 19, 1854, a letter was received from Mr. 
Wilde asking to \nx\e a council called to act upon his request for 
a dissolution of the pastoral relation, the reason of his request be- 
ing the inadequacy of his salary. In compliance with this request 
the church, August 21, voted to call a council. 'J'his council met 
short!}' afterwards, and dissolved the relation l)etween the pastor and 
church. 

[1856.] After Mr. Wilde left, Reverend James M. Palmer supplied 
the pulpit for one year. He was followed b}- Reverend J. Q. Peabody, 



432 HISTORY OF BRUKSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

of Ipswich, jNIass., who supplied till October, 185G, when he accepted 
a call to settle at Frj-eburg. 

In December, 1850, Reverend Daniel F. Potter, of Union, was 
invited to preach for a few Sabbaths. He was then invited to settle, 
but declined, agreeing, however, to preach to the soviet}- during their 
mutual pleasure. 

[18G5-G.] June 3, 18G5, ]\Ir. Potter notified the church that on 
account of ill-health he should be unable to preach any more. Between 
this date and June, 186G, the desk was supi)lied bv Professors Pack- 
ard and Sewall, of Bowdoin College, and by Reverend Elijah Kellogg, 
of Boston. 

[18G8.] During the year 1868 a new and handsome spire was 
erected on the meeting-house, and the whole l>uilding was remodelled. 

[18G9-1870.] On February 4, 1869, the building was redcdicated. 
The services of the occasion were as follows : — 

Invocation, by Reverend Mr. Bryant, of the Baptist Church ; read- 
ing of Scriptures, by Reverend Mr. Potter ; sermon, b}' Professor 
Jotham S. Sewall, of Bowdoin College ; dedicatory prayer, by Rev- 
erend Doctor Adams, of Brunswick ; hymn, prater, and benediction, 
by Reverend Mr. Smith, of the Free Baptist Church, Topsham. 

From tlie records of this church the following facts have been 
gleaned : — 

The nmnl)cr admitted to the church up to 1821 was .... 22 

up to 1874 was 263 

Whole luimber •admitted on confession 238, 

" " " by letter 25 

" " dismissed 49 

*' " suspended ......... 5 

" " excommunicated ........ fi 

" " who died up to 1874 92 

The number of infants baptized between October, 1833, and July, 
1871, was thirt3'-four, — twenty-two boys and twelve girls. 

The number of members in 1874 was one hundred and twelve, of 
which the males numbered sevent^'-eight and the females one hundred 
and eighty-five. Reverend Nahum W. Grover has preached for this 
societ}' since the fall of 1875. 

THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY. 

Previous to the formation of the Orthodox Congregational Society, 
in 1836, the First Parish had ceased to hold meetings as such. A 



i:CCLESIASTICAL BISTORT OF TOPSHAM. 433 

majority of the owners of pews in the second meeting-house of the 
First Parish being Unitarians, meetings were held in the meeting- 
house for many j-ears, which were conducted b}' Unitarian preachers. 

The first preacher of this denomination who ever conducted rehg- 
ious services here is thought to have been a Reverend Mr. Greeley, 
who preached on one occasion in the old east meeting-house. He was 
afterwards a deacon of Doctor Channing's church, in Boston. 

[1836-1838.] Reverend H. Edes preached in town on December 
11, 1836, whether for more than one Sunday is not known. He 
was followed by Revei-end Mr. Russell, Reverend J. O. Da}', 
Reverend Mr. Crafts, and Reverend G. M. Rice. The engagement 
of the latter commenced in August, 1837, and ended August 25, 
1839. 

[1839.] On the date last mentioned Reverend Amos D. Wheeler, 
then of Standish, preached on an exchange with Mr. Rice. The 
same evening a committee of the " subscribers for the support of 
Unitarian preaching " Invited him to take charge of the pulpit for the 
term of three j-ears, that being the unexpired portion of the time for 
which their subscriptions had been made. The committee consisted 
of the following persons : — 

Humphrej' Purinton, William Frost, Benjamin Hase}', Gardner 
Green, Charles Thompson, John Coburn, and John S. Gushing. 

The invitation was accepted, and he removed to Topsham with his 
famil}- on the twenty-sixth da}' of October of that year, having in 
the mean time preached there two or three times. 

Fj'om fear of losing their rights as members of the First Parish, 
this society refrained from asking for an Act of Incorporation, 
neither was any church formally constituted by council, according to 
Congregational usage. 

The i)astor, however, did collect together into a church such as 
were willing to sign the following covenant : — 

"'One is your Master even Christ, and all ye are brethren.' — Matthew 

xxiii, 8. 
" ' One shall say, I am the Lord's, and another shall call himself by the 

name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his own hand unto the 

Lord.' — Isaiah xliv, 5. 

" We whose names are hereunto annexed, receiving the Bible as 
the rule of our faith and practice, do hereby associate for our mutual 
improvement in truth and holiness, as the disciples of Christ. And 
Ave declare it to be our sincere desire and purpose, as far as lieth in 

us, to walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord 

28 



434 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, T0FSIIA3I, AND IIARPSWELL. 

blameless, and to eherisli and maintain towards all Christians 'the 
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.' " 

From the pastor's records tlie following names of the communi- 
cants are obtained. The date at which the}' joined the chnrch is not 
given : — 

John Coburn, Nathaniel Dunning, John S. Gushing, Joseph N. 
Dunning, Amos D. Wheeler, Charles H. AVheeler, Javan II. Ilall, 
Mr. Bicknell, Joshua Young, John M. Goodwin, George N. Richard- 
son, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Fitch, Mr. IMoreton, John D. Coburn, Sarah E. 
Purinton, Sarah C. Gushing, Isabella M. Dunning, Delia A. Dunning, 
Mary W. Green, Mary A. Green, Mary Thompson, Harriet N. 
Ploughton, Louisa A. Wheeler, Mary B. H. Wheeler, Annie E. 
Thompson, Sarah A. Thompson, Hannah Rogers, IMrs. Coburn, Mrs. 
Dunning, Mrs. N. Walker, Mrs. H. Purinton, Mrs. Sarah Thompson, 
IVIiss Palmer, Miss Webb, Mrs. Shaw, Elizabeth W. Purinton, Pen- 
thea S. Hall. Man}' of these members belonged in Brunswick, and 
some of the males were students in college. 

During the pastorate of Reverend Doctor Wheeler in this town the 
average attendance at meeting w^as about one hundred. The building, 
having been erected for the acconunodation of the whole town, was of 
course too large for any one of the four societies which then existed in 
the town, and consequently the attendance at the Unitarian services 
always appeared smaller tluui it really was. Although small in num- 
bers, it had, however, its full share of the intelligence and pecuniar}' 
ability of the community. 

[18.50.] At the expiration of a little more than ten years from 
the settlement of their last pastor, arrangements were made to 
unite the two -'liberal" societies of Brunswick and Topsham. The 
arrangements were completed and went into etfect in November, 
1850. 

[185.3.] In 1853 the " proprietors of the Unitarian Meeting-House 
in Topsham" obtained authority from the legislature to sell it. It was 
accordingly sold, and in December of that year taken down and 
removed to a ship-yard at Middle Bays, owned by Robert Pennell, Jr., 
and others, where it was erected into a boarding-house. 

The ministerial fund of the First Parish caiue into the hands of the 
X^ew-holders of the Unitarian Society. It amounted in 183(5 to seven 
hundred and thirty-six dollars and sixty-one cents. This sum was in 
the hands of various individuals, who gave their notes for the several 
amounts in their possession. After the transference of the i)reaehing 
to Brunswick, these notes were unintentionally allowed to become out- 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 435 

la,wed, and the fund has thus become lost beyond recover}', some of 
the parties owing the money having died. 

Nothing, tlierefore, now remains in Topsham to remind one of the 
old First Parish Society except the graveyard attached to the old first 
meeting-house. 

CHURCH AND SOCIETY OF THE SECOND ADVENTISTS. 

About the ^-ear 1843 an individual by the name of Starkweather 
came to town, and preached the peculiar views of this socict}' in the 
Free Will Baptist IVIecting-House. He was succeeded by several others 
of the followers of " Joe Miller," and quite a number of converts were 
made, some coming from nearly all the churches. A societ}' was 
formed and regular meetings were held on Saturday. The society 
owned no place of worship, but were accustomed to meet at the houses 
of members. About the year 1844 a paper was issued for a short 
time by this society'. It was devoted exclusively to the dissemination 
of their religious views. Several predictions were made as to the 
second coming of the Messiah, and on at least one occasion prepara- 
tions were made for the event. The society gradually dwindled away, 
though meetings of its members were held each Saturday' until about 
1852. 

OTHER DENOMINATIONS. 

No other religious society was ever formed in this town, but other 
denominations have occasionally had preaching here for a short time, — 
the Universalists in the Court House in 1841, ^ and the Methodists and 
Episcopalians, and perhaps others, at other times. 

1 A. D. Wheeler's Diary. 



43<) HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



CHAPTER XIY. 

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HAUPSWELL. 

The early settlers of Harpswell belonged, for the most part, eitlier to 
the Congregational or to the Church of England denomination. ^ There 
were, however, amongst them a few Quakers, who set up a monthly 
meeting about the j'ear 1751. The inhabitants at first contributed to 
the support of preaching in the First Parish of North Yarmouth, as it 
appears from the records of that town that on April 16, 1744, the 
town excused the inhabitants of Merriconeag from paying the minis- 
ter's rate for that j'ear. In 1751 Merriconeag became a parish, styled 
the Second Parish in North Yarmouth, and from this time, if not 
before, voluntaril}' employed a minister of their own. The first was 
Reverend Richard Pateshall, a graduate of Harvard College. He 
preached for two or three years, but was not permanently settled. He 
was succeeded by Reverend Mr. Packard, who preached onl}- for a 
short time. 

[1753.] In 1753 a church was formed and Reverend Elisha 
Eaton was settled. The council that met to ordain him assembled at 
the house of Lieutenant Eaton, it being the onlj' house in town, at that 
date, that had plastered rooms. ^ 

[1758-9.] In 1758 and 1759 the meeting-house on Merriconeag 
Neck was built, though it was not entirel}' completed for man}' j-ears. 
This building will be more particular!}^ described in another chapter. 

In 1758 the town voted that " the Selectmen should proportion the 
preaching on the Island according to the Rates they pay, and to loose 
an equal proportion of the time that is deficient." Also to pay four 
shillings for each Sabbath to the persons who conveyed Mr. Eaton to 
the Island. 

On May 19,1 759, the town voted that Mr. Eaton should preach " in 
the meeting-house for the future, except foul weather prevents." 
The selectmen were authorized to hire persons to convey him to the 

1 Kellocjg, MS. Lecture. ^Ibid. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HARPSWKLL. 437 

Island. In 1760 tlie town voted that the people on the Island should 
be taxed in proportion to the amount of preaching they had. These 
votes show clearly that Mr. Eaton, thus early, was accustomed to 
l)reach on Sebascodigan Island, as well as on the Neck. But little is 
known concerning the affairs of this church during the ten or eleven 
years' pastorate of Mr. Eaton ; no records have been found, and even 
our knowledge of its existence at that time, as an organized church, 
is traditional. AVhat Mr. Eaton's salary was is not known with cer- 
tainty. In 1758 the town raised for that purpose sixty-five pounds, 
in 1760 sevent}' pounds, and in 1762 seventj'-five pounds. 

[1764.] Reverend Ehsha Eaton died on Sunday morning, April 
22, 1764, aged sixty-two j^ears. On Maj^ 22 a committee was 
chosen to supply the pulpit with a minister. The town also at this 
ineeting voted £37 7s. to defra}" Mr. Eaton's funeral expenses, and 
'' to give the widow of the Deceased Rev'd Mr. Eaton a Decent sute 
of mourning." 

On July 8d of this ^-ear the town voted to pay William Modg- 
ridge eight shilUngs, for making Mr. Eaton's coffin, and to pay a Mr. 
Babb five shillings for assisting in making the coffin and digging the 
grave. 

On Jul}' 1 7th the town voted to give Reverend Samuel P^aton, the 
son of their former pastor, an invitation to settle with them, the vote 
having been unanimous on the part of the church and congregation. 
It was also voted to give him £120 as a settlement and to pay £40 a 
3'ear until the settlement was paid. £66 13s. 4c?. was also voted as 
his 3Xarly salary. Benjamin Jaques and Nathaniel Purinton were 
chosen to represent the town in the committee chosen by the church 
to deliver the invitation. 

At a meeting of the town, held August 27, it was voted that the 
" minister should go to the Island called Great Island, fifteen Sab- 
baths a 3'ear, 3'early, allowing each day that is appointed by s*^ Minis- 
ter to be one of s*^ fifteen days, and the Minister to go when he 
pleases till the fifteen daj's each year are completeil ." 

The town, at this meeting, also voted to fix upon a place for a 
meeting-house on the Great Island. 

For some reason the invitation voted to Mr. Eaton seems to have 
been unsatisfactory, and accordingly it was renewed by both the town 
and the church, at a meeting held on the nineteenth of September. 

At this latter meeting a committee was chosen to make the arrange- 
ments for his ordination. He was ordained the following October. 

[1765.] In May, 1765, the town voted an appropriation of £206 



438 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

G.s. 11 fL, old tenor, to defra}- the cliarges attendant upon this ordi- 
nation. 

No further action appears to have been taken hy the town in 
regard to ecclesiastical matters for some years, and no parish or 
church records have been found of an earlier date than the year 
1770. 

The first church records of Harpswell that are to be found begin 
with a church meeting, held August 2, 1770, on Sebascodigan Island, 
at which Isaac Snow was chosen deacon. 

At a subsequent church meeting, October 24, 1770, the following 
preamble and votes were passed : — 

" We that thro' God's Goodness, have been combin'd, & are still 
continued a Chh. of his, having heretofore consented unto the Cove- 
nant of Grace, according to the gracious Terms whereof, we have 
made Choice -of the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son & Spirit as our God, 
and of the Lord Jesus Christ as the glorious Mediator, upon whose 
Fullness of Merit & Power we rely, as well to be strengthened for 
the Duties, as to be invested with y^ Blessings of that well ordered 
Covenant ; being withall sensible }'* our Justilication \>\ Faith in the 
Kighteousness of him who is a Saviour and Surety for us, does very 
strongly- oblidge us to close with all the Commands of God, as hoi}-, 
just & good, and as those Eules, in Conformity to which alone, our 
Peace can be lengthened out : }'' its our Dut}- to walk circumspectl}', 
not as Fools but as wise, redeeming the Time, because the Days are 
evil, and calling to Mind y^ sinfull Miscarriages of some Professors, 
who are Spots in our Feasts of Charit}', and our Dut}- to Watoh over 
ytn |>^j. tij(.ji. good ; and considering further that the Doors of the Chh. 
do not b_y God's Appointment stand so wide open, y' all sorts of Per- 
sons good & bad may freelj' enter in at their pleasure ; y' the Eunuch of 
Ethiopia was examin'd b}- Philip ; y' the Angle of the Chh. of Ephesus. 
is commended for trying such as said the}' were Apostles, and were 
not ; and y' twelve Angles were set at y® Gates of y^ Temple, lest 
such as were ceremonially unclean should enter thereinto, (2 Chron. 
23, 19. Mat. 13, 25, & 22, 12. Acts 8, 37. Rev. 2, 2, & 21, 12,) 
Have accordingly conveined at a Chh. Meeting, at the Meeting House 
duly notified b}' the Pastor, this 24 Oct". 1770, and made the following- 
Resolves : — 

" The Rev. Samuel Eaton Moderator. 

" 1. Voted, that it is the Intention of this Chh. according to the 
best of their knowledge, to adhere closeh' to }''' sacred Scripture for 
their Guide, and to the Rules therein contained for their mode of Dis- 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HARPS WELL. 439 

cipline, and to come into no Resolves, for which they have not a 
divine Warrant. 

"2. Voted, y* it would be a great evil in us, if we should not 
accord" to y* best of our Capacity, attend & support y** Institutions of 
God in the Midst of us, & that Chh. Discipline w*^*^ he has commanded 
in his Word, that there may be Nothing wanting thereunto. 

" 3. Voted, y' it is the Opinion of this Chh. y' the receiving into 
Chh. Communion, or w' is called owning the Covenant, those persons 
who live praj'erless in their Families, is a scandal to our hoi}- Religion. 
Therefore, 

"4. Voted, y' this Chh. will not for y^ future receive into Chh. 
Communion, or what is called owning the Covenant, those persons 
who live praj'erless in their Families. 

"5. Voted, y' it is tiie Opinion of this Chh. 3* maliciousl}' to 
make, or injuriously to spread abroad an}' false Report, or Reports 
to y^ Injury of the Innocent, is detestable in the sight of God, & ought 
to be so to us. Therefore, 

" G. Voted, 3' if an}' chh. Member or p^'sons in Covenant, shall 
maliciousl}' make, or injuriously spread abroad any false Report, or 
Reports, to the Injmy of the Innocent, he or she, upon Conviction bv 
the Mouth of two or three witnesses, shall be lyable to y^ censure of 
this Church, as those who sin, are to be rebuked before all. 

"7. Vottd, y' if an}' Chh. Member, absent him or herself from the 
Ordinance of the Lord's Supper, in its stated administration, he or 
she, shall Ije accounted iu the eye of the Chh. as a disorderly Walker, 
& guilty of the Breach of his or her Covenant Obhgations. 

'' 8. Voted, y' it is the Opinion of this chh. that the Custom of 
young People, of both sexes, getting together in the Night, in tliose 
Companies for Mirth & Jollity, Fiddling and Dancing y* they call 
Frolicks, so spending the Time together till late in the Night, in their 
Jollity, to the neglect of family Prayer, and violating all Order, is a 
sin detestable in the sight of God, & ought to be so to us. There- 
fore, 

"9. Voted, y' if any chh. Member, or Members, or p'"sons in 
Covenant, shall assemble at those places, where such things are, or 
allow of the same in their Houses sh" come under the censure of this 
Chh. so far as to be debarr'd Chh. priviledges, til they give Scripture 
Satisfaction. 

" 10. Voted, y' it is the Opinion of this Chh. y' Churches ought to 
preserve Communion one w"" another, because y}' are all united unto 
Christ, not only as a mistical, but as a political Head : Therefore 



440 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AXD HARPSWELL. 

"11. Voted, y* this Chh. will not hold Comnmnion w**" the Mem- 
ber of another regular Chh. who is und' the Censure or Suspension of 
3'' Chh. til he or she gives that Satisfaction agree'''^ to Scripture, & as 
practiced b}- the Chh' in N. England. 

"12. Voted^ y' Mess" Edw*^ Cuningham, Benj* Jaques, and 
Jacob Blake, be a Committee for the Neck, and John Snow & Nath' 
Purington for the Island called great Sebascodigiu, to inspect y' walk 
of Professors, and enquire into Reports if any there may lie, and 
accordiugh- make Report to the Pastor. 

"13. Voted, y' it is the Opinion of this Chh. y' for Profes- 
sors unnecessarily to frequent a Tavern on the Lords Day there 
to spend some part of it needlessly drinking spirituous Liquor, 
is a sin detestable in the sight of God, and ought to be so to us, 
Therefore, 

" 14. Voted, y' if any Professor shall unnecessarily frequent an}- 
Tavern on the Lord's Day, or there repair with a view needlessly to 
drink spirituous Liquor, or shall at any Time be guilty of Drunkeness, 
or drinking to excess, he or she shall come und'' the Censure of this 
Church. 

" 15. Voted, y' it is y^ Opinion of this Chh. that some provision be 
made by them, for the Relief of such Chh. Members, (being well re- 
ported of) as are b}- the providence of God cast into indigent Circum- 
stances. Therefore, 

" 16. Voted, y' Messrs. Edward Cuningham, Ben* Jaques, and 
Jacob Blake, be a Committee for the Neck, and John Snow & Natlian- 
iel Purington for the Island, j^ if any Chh. Members, who conduct 
according to the Gosple, and are well reported of but b}' the provi- 
dence of God are cast into those circumstances w*^*^ necessarily call 
for Releif, may appl}* to, and the Committee to make it known to 
the Pastor, and the Pastor to call the Brethren together that they 
may judge of their Case, and accord^ to their Liberality releive 
them. 

"17. Voted, y' this Chh. will receive No Report unless proved by 
the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses. 

" 18. Voted, y' these Resolves be entered upon the Chh. Records, 
and publicl}' read upon the Lords Da}'. 

" A true Copy from the Minutes examined and attested, 

"By Saml. Eaton, Moderator. 
" Consented to 

" Saml Eaton, Pastor.'" 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 441 

[1777.] At a meeting held May 29, 1777, Joseph Ewiiig was 
chosen a deacon. 

[1784.] At a church meeting held at the meeting-house. May 31, 
1784, it was voted that those who desired church privileges should be 
examined before the church, and that those living hol^' lives might have 
their children baptized though they themselves were not church mem- 
l)ers. That the deacons should be a committee to inspect the walk of 
church members, and that the pastor had liberty, "■ provided he sees 
his way clear, to baptize by Immersion those who conscientiously 
desire it, provided they give Satisfaction to the Church of their Faith 
in Christ & live holy Lives." " 

At a meeting held August 31, 1786, the church unanimously voted 
to rescind the seventeenth vote, in regard to receiving reports against 
members, that was passed October 24, 1770. 

[1787.] The previous unanimity in regard to religious affairs in 
this town began to be disturbed about this time. At a meeting of the 
town, held in March, 1787, it was voted that those persons who did 
not intend to pay the minister's tax should give in their names to the 
committee chosen for the purpose, and should give their reasons to 
this committee in writing. The committee were to report at a subse- 
quent meeting, but no such report is in the records. 

[1803.] At a church meeting, held on April 28, 1803, James 
Wilson was unanimously chosen a deacon. 

[1806.] This year the town voted that Mr. Eaton need preach 
only in the west meeting-house, on account of the difficulty of a per- 
son of his age going to and from the Island. 

[1813.] At the annual meeting of the town in 1813 it was 
agreed that Mr. Eaton should preach onlj- in the west part of the 
town that 3'ear, and that the inhabitants of Great Island should 
be exempt from pacing a tax for his support, " excepting the 
Ewings." The reason for thus excepting one family was undoubtedly 
because they lived so near, — just across the Narrows, — and could 
easily and were accustomed to attend the meetings on the Neck ; 
and also because they were strong su[)porters of Mr. Eaton and 
were well-to-do people. 

A special town meeting was held in September of this year, at 
which John Blake, Isaiah Snow, and Paul Raymond were chosen a 
committee " to go and converse with the Rev'd Samuel Eaton." The 
nature of the conversation is not recorded, but it may have been in 
regard to the taxing for his support of residents upon Sebascodigan 
Island, as following the record of the meeting is this entry : — 



442 HISTOJiY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

" Hakpswell, Sept. S^ , 1813. 
" I hereby Certify that I do from this Date for Ever Relinquish the 
Civil Contract between great Sebascodegin Island and my Self. 

" Samuel Eaton 
"Anthony Coombs, Jr. 
Marlboro Sylvester 

"Marlboro Sylvester T. Clerk'''' 

[1818.] At a special meeting of the town, held July 13, Marlboro 
Sylvester, S3'lvester Stover, and Peleg Curtis were chosen to etl'ect a 
settlement of accounts with Mr. Eaton. Their report was as follows : — 

" We the subscribers chosen a Committee b}' the Town of Harps- 
well to settle with the Eev'd Sam'l Eaton in behalf of said Town, 
have attended the service of our appointment the 13*'' daj' of July 
1818 and we find that since the last settlement, which was up to Jul}* 
13"" 1813, there is due to him from the Town, for five years past ser- 
vices, the sum of $1115. to this date, of which one third part was 
relinquished to Great Sebascodegin Island, Avhich was $371.66, leaving 
a balance due to him from the westerly part of said town of $713.34. 

"Marlbro' Sylvester ~) 
Sylvester Stover [ Committee " 
Peleg Curtis J 

Following this report in the towu records is this entry : — 

"•I do relinquish to the Town of Ilarpswell the whole of the above 

balance and acknowledge all accounts settled and balanced up to the 

above date of July 13th 1818. 

" Samuel Eaton." 

The reason why Mr. Eaton chose to relinquish so large a sum 
which was justly his due requires some explanation. The attendance 
upon his services was at this time small. The Baptists had with- 
drawn, many citizens objected to being taxed for the support of a 
minister, and some had absolutely refused to pa}' their taxes. The 
parish oUicers did not like to urge payment, for fear of creating still 
further opposition, which Avould result in the further injur}' of the 
parish, and thus the unpaid taxes were allowed to accumulate. Mr. 
Eaton could have compelled the town to pay the amount, but he 
relinquished it for the sake of harmony. 

Probably about this time, though the exact date is nowhere given, 
Reverend Mr. Samuel Eaton resigned his pastorate. From an exami- 
nation of the church records, it appears that while Mr. Eaton had 
charge of this church, he baptized five hundred and eighty-four male 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 443 

children, five hundred and thirt^y-five female children, nine adult 
males, seventeen adult females, and two children of whom the sex was 
not designated, making in all one thousand one hundred and forty- 
seven persons baptized by him. 

In this connection, the following document, obtained from an 
account-book of Reverend Elisha Eaton, will prove entertaining. It 
is certainly in the handwriting of Eeverend Samuel Eaton, and is 
prol)ably a portion of some report of his to the jNIissionarv Associ- 
ation. From the number of baptisms recorded, it must have been 
written — judging from the hst of baptisms in the church records — 
about the year 1767. 

" If I am not mistaken in my Calculat" I have preached 40 Sei-m"^ 
exclusive of Sabbath, & the N° of Baptisms stands thus, — 

Childn 157 

Adults 11 

Total . .168 

" I now lieg leave to make a few gen^ Remarks. The pple who 
were y^ Objects of my mission, are, in y^ main in a broken State as 
to Religion. So far as I am able to judge, I impute it to \^ multi- 
plicity of lay preachers, and y^ paucity of those who are regular and 
learned. Y^ are an open Prey to every Imposter. Missionaries (as 
many well inclined & who even tremble for y^ Ark of G. observed to 
me) were never moi'e needed y° at this Daj'. I have found some, I 
l)elieve, who know genuine religion, who are clear & distinguishing in 
their notions, & are not carried about by every Wind of Doctrine. 
Others who app"' to me to boil over w"" Enthusiasm, others who are 
thotless of y' w'^^ ought to be their chief Concern, and others who were 
enquiring w' 3'y should do to be saved. I feel for j^ pple ; \y need 
Guides, 3-3- need Instruction, yy need y^ right sort of j^reach". Ma}' 
G. of his infinite Mercy prevent their perishing for lack of vision. 
In m}- Public Discourses, as well as private Conv^sation, I endeav- 
oured to distinguish between Truth & Error, an imaginarj' & true 
religion, & y" Opera t" of both — to reclaim y* Erroneous — To detect y® 
Hypocrite, to encourage & help y'^ inquiring, to warn y^ hardened 
Sinn'', to comfort those who mourn in Zion, & to establish 3-'' true 
Xtian. Neither have I omitted y^ Inculcation of moralit3', & y* 
necessit3- of encouraging human Literature &c. 

" So far as I am acquainted y' pple are hospitable, have treated me 
w"* great respect & kindness, & all Denominations have industrioush' 
attended m}* preach^ on the Sabb*" and Lectures.. 



444 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

" I pra}' G. to water y^ seed w'^'*, &c, «fe to have \^ uikF liis keeping 
and Guidance, to bless y"^ w"^ spiritn^ &, tem[poral] P'avours, & 3' each 
memb'' of y* Society may be reward'' w'** an hund'' fold here, & here- 
after w"' an unfading Crown of Glor^'. I conclude only w**" adding y* 
I have endeavoured to execute ni}- Mission in a mann'' most agreeable 
to y*" Intentions of y*^ Society." 
i [1823.] The earliest records of the First Parish that have come to 
I our hands commence August 23, 1823. At this meeting Jonathan 
? Johnson was chosen moderator ; Joseph Eaton, clerk ; Samuel Skol- 
I field, treasurer ; Benjamin Dunning, collector ; George Skolfield and 
I Jonathan Johnson, assessors ; Benjamin Dunning, Joseph Eaton, and 
' Deacon James ^Yilson, a standing committee. This committee was to 
supply the pulpit until the middle of November, from the money that 
had already been subscribed. 

The church this 3'ear, at a meeting held December 30, voted "■ to 
assent to the Cumberland Church Constitution." 

[182G.] At a parish meeting held April 15, it was voted that the 
committee for supplying the pulpit be also a committee •' to admit or 
reject the application of Strangers and others who may Avisli to hold 
meetings in the Meeting House." 

[1828.] The parish at a meeting held Jul}' 14, 1828, voted, thougli 
not with unanimit}', to give Reverend Ebenezer Halping an invitation 
to settle as tlieir pastor. They also voted that the mouej' for his sup- 
port should be raised b}' subscription, and that James Orr, Sylvester 
Stover, and Joseph Eaton be a committee to wait upon Mr. Halping 
and see for what sum he would agree to settle with them. The parish 
also choose a committee of three to confer with a like committee of the 
Baptist Societ}', " to see if the}' concitute [conciliate?] Matters." 

At a meeting held August 4, it was voted that " Captain James 
Orr be a committee to go and see Mr. Halping and state to him the 
means that Ave have to settle him and know if he would accept." It 
was also voted that Mr. Halping should have what he could obtain 
from the Cumberland Conference in addition to what the parish 
gave. 

[1829.] On January 21 the church voted to have a copy of the 
covenant and articles of faith distributed to each family connected 
with the church. 

[1830.] At a meeting of the parish on April 12, 1830, it was 
voted to supply the pulpit for that year by subscription, and it is 
therefore most likely that ]\Ir. Halping did not accept the call, though 
he may have supplied the pulpit for a while. At a meeting held De- 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 445 

cember 20, the parish voted to hire Reverend Moses Welch for one 
year at a salary of four hundred dollars. 

[1831.] On October 3 the parish and church united in extending 
an invitation to Reverend William Harlow, who had been preaching 
to them through the summer, to settle as their pastor, provided they 
could obtain the sura of two hundred dollars, and that he should 
obtain what sum he could from the Maine Missionary Societv and the 
Cumberland County Conference. At a meeting held December 7. it 
was decided to have a stove in the meeting-house. Reverend jNIr. 
Harlow accepted the invitation to settle, and at this meeting it was 
determined that the council for his installation should be entertained 
by individuals without expense to the parish. 

[1832.] Mr. Harlow was ordained and installed Januar}- 25, 1832. 
The services were as follows : — 

Prayer, by Reverend Mr. Adams; sermon, by Reverend Mr. ]\Iit- 
timore ; installing prayer and charge, b}' Reverend Mr. EUingwood ; 
right hand of fellowship, by Reverend Mr. Adams ; address to the 
people, b}^ Reverend Mr. Hawes. 

Following the above in the church records appears the following 
entr}- : — 

" The Reverend Mr. Harlow took the liberty (without asking the 
consent of his people) to absent himself from them from the ninth of 
July to the thirteenth or fourteenth of August, 1832, therefore it may 
be considered that the civil contract expired the day he went away." 

This was signed, not by the real, but by an acting clerk. This mis- 
take of taking a vacation without the consent of his parishioners was, 
however, afterwards rectified. 

[1833.] At a parish meeting held November 9, 1833, it was voted 
to allow him four Sabbaths a year in which to visit his friends. A vote 
was also passed at this meeting that the Maine Missionary' Society 
should be asked to give Mr. Harlow fift}' dollars that ^-ear. The 
same request was made for several 3'ears in succession. 

[1834.] At a meeting of the church in April of this 3'ear at the 
house of Stephen Sinnett, it was voted "that the record relative to 
the Reverend William Harlow, on the foregoing page, was made with- 
out the knowledge or approbation of the said church." 

[1837.] At a meeting of the church held in Ma3% 1837, in compli- 
ance with the vote of a council that was held in September of the pre- 
vious year, the acting clerk, who had been excommunicated on account 
of his entr}' in the records and his subsequent conduct, was restored 
to the fellowship of the church. At this meeting also. Deacon Simeon 



446 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Orr and Benjamin Dunning were chosen a committee " to request Mr. 
Harlow to ask a dismission, if he declined to invite a council." 

[1838-1840.] Mr. Harlow probably resigned in the winter of 
1838, perhaps earlier. From March, 1839. to March, 1840, the pulpit 
was supplied in turn by Reverends Clark, Cornish, Gillett, Kenderick, 
Purington, Merrill, Parsons, and Peasley. 

The dismission of Mr. Harlow, or some other cause, seems to have 
produced considerable disafiection in the church, and during the year 
1838 several members of the church were suspended or excommnuicated. 

Reverend Jotham Sewall, of Freeport, filled the pul])it for a while 
after ]Mr. Harlow left, and at a church meeting, held Fe1>riiary 29, 
1840, it was voted, "That the thanks of this church ])e presented to 
the church in Freeport for the faithful and interesting labors of their 
pastor with us of late." 

[1843.] About this time a new meeting-house was built and a new 
society formed. Though the church and society of the First Parish 
probably continued to exist for some time after this event, yet no 
records were kept after the year 1844, and the preaching was prol:)ably 
only occasional in the old meeting-house. The church organization 
may have connected itself with the new society. 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 

The first Baptist preaching in Harpswell was in the year 1783, by 
Reverend Isaac Case and Mr. Potter. The former preached twenty- 
five sermons to the people on Great Island in the course of a few 
months. There was some opposition, and Mr. Case said that he was 
treated "rather coolly" by Reverend Samuel Eaton. On the nine- 
teenth of January, 1785, a church was organized on this island by 
Reverend Messrs. Case and J. Macomber. It consisted of thirty-one 
members, of whom onl}- a portion Ijelonged in Harpswell. 

A short time after the organization of this church Mr. Potter was 
baptized and united with it, and on October 5, 1785, he was ordained 
as an evangelist b}- ]\Iessrs. Case and Macomber, Mr. Case preaching 
the sermon for the occasion. Elder Potter soon received an invita- 
tion and took the pastoral charge of this church. During his ministry 
about twenty- were added to it. He resigned in 1788. In 1790, Elder 
Elisha Snow, of Thomaston, was ordained as his successor, and 
preaclied about two years. He was succeeded by Reverend Samuel 
Woodard, of Brunswick, who was ordained at his own house, 
October 11, 1792. Elder Woodavd resigned his charge in the latter 
part of 1801, and was succeeded b}- Reverend Samuel Mariner, who 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HABPSWELL. 447 

was ordained in Jannar}', 1802. Elder Mariner remained as pastor 
until his death in 1832. After the death of Elder Mariner, up to the 
year 1845, this church had no settled minister, though its pulpit was 
supplied the greater part of the time b}' Elders S. Owen, Henr^' 
Kendall, D. Pierce, "William Johnson, J. Butler, and N. Hooper. 

This church lias had at different times several distinct names. At 
first it was called the Harpswell Church, then Harpswell and Brans- 
wick, and later it went b}' the name of the East Brunswick Church. 
The whole number of members up to the 3'ear 1843 was about two 
hundred and fift3\^ Reference has been made to this church in the 
preceding chapter. 

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY OF HARPSWELL. 

[1827.] This church was organized November 13, 1827. The 
records commence with the following : — 

" We whose Names are hereunto affixed — Having a hope that God 
has Eenewed our Hearts b}^ his rich Grace, and has made it our duty 
to Glorify him on the Earth — We feel a desire to be embodied into a 
visible Predestinarian Baptist Church that we may More perfectly 
Glorify him and enjoy the ministration of his word and ordinances." 

The above was signed by : — 

John L. Lambert, Elizabeth Lambert, Hannah Thomas, Lozana 
Alexander, Jane Wilson, Robert B. Gardner, Lucy Ann Farr, James 
S. Wyer, Mary Alexander, Norton Stover, Joshua Bishop, Patience 
Bishop, Isabella Merryman, Perry Alexander, Rosanna Alexander, 
Margaret Wyer, David Wilson, 2d, James Wilson, Jr. 

At a meeting held November 3, 1827, the following was sent to the 
Baptist churches in Topsham and Brunswick, and to the " Harpswell 
Church in Brunsickk." 

' ' Beloved Brethren : we wish you to send us 3-our Elders and such 
brethren as 3'ou may think proper, to sit with us in Council for the pur- 
pose of organizing us into a Predestinarian Baptist Church, to meet 
with us at the Lower School House on the Neck, on Tuesday the 13th 
inst. at 10 o'clock a. m." 

In reply to this request the Topsham church sent Elder Henry Ken- 
dall, Ebenezer Whittemore, and James Cook ; the Brunswick church 

sent Elder Benjamin Titcomb, David Given, Jr., and Samuel Given ; 

« 

the Harpswell church in Brunswick sent Elder Samuel Mariner, Robert 



^ Theforegoing account is taken from a " History of the Baptists in Maine," by Rev- 
erend J. Millet, 1«45. 



448 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIAJiPSWELL. 

Joiilan, and Ileuiy Jordan. Tliis council met November 13, and after 
choice of officers, they examined intt) the faith and order of the candi- 
dates, and voted to give them tlie right hand of fellowship. 

The services were as follows : — 

Prayer, by Mr. Hall ; sermon, b^* Reverend Henry Kendall ; after 
which the members arose and received the right hand of fellowshii) as 
Ji sister church ; praj^er, h\ Elder Mariner. 

[1828.] At a meeting held January 5, 1828, William Kandall and 
John L. Lambert were confirmed as deacons. 

[1n;51.] The first elder to preach to them seems to have been Elder 
Kendall in 1S;5I. 

[l'S4G-18r)0.] Elder Tinkham preached to them in 181G, and at a 
church meeting held August 15, 1847, he was formally invited to settle 
as their pastor. He was dismissed at his own request on October 4, 
1850. 

[1853-54.] Elder L. Barrows began to preach to this church 
al)out IMay, 1853,'-and on November 5 formally united witli them. In 
July, 1854, he was dismissed in order to unite Avith the Baptist Chuich 
in Kennebunk. 

[185G.] Elder J. Hutchinson of the ISIaijuoit church in Brunswick 
preached occasionally alter the dismissal of Elder Ban-ows, and on 
August 25, 1856, having been dismissed by the Maquoit cliurch. was 
received into the fellowship of this church. 

[I860.] In 1859, Elder Nelson was preaching to them ; and on 
August 5, 1860, Elder Evans was sent as a delegate to a meeting of 
tlie Baptist Association, so it is safe to infer that he was preaching to 
this church. 

[1862.] April 5, 1862, Reveiend H. Perkins was received as a 
mcmbtM- of this church. On December 3 he received a certificate to 
enahU' liiin to join the church at Mechanic Falls, where he was already 
settled. 

[1865.] On February 4, 1865, Elder N. P. Everett was admitted 
to fellowship. 

[1.S66.] On August 4, 1866, Elder Sargent was chosen a delegate 
to the association. 

[1869.] On August, 1869, Elder R. Cioud was settled as pastor; 
and on the following twenty-fifth of December, Elder Everett was 
dismissed. 

[1874.] On July 4, 1874, Reverend AVilliam R. Millett an<l wife 
were received into the church by letter from the church in South 
Auburn. He died in August, 1875. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 44 9 

The last entry in the church records is elated December 5, 1874. 
At this meeting it was voted to discontinue the Sunday school, and to 
hold Sabbath prayer- meetings immediately after the morning service 
instead of the evening. 

THE FIRST FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 

This societ}' was organized on Great Island, April 17, 1817. The 
following are the names of the original members : — 

Daniel Curtis, Stephen Purinton, Anthonj' Coombs, Arthur Hall, 
John Snow, Swanzey Wilson, Jane Dingley, Ruth Snow, Mary Purin- 
ton, Mary Rich, Desire Dingley, Sail}- Kemp, Mar}- Totman, Mar}- 
Raymond, P0II3- Purington, Fanny Merritt,^ Martha Hall, Deborah 
Rich, IMar}- Linscott, Betsey Rich, Almira Purinton, Mar}- Purinton, 
Hannah Totman, Ruth Page, Joanna Curtis, Hannah Curtis, Sail}' 
Dingley, Priscilla Purinton, Eunice H. Purinton, and Hannah Dingley. 

Reverend George Lamb, of Brunswick, was tae settled minister from 
the organization of the society until his death, in 1835 or 1836. From 
that time until 1839 the pulpit was supplied by transient preachers. In 
1839, Reverend O. W. Smith was settled over the church until 1842, 
and during this time sixty members were added to it. From 1843 
to 1854, Reverend Levi Hersey was the pastor. From 1857 to 1860, 
Reverend David Libby Hind was settled, and during his pastorate 
thirty-five new members were added to the church. In 1866, Reverend 
L. C. Burr was settled for three years. Since then Reverend Messrs. 
D. Libby, A. Libby, Heath, and Prescott have supplied the pulpit. 

The meeting-house of this society is the Free Union Baptist Meeting- 
House on Great Island. It was built by subscription in 1843. 

This society is now feeble and the number of its members is small. 
The}' are also quite scattered through the town. Its present member- 
ship is but thirty-two. 

THE SECOND, OR ORR'S ISLAND FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHUPvCH AND 

SOCIETY. 

This society was organized, in 1858, by Reverend J. Fuller. Its 
original members were : — 

George W. Card, Reuben Dyer, John Black, Cummings Alexander, 
Sarah Dyer, Mary Green, Martha Sinnett, Adaline Orr, Henrietta 
Sinnett, Patience Orr, and Jane Alexander. 

This society uses the Orr's Island Union Meeting-House, which was 



1 The only one now living. 
29 



450 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

built about 1855, alternately with the other societies owning the build- 
ing. The society is quite small, its present membership being but 
thirty. No facts have been obtained as to the ministers who have had 
charge of it. 

FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY IN HAKPSWELL. 

[1838.] The first preaching of Universalist doctrines in Harps- 
well was in April, 1838. Reverend Seth Stetson visited Harpswell at 
this time, and preached two sermons to about thirty' hearers in the 
Nmiiber Two School-House on the Neck. 

[1839.] The next snmmer Reverend Mr. Stoddard preached there 
on two Sundays. In 1839 theUniversalists raised about thirty dollars, 
and employed Reverend Mr. Stetson for six or seven Sabbaths. 

[1840.] In 1840 a similar amount was raised, and preaching was 
had for about the same length of time. 

[1841.] In 1841 the Universalists, together with some of a differ- 
ent faith, built a Union Meeting-House, which was dedicated by the 
Universalists on September 21. The sermon was b}- Reverend John 
T. Gilman, of Bath. There was a sermon in the afternoon by Reverend 
E. Wellington, and another in the evening b}' Reverend G. Bates. 

[1842.] In 1842 the}- raised about fifty dollars, and employed 
Reverend L. P. Rand to preach one fourth of the time during that 
year. 

[1844.] On April 20, 1844, a Universalist society was legally 
organized bj* tlie choice of Isaac Stover, modei'ator ; Thomas Alexan- 
der, clerk ; Samuel Dunning, treasurer ; and Samuel Dunning, Joshua 
Stover, and Thomas Alexander, parish committee. The following 
constitution was adopted : — 

"• We the subscribers being desirous of forming ourselves into a 
society-, for the purpose of supporting and enjoying the preached 
Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, do hereby unite and 
agree to walk together in harmony and love. And to guide ourselves 
understandingly we adopt the following rules : — 

" 1st. We take the name of the First Universalist Society of 
Harpswell. 

" 2d. We take the Bible, containing the Old and New 'I'estaments, 
as the rule of our faith and practice. 

" 3d. We agree to meet together as often as convenient for the 
worship of the one living and true God, the Father of the spirits and 
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

" 4th. We agree to subscribe, so far as we are able, for the sup- 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF IIARPSWELL. 451 

port of the preached Gospel and the maintenance of Christian wor- 
ship. 

" 5th. We agree to strive to live in a moral and virtuons manner 
that we may give no occasion to t\\e adversarj^ to speak reproaclii'ully, 
and that we may honor our God and Saviour by a well-ordered life 
and Christian conversation. 

" 6th. Any person of a sober, moral character may become a 
member of this societ}'^ \>j subscribing his or her name to the forego- 
ing rules. 

" 7tli. Am' member ma}- withdraw from this societv when they 
shall have paid their subscription and signified their desire so to do, 
to the clerk of this society." 

The following names Avere affixed to this constitution : — 

Isaac Stover, Thomas Alexander, Samuel Dunning, David Curtis, 
Joshua Stover, Paul R. Thomas, James Meryman. 2d, Alcot S. Pen- 
nell, Robert Penncll, Sylvester Stover, 2d, Jacob Blake, Alcot Stover, 
Harmon Pennell, Thomas Penncll, and Robert Dunning. In 1845 
this society was received into the Kennebec Association of Univer- 
sal ists. 

The entries in the records of this society are very brief, and contain 
little else than the lists of officers chosen annually. 

At a meeting held April 14, 1849, it was voted to support a preacher 
that 3'ear by subscription, and not b}' taxation. 

At a meeting held July 21 , 1860, the treasurer in his report declared 
the society to be free from debt. The society, notwithstanding this 
fact, had only occasional preaching for nearl}' ten years. 

[1870.] On January 29, 1870, the society was reorganized by the 
choice of Thomas Alexander as moderator ; David Pennell, clerk ; 
Alcot S. Pennell, Benjamin F. Randall, and Joshua Stover, standing 
committee; B. F. Randall and A. S. Pennell, collectors; and A. S. 
Pennell, treasurer. The last entry in the records is dated May 8, 
1875. Between 1870 and 1875. Reverend William R. French, of 
Brunswick, preached a portion of the time in summer, in addition to 
his services at Brunswick. There is at present no settled minister, 
but the society is still in existence. 

CENTRE CONGREGATIONAL PARISH. 

[1843.] This societ}' or parish originated in 1843 by certain indi- 
viduals combining for the purpose of building a new meeting-house. 
It was formed, and the first meeting was held agreeably to the war- 
rant for the same, on September 27. Daniel Randall was chosen 



452 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOFSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

moderator, and William C. Eaton, dork. The following constitution 
^Yas adopted at this meeting : — 

^ We the undersigned having organized ourselves into a parish 
under the name of the Centre Congregational Parish, in Ilarpswell, 
for tlie promotion of good morals, for religious teaehing and instruc- 
tion, and for sustaining and propagating the truths of the Gospel as 
held by the Orthodox Congregational denomination in this State, do 
adoi)t the following constitution : — 

"Article 1st. This parish shall consist of those whose names are 
aflixed to the application for a warrant for oi'ganization, together with 
such other persons as they maj' from time to time elect, and who shall 
sign this constitution. 

"■Art. 2d. The officers of this parish shall be a clerk, two or 
more assessors, a treasurer, a collector, and a standing committee of 
three, who shall be elected at the annual meetings. 

" Art. 3d. The animal meeting of this parish shall be held in the 
month of April in each year, on some clay to be specified by the 
assessors. 

"Art. Ith. In case the annual meeting shall not be held at the 
timi' specified, the olllcers of the preceding year shall retain their 
offices until others are chosen and qualified in their stead. 

" Art. oth. 'J'his parish agree in the settlement of a minister, and 
in the sni)[)ort of the ordinances of the Gospel, to proceed upon the 
estalilislied principles of the Orthodox Congregational denomination 
in this State and to act in concert Avith the church in IIar[)swell of 
like order and faith. 

" Art. 6th. A majorit}- of two thirds of all the legal voters in this 
parish shall be necessary to alter or amend this constitution." 

The original subscribers to the above constitution were : — 

Silvester Stover, Joseph Eaton, James Stover, Simeon Orr, Jacob 
IMeryman, ]Jenjamin Dunning, George S. Dunning, Arthur Orr, 
Thomas U. Eaton, Lemuel II. Stover, Shubal JMerryman, William C. 
Eaton, Daniel Randall, Henry Barnes, Joseph Stover, James Mcr}'- 
man, -lames Dunning, Jeremiah Meryman, Angier II. Curtis, Albert 
Stover, Paul C. Kandall, Dominions Jordan, William liarnes, James 
Curtis, Joseph Curtis, John Durgin, H. C. Martin, Hal^)!! Johnson, 
Joseph A. Stover, Elisha S. Stover, and Isaac Menyman. 

It was also at this meeting voted to accept the meoting-houso otfored 
by the proi)rietors, and to assume all the liabilities and duties of the 
latter. 

The next day tiie new meeting-house was dedicated with the foUow- 
iuii' services : — 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF IIAUPSWELL. 453 

Reading of Scriptures, b}' Reverend Elijah Kellogg, then on a mis- 
sionary" tour; prayer, by Reverend Daniel Sewall ; sermon, Ity Rever- 
end J. W. Chiekering ; address to the church, b}' Reverend George E. 
Adams ; prayer, b^^ Reverend Mr Parsons. 

At a meeting of the church on November 12, it was voted : — 

" That th(! Centre Conriregational CImirh in Ilarpswell Avotdd tender 
their united thanks to the individuals in Bath, Freoport, Brunswick, 
and High Street Church, Portland, for their liberal donations to assist 
them in the erection of a house of worship; also to the Widow T). 
Dunlap, for the liberal present of a sofa ; to the president and profes- 
sors of Bowdoin College, for their services in supplying the pulpit ; 
and to Professor Upham, for his unwearied exertions in our behalf." 

[1844.] On April 25, 1844, the church voted, in concurrence with 
the parish, to extend an invitation to Reverend Elijah Kellogg to set- 
tle as their pastor for three hundred dollars per 3'ear, for four years. 
This invitation was accepted, and was subsequently renewed for an 
indefinite period. 

[1847.] At a parish meeting, held November 1, this year, it was 
decided that Mr. Kellogg might go " to Orr's Island the coming win- 
ter, and preach three Sabbaths, if he see fit." 

The church records are wanting entirely between the years 1844 
and 1855, and from the latter date down to 1870 they contain only the 
admissions to church fellowship and lists of those l)aptized. 

[1854.] In 1854, Mr. Kellogg gave up the immediate charge of 
the parish, in order to dcA^ote more time to literary pursuits, but his 
pastoral connection with the church has never been dissolved. 

[18G6.] At a meeting of the parish, held Ai)ril 28 of this year, 
three hundred dollars was raised for repairing and painting the meet- 
ing-house. 

[1870.] At a church meeting held on the twenty-eighth of August, 
it was voted that the thanks of the church "• be hereby given to 
Honorable A. D. Lockwood, of Lewiston, for a highly valued, beau- 
tiful communion service, generously presented by him for our use. 
And our prayer is that the Great Head of the church will accept the 
act as done to himself, and bountifully reward the giver." On Sep- 
tember 24 a church meeting was held on Orr's Island, the first one 
mentioned in the records as being held on that island. 

[1874.] At a meeting of the parish, held April 23, 1874, it was 
voted to allow the sewing circle '• to enlarge the stove-rooms b}' tak- 
ing in the pews in front of each." The latest entry in tliese records 
is dated the sixth of the following September, at which time Paul C. 
Randall was chosen a deacon. 



454 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSRAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

There has been no settled minister over this parish since Mr. 
Kellogg left, but the pulpit is supplied a good part of the time, and 
nearly every summer, by Mr. Kellogg himself, who makes Harpswell 
the place of his summer residence. 

THE METHODIST CHURCH /ND SOCIETY. 

The introduction of Methodism into Harpswell dates back onl}' to 
1854, although as early as 1814 Fathers Lombard and Bennett, and 
perhaps others, had preached in town. 

[1854.] In Ma}-, 1854, Reverend George C. Crawford, of Bruns- 
wick, was, at the solicitation of a number of people of West Harps- 
well, appointed to that field of labor. At that time there was not a 
member of the Methodist church on Harpswell Neck, with the excep- 
tion of Sidney Bailey and wife. Mr. Crawford commenced his labors 
about the first of June, holding the meetings in the school-house near 
Mr. Simeon Webber's. On the third Sabbath of his ministry here, 
he read in public the " Doctrines, Discipline, and General Rules" of 
the Methodist P^jiscopal Church. A small " class " was then formed, 
consisting of Captain Norton Stover, Nathaniel Pinkham and wife, 
and Sidney Bailej' and wife. A few weeks later Mr. William Gillam 
and wife, then of Orr's Island, joined. After two or three meetings 
it was decided to build a church at once. A suitable lot was secured 
in a central location. Captain Stover was chosen an agent to pur- 
chase lumber and other material ; and W. W. Douglass, of Brunswick, 
was chosen to superintend the erection of the building. 

[1855.] The work was hastened, and in less than one year from 
the time of the first meeting in the school-house, a beautiful and 
graceful chapel was dedicated. On the da}- of dedication people 
flocked to town from all directions, and Reverend William F. Farring- 
don, then of Portland, delivered the dedicatory address from the 
words, " Searching what, or what manner of time, the spirit of Christ 
which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the suffer- 
ings of Christ and the glory that should follow." 'Ihe sale of pews 
took place in the afternoon of the same da}-. The society is largely 
indebted to Captain Norton Stover and Nathaniel Pinkham, who 
assumed the entire financial responsibility in the erection of' the 
church. 

At the Conference of 1855 Reverend Ileman Nickerson was ap- 
pointed to succeed Mr. Crawford. He was succeeded by Reverend 
Mr. Russell. Then followed, in succession, Reverends N. Andrews, 
John Collins, II. B. Mitchell, Alpha Turner, George C. Crawford (a 



ECCLESIAI^TWAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 455 

second time), J. C. Perry, H, Briggs, Thomjis Hillman, N. C. Clif- 
ford, D, Dudley, N. Andrews (a second time), and M. C. Baldwin. 
Under these preachers there were several revivals and a large number 
were added to the church. The society is now in a flourishing condi- 
tion, and is composed in a large part of the wealth, intelligeuce, and 
refinement of that section of the town. 



456 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



CHAPTER XV. 

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 

Brunswick, the seat of Maine's oldest and most favored college, 
has g-enerally shown herself full}- mindful of the claims of education. 
So far, however, as the early introduction of schools is concerned, no 
especial credit attaches itself to the earl}- settlers, who simply acted in 
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth, and had, indeed, before 
the incorporation of the town, no volition in the matter. In all proba- 
bility it has been well for the town that the establishment of schools 
was not left to the discretion of the earlier settlers, for they were, with 
a few notable exceptions, extremely ignorant as to all knowledge 
usually acquired from books. As an illustration of the average attain- 
ments of the time, it is related of Thomas Atkins, one of the earliest 
settlers in this vicinity, that he had ten daughters, of whom not one 
could sign her name to a deed.^ Even so late as Judge Minot's 
time it was considered a rare accomplishment for one to be able to 
read, and it is given as a tradition among his descendants that on one 
occasion, when he had received a newspaper at the village, he stopped 
on his wa}- home and read from it to some workmen on the road, who 
were greatly astonished that the judge should be able to read. The 
judge was not, however, the only man hereabouts at that time who 
could read, for there were then a number of educated people in town, 
one of whom (Thomas Skolfield) was a graduate of Dublin University. 

Ample excuse is to be found for the neglect of the earlier settlers to 
provide means for education in the fact that they were few in numbers, 
constantly exposed to the incursions of a savage foe, and were obliged 
to till other fields than those of an intellectual kind, — to break up the 
rough soil of the wilderness, and raise the scant}' crops absolutely 
required for their physical existence. It is simpl}' another example of 
the fact that, in the order of time, ph3'sical must precede mental activity. 

The first action looking to the establishment of a school in Bruns- 

* Reverend Dr. Ballard's Notes. 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 457 

wick was in the j^ear 1715, at wliich time the Pejepscot proprietors 
voted that the ministerial, minister's, and school lots should be the 
centre lots of the town J 

In 1717 provision was made b}' the General Court of Massachusetts 
for a school-master to reside at Brunswick, and fift}' dollars was voted 
for books and rewards for the 3'oung Indians who might become his 
pulpils.- This school was a part of the mission to the Indians. Who 
was sent as teacher has not been ascertained. 

At the November session of the Court of General Sessions this year, 
Benjamin Larrabee, Esquire, appeared in behalf of the town of Bruns- 
wick, to answer to the " presentment of the town for not having and 
maintaining a school-master in said town to teach children and vouth 
to read and write as the law directs and requires." Larrabee's excuse 
for the delinquency was accepted, but the town was required to pay 
sixteen shillings, the fees of court. 

At a meeting held Febrnary 23, 1743, the proprietors voted : — 

" That Lott number six on the southeasterl}' side of the Road 
adjoyning to the Ministry Lott be and hereb}' is granted to the Town 
of Brnnswick for a school Lott containing one hundred acres, to be 
and Continue for said use."^ 

At a town meeting in 1739, a pi'oposition to employ a school-master 
was "voted for and past in the negative," but the town afterwards 
reconsidered its action, and at a meeting in September choee a com- 
mittee to secure the service of a school-master. 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

The first school-teacher employed by the town was James INIcCash- 
len, who was emplo3'ed in the year 1740, and was paid £40** for his 
services. In 1741 it appears from a statement in the Pejepscot 
Papers that Reverend Mr McClanethan taught a school here. 

In 1742 a committee was appointed by the town to secure the ser- 
vices of a school-master, and they were authorized " to appoint him 
the time and places for keeping the Schoole in the Sevarel partes of 
the Town as they shall Think proper." Samuel Maffltt was selected 
as a teacher, and received £17 10s. as his pay, but the length of time 
he taught is not stated. ^ 

About the year 1752, Mr. George Harwood was employed to teach 
by the 3'ear.^ In order to give equal privileges of schooling to ail, he 



' Pejepscot Records. 2 Varney, History of Maine, p. 123. ^ Pyepscot Records, 
* Town Records 1, pp. 23, 49, 50, 5L ^Ibid. ^Pejepscot Papers. 



458 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, T0PSIIA3I, AND HARPSWELL. 

taught in three different parts of the town, — at the npper part of New 
Meadows, at the old west meeting house, and at lower New Meadows. 

In 1753 a committee was chosen to secure a school-master at the 
rate of £220 old tenor. In 1754 another committee was raised for the 
same purpose, and £13 Gs. 8cZ. voted for the salary. The committee 
were instructed to station the teacher inthe several parts of the town, 
according to the amount paid by each part. 

In 1755 the same amount was paid as salar}', with the board addi- 
tional. This 3'ear John Blake was employed as a school-master for 
six months from November 5. His engagement was probably not 
renewed, as the town in Ma}', 1756, authorized the selectmen " to 
provide a school-master when they see the times to be convenient." 

In 1759, John Farrin was emploj-ed as a teacher, the town paying 
him at the rate of £26 13,s. Ad. per annum. He was re-engaged the 
next year at the same salar}-, and continued to teach until October 1 , 
1761, when his time expired. He is known to have taught again in 
1776, because he that ^^ear gave the town £15 6s. 8c/. of his salary, in 
consequence of the public distresses and the burdensome taxes. 
Whether he taught between 1761 and 1776 is not known, but it is to 
be presumed that he did. 

In 1762 the town was virtually divided into two districts, by the 
employment of separate teachers for the eastern and western parts. 
Probably Mr. Farrin was one of the teacher^ employed. 

In 1763, George Harwood was chosen as school-master, by vote of 
the town, " if he accepts of the same." He did accept, for in 1767 he 
was paid for four years' teaching. 

In 1790 the town was, for the first time, legall}- divided into school 
districts, a committee being chosen at a regular meeting to divide the 
town into two districts. 

In 1797 a vote was passed b^- the town, " that the school money be 
divided in future according to the number of scholars in each class,' 
the scholars to be numbered, all between four and twent3'-one 3'ears 
of age, but if an}- others in any class are disposed to go, he or she 
shall have a right to do so, whether they are over or under the above 
age." 

In 1798 the town voted, for the first time, to choose a school com- 
mittee, and the selectmen were chosen to act in that capacity. The 
town also voted that no person should be allowed to teach in any dis- 
trict without the approbation of the committee. 

* Districts were then called classes. 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 459 

PreA-iously to this time the red school-house at the foot of the mall 
was Iniilt.i It was afterwards moved to the Cove. Who the other 
teachers may have been, besides those already named, prior to 1800, 
is unknown. Mr. Kichard Flaherty- is mentioned as having taught 
here some time in the last century, but neither the date of his teaching 
is known, nor whether his school was a public or private one. 

In ISIO the town was divided into nine school districts. About 
this time Mr. Dorman Perkins taught in the district schools of the 
town. He kept a school one term in Benjamin Larrabee's house, at 
New Meadows, near where Mrs. Thomas now lives. He kept school 
another term in the upper New Meadows district, and another term at 
Maquoit. 

In 1820, if not before, the number of districts must have been 
increased, as there were this 3'ear twenty-three public or district 
schools.- 

In 1820 the school committee were directed to report at the annual 
town meeting the names of two scholars "from each class, one boy 
and one girl, that shall have made best improvement and sustained 
good moral characters." 

On November 29, 1824, the greater portion of the "school lot" 
was sold at auction. This was the origin of the school fund. 
A. Bourne, the auctioneer, was the chairman of the trustees of the 
school fund. The remainder of the school lot was sold in 1833. 

At a town meeting, held in March, 1826, a petition of Benjamin 
Peterson and others, "that this town set olf the colored people of 
School District Number 14, into a district b}' themselves," was referred 
to the selectmen. This district was at New Meadows, where there 
were quite a number of negroes, and the white citizens of that dis- 
trict had then the same feeling in regard to commingling with those of 
a darker race that is even now prevalent in some quarters. At 
another meeting, held on the eleventh of September following, the 
town voted that the monej^ for District Number 14 should be divided, 
the white people to have a school summer and winter, and the colored 
population to have a school at the other seasons. The division of 
money was to be made according to the proportion of scholars in the 
separate schools. 

Of the difierent districts of the town we have succeeded in obtain- 
ing the records of but two, viz., of District Number 5 (Growstown) 
and of the Village District. 

* The red school-house on School Street was of a later date. 
2 Putnam, " Letters to a Gentleman in South Carolina." 



460 HISTORT OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

The records of District Number 5 commence February- 11,1817. At 
this meeting a district school committee were chosen to superintend 
the school, and it was voted to have the school-mistress " hoard 
round." 

In 1839 the district committee were instructed to visit the school 
every four weeks, and were to have three dollars each for their sorA^ces 
if the}' attended to their duty. 

On January 29, 1848, the district decided to build a new school- 
house, to be located " at the corner of the road on land owned by 
James Otis and occupied by E. T. Parsons, on the north side of the 
road leading b}' said Parsons's house ; with the understanding that it 
be given gratis." Stephen Snow, George Woodsidc, and Ilarvcy S. 
Otis were chosen a building committee, and at a meeting hold the 
next month, it was voted to give them discretionar}- power to build a 
suitable school-house and to dispose of the old oue. 

On January 25, 1849, a new committee was chosen, and the build- 
ing of a school-house was set up at auction to the lowest bidder, the 
old house to be given to the successful bidder, " except the stove and 
funnel." James Otis agreed to build it for two hundred and fifty 
dollars, and the district voted to raise two hundred. The school- 
house was built this year. 

On April 11, 1857, the district voted to admit pupils from other 
districts, at the discretion of the agent, " at twenty-five cents per 
week and board of teacher a proportionate part of the time." This 
permission appears not to have worked well, or to have given dissatis- 
faction, for two 3'ears later the district voted not to admit pupils from 
other districts on any consideration. 

The following are the early teachers in this district so far as 
known : Mary Noyes, Mar}' Merrj-man, and James jMcIveen, in 1814 ; 
Priscilla Melcher and John Winslow, in 1815; Margaret Ransom 
and John Winslow, in 1816 ; Deborah Small and Benjamin Thompson, 
in 1817 ; INIary Snow, in 1818 ; Mar}' Stanwood and Benjamin Thomp- 
son, in 1819. 

THE VILLAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT.i 

Brunswick village was formerly divided into three school districts, 
known as Numbers " 1, 2, and 20." In the winter of 1848 several 
informal meetings of the inhabitants of the village were held, to take 
into consideration the condition of the village schools. 

1 For this account ice are ktrfjebj indebted to MSS. of the late A. C. Robbins, 
Esquire, from which we have copied freely. 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 461 

A committee was appointed to collect infonnation upon the subject 
of schools in other places, and to see what could be done for the im- 
provement of the public schools in the village. 

This committee proposed the plan of uniting Districts Numbers 1 , 
2, and 20 into one district, to be called the Village District, for the 
puri)ose of grading and classifying the schools, and of adopting the 
" high-school s^'stem." 

On March 24, 1848, Benjamin H. Meder and fifteen others peti- 
tioned the selectmen to insert in their next annual warrant for a town 
meeting an article to so alter the school districts that Districts 
Numbers 1, 2, and 20 should constitute one district. 

About the same time John C. Humphreys and Leonard C. Merrill 
presented to the selectmen a similar petition, except that it contained 
in addition the words '' provided such shall be the wish of said dis- 
tricts respective!}'." 

In the warrant for the annual town meeting, April 3, 1848, an 
article was inserted in accordance with the latter petition, and the 
town at that meeting voted: " I'hat School Districts Numbers 1, 2, 
and 20 be discontinued and to be constituted one district, to be called 
the Village District, provided such shall be the wish of the several 
districts respectively." 

At a meeting of the legal voters of District Namb'-r 1, on April 24, 
1848, a committee of five were chosen to take measures for building a 
new school-house. '1 his committee were Allen Colby, Ward Coburu, 
John Rogers, William H. Hall, and Benjamin H. Meder. It was also 
at this meeting voted : "• To join District Number 1 and District Num- 
ber 20, to form a High School." The meeting adjourned to Maj' 6, at 
which time the district proceeded to act on sundry matters as though no 
vote to join the other district had been passed. The following votes 
were passed: 1. To accept the report of the committee, which was 
in favor of building a school-house on Bow Street, to be two stories 
high. 2. To choose a prudential committee of three. 3. To raise 
three hundred dollars b}' tax towards building a school-house. 4. To 
pay the agent and clerk each five dollars. 5, 6. To compel the chil- 
dren of the district, who were between the ages of four and fourteen 
years, to go to the summer school, and to forbid those between the 
ages of four and ten years to attend the winter school. 7. To require 
pupils between the ages of ten and twenty-one years to go to the 
school kept b}' a male teacher. This was the last meeting ever held 
b}' District Number 1 . 

The lesal voters of District Number 2 held a meetino- at the red 



462 niSTORY OF BRUXSWICK, TOPSIIAM, and HARPISWELL. 

school-house, on School Street, previously referred to, on April 22, 
1848. This meeting was adjourned to May G, at which time a com- 
mittee, consisting of G. C. Swallow, A. C. Robbins, William Mount- 
ford, Thomas Knowlton, and E. S. Parshle}', were chosen to obtain 
information in regard to the high-school S3'stem, and to report at a 
subsequent meeting. The next meeting of this district was held June 
24. The committee reported in favor of the adoption of the high- 
school sj'stem, and it was voted ' • that the district concur with Dis- 
tricts Numbers 1 and 20 in adopting the sj'stem and in the formation 
of a Village District, agreeable to the petition of Benjamin Furbish 
and others and a vote of the town." G. C. Swallow, George F. 
Dunning, A. C. Robbins, John F. Titcomb, and John S. Gushing 
were chosen a committee to confer with Districts Numbers 1 and 20. 

At a special meetiug of District Number 20, held June 24, 1848, it 
was voted " to unite with School Districts Numbers 1 and 2 for the 
formation of the Village District." The district also chose Professor 
II. H. Boody, Charles J. Noyes, and Robert Melcher a committee to 
confer with the committees chosen by Districts Numbers 1 and 2, and 
the}' were authorized and empowered to adopt such measures as might 
be necessary on the i)art of the district, '•' to bring the object of said 
preceding vote into full and complete effect." 

On June 20, 1848, a petition was sent to the legislature, stating 
that the three above-mentioned districts had united and formed one 
district, with the consent of the town, and requesting the passage of 
an Act confirming the action of the town " and giving to said district 
power to raise annuall}' such sum of money as may be needed for the 
support of the public schools therein." This petition was signed by 
Abner B. Thompson and nineteen others in District Number 1, by 
Robert P. Dunlap and thirty-five others in District Number 2, and 
b}' Parker Cleaveland and twenty-three others in District Number 20. 

In accordance with this petition the legislature, the same year, 
passed an Act confirming the vote of the town, and granting to the 
Village District all the powers and privileges of other districts in the 
State ; authorizing the district to raise such sum of money as might 
be deemed necessary for support of the public schools within the dis- 
trict, the amount so raised not to exceed " three fifths of the amount 
apportioned to said district from the school money raised by the town 
for the same year " ; requiring this money to be assessed and collected 
as other school-district taxes were ; and authorizing the district to 
choose school agents and adopt proper by-laws. 

Immediatel}' after the passage of the preceding Act, measures were 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 463 

taken for the organization of the Village District. A meeting of the 
inhabitants of the three districts in the village was called by the select- 
men, to be held on Augnst 18, 1848. At this meeting a committee of 
seven were appointed to draft a plan of organization. To this com- 
mittee were added the superintending school committee of the town, 
making a committee of ten. This committee reported, at a meeting 
held August 30, as follows : In favor of the annual election of a 
board of nine agents, three of whom might be from each of the former 
sections of the district, and this board were also authorized to act as 
an executive committee, and to prescribe a course of study and deter- 
mine the text-books to be used ; to examine teachers ; to visit the 
schools ; to conduct examinations ; to promote deserving scholars ; to 
admit pupils from without the district ; and to establish by-laws. 
The committee also recommended that there should be three grades 
of schools, — primary, grammar, and high ; determined which should 
be taught b}- male and which by female teachers ; fixed the commence- 
ment and close of the several terms and vacations ; prcscribe<;l the 
classification and course of studies for each school, and the require- 
ments at examinations and for admission to school. 

This report was accepted at this meeting and its recommendations 
approved and authorized to be put into execution, though the}' were 
afterwards (April 17 and INIa}- 8, 1849) somewhat modified. 

The Board of Agents made a report, September 27, 1848, in which 
the}' reconnnended the purchase of a lot on Union Street, between 
O'Brien and Lincoln Streets, for the erection of a grammar and high 
school building, the renting and furnishing of rooms for these schools 
until such a building should be erected, and the enlargement and 
repair of the primary' school-houses. 

In their next report, this board state that all the schools had been 
organized according to the plan agreed upon. During the winter of 
1848-9, four primary and two grammar schools had been taught, the 
average length of each being fifteen weeks. The number of teachers 
emplo3'ed was eleven ; eight in the primary schools, two in the prin- 
cipal grammar school, and one in the select grammar school, 'i'his 
was five more teachers than had been usually emplo3'ed in previous 
years. The number of pupils at this time in the primar}' schools 
was four hundred and forty-six ; the number in the principal gram- 
mar school was one hundred and twenty-five, and in the select 
grammar school, forty-six. The total number of pupils in the vil- 
lage schools 'was six hundred and seventeen. 

As the number of scholars very much exceeded what had been anti- 



4G4 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

cipated, the committee had been under the necessit}' of establishing a 
fourth primary school on Union Street, The select grammar school 
was a temporary expedient made use of at this time, on account of 
the number of pupils really fitted to enter a high school being too 
small to justify the immediate establishment of such a school- 
Some fault having been found with the result of the examinations, 
the board in this report explained their method of conducting them, 
and defended their action in the matter. 

The total receipts for the village schools this ^ear were $1,204,49. 
Oftliis sum, $1,137.09 was expended for rent and repair of school- 
houses, payment of teachers, and incidental expenses, leaving a 
balance unexpended of sixty-seven dollars and forty cents. If from 
these expenditures the unusual expense of rent, repairs, etc., be 
deducted, there remains a sum less by twenty dollars tlian that ex- 
pended for the three winter schools of the previous year, which demon- 
strated the advantage of the system in a financial aspect. 

The agents urged strongly the necessity of providing suitable 
accommodations for the high and for the principal grammar scliool. 
They say, "By next September, at least one hundred and fort}' 
scholars will be entitled to a place in the grammar school, — a number 
which it is totally impossible to accommodate in an}' room in the vil- 
lage of which the committee have knowledge." 

In concluding this report the board congratulated the district " on 
the successful iutrotluction of a new and better system of schools." 

In Iheir report for the year ending April 2, 1849, the superintend- 
ing school committee also speak of the very decided improvement in 
the schools, in consequence of the adoption of the grading system and 
of a uniformity of school-books. 

The Board of Agents, in their report for the year 1849-50, make 
the following statements : — 

In the summer there were two grammar and four primary schools 
kept ; in the fall and winter, two grammar, three primary, and one 
miscellaneous school. The number of teachers during the year was, 
in the summer, ten, — one male and nine females. The school year 
was thirty weeks, divided into three terms of ten weeks each. In 
the suunner term there were five hundred and sixty-seven, and in the 
fall and winter terms five hundred and seventy-three pupils. 

At the l)egiiniing of the year there were not enough children suffi- 
cientl}' advanced in their studies to enable the agents to constitute 
the high school with all its appropriate classes. No high school was 
established, therefore, but the pupils were taught in the grammar 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 465 

school. The time had then arrived, however, iu their opinion, for 
establishing the school. 

They affirm, " withont fear of contradiction, that never has there 
been in this village schools, public or private, of so high an order as 
the schools of this district the last year." 

The committee also stated that they had contracted with teachers, 
and conducted the schools on the assumption that the additional tax 
leA'ied by the district would be paid promptly. A part only of this 
tax had thus far been collected, and the most of this had been paid to 
cancel a note of the district, and that in consequence the teachers had 
not been paid for their last terra's service. The}^ stated that most of 
the citizens had favored, or at least acquiesced in, the change in the 
school system, but all had not. "On the part of some, there is an 
avowed hostilit}'' to this system, which will not be satisfied with au}-- 
thing short of its entire overthrow." 

The committee stated that this hostilitj- was exhibited the previous 
summer in an effort to procure from the legislature a repeal of the Act 
of Incorporation of the Village District. Failing in this, the}' refused 
to pay the tax levied b}'' the district, on the pretext that .the district 
had not been legally constituted, and that the power granted to it in 
its Act of Incorporation was in violation of the Constitution. The 
committee added that this objection came with bad grace from those 
who signed the petition for incorporation. Thej- considered the mat- * 
ter practically settled by the action of the legislature, but were ready 
to meet the matter at once before the Supreme Court. In accordance 
with a vote of the district the^'had taken legal advice, which was that 
the collector should be asked to proceed at once iu the collection of 
these taxes and that he should be supported therein by the whole 
strength of the district. 

The petition to the legislature, to w'hich reference was made above, 
was signed by John Crawford and one hundred and four others, and 
declared that the plan of uniting the schools into one district had 
proved a failui'e, and therefore a repeal of the Act was prayed for. 
This petition was first referred to the Committee on the Judiciary-, and 
was subsequently laid before the Committee on Education. Seven- 
teen of the signers were petitioners for the Act of Incorporation of 
the Village District. 

As soon as it was known that the above petition was in circulation, 
a remonstrance against a repeal was at once started. It was signed 
bj- Robert P. Dunlap, Adam Lemont, and two hundred and twenty- 
one others. , 

30 



4C6 HISTORY OF BRUXSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HAHPSWELL. 

One of the positions taken In' the opponents to the Village District 
was that District Number 1 never intended to unite and form with 
Districts Number 2 and 20 a VUla'je District, and that thoy did not 
acquiesce in the matter. In refutation of this argument, Messrs. Isaac 
Lincohi, William H. Hall, and Alfred J. vStone deposed, June 8, 1850, 
''that since the organization of the Village District in Brunswick, in 
the summer of 1848, District Number 1 has claimed to have no legal 
existence, nor has the said District Number 1, since that time, per- 
formed an}' acts as a district, but has united with Districts Numbei-s 
2 and 20 in the formation of the Village District, 

"■ No public schools have been taught in what was District Number 1 
since the summer of 1848 up to this date, excepting the schools which 
were under the control and supervision of the agents of the Village 
District, to which schools the people in the part of the Village Dis- 
trict Avhich was formerly District Nmiiber 1 have cheerfully sent their 
children for instruction, and have received their full share of benefit 
therefrom." 

The truth in regard to the feeling in this district is shown by the 
following facts, which were certified to b}' John F. Hall, the last clerk 
of the district : Of the voters in District Number 1, tiven ty i)et'\t\oned 
for the Act of Incorporation of the Milage District, thirti/- five petitioned 
for the repeal of the Act, and sixty-seven remonstrated against a repeal. 

To show that the selectmen recognized the Village District as hav- 

ino- an existence in November, 1848, the following certificate was 

written : — 

" Selectmen's OrriCE, Brunswick, June 7, 1850. 

" On the seventeenth of November, 1848, 1 was called upon by A. C. 
Eobbins, one of the Board of Agents for the Village District, for that 
year. At his request I balanced the accounts with School Districts 
Numbers 1, 2, and 20, and carried the balances forward to the credit 
of the Village District. At that time there was due to District Num- 
ber 1, $381.03; to District Number 2, $319.08 ; to District Number 
20, $179.40. All which balances were credited to the Village District 
in Brunswick, since which time we have had no accounts with Dis- 
tricts Numbers 1,2, and 20: the money formerly due to them being 
credited to the Village District in Brunswick. 

"(^Signed) " Richard (Jreenleaf, 

Chairman of Selectmen.''^ 

In July, 1849, the president and directors of the Warumbo INIanu- 
facturing Company petitioned the legislature " that the said company 
ma\- be exempted from the payment of the taxes by sptxjial legislation 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 467 

imposed upon them, or that if thay must be speciall}- taxed for such 
objects bp>/oiid the general provisions of law, that the avails may go to 
the benefit of the whole town in which tlieir propert^'is situated." 

Among the reasons given for asking for this exemption was that, in 
the passage of the Act, the corporation had no agency nor notice. It 
was true that they had no notice, as a corporation, but the company 
were represented in the petition for incorporation b^' their treasurer 
and one of their directors. 

The petition for the repeal of the Act of Incorporation, the petition 
of the Warumbo Manufacturing Company, and the remonstrance, 
were all laid before the Committee on Education. On an appointed 
day the petitioners appeared, and were heard by their counsel. Gen- 
eral A. B. Thompson and Honorable James W. Bradbury. The 
remonstrants were heard by their representatives. Professor William 
Smyth and Phineas Barnes, Esquire, of Portland. Richard Green- 
leaf, Esquire, appeared as a witness for the petitioners. 

After the somewhat protracted hearing, the committee of nine, all 
of whom were, present, voted eight to one to give the petitioners 
leave to withdraw. On July 20, 1849, this report of the committee 
passed both houses of the legislature without a dissenting vote. 

At the annual town meetings in 1848, 1849, aud 1850, it was voted : 
" That the several school districts be authorized to choose their sev- 
eral school agents." 

The foregoing account relates to the organization of the Village 
District. What follows will relate to the doings of this district. 

At a meeting of the Village District, held on the tweutj'-seventh of 
September, 1848, the Board of Agents were authorized to borrow 
such sums of money as might be needed froni time to time for the 
expenditures already authorized, not to exceed ^5,000. At the 
annual meeting of the district in 1849, it was voted "to raise three 
fifths of the amount of money raised by the town, apportioned to this 
district b}* a tax on the same." 'Ihis vote was passed under the law 
of August 3, 1848. 

Under the first vote, and jby the authority th^erein given, the Board 
of Agents hired the sum of three hundred and twenty-five dollars for 
the purpose of altering and repairing the primarj' scliool-houses, and 
gave their note for the district. 

This loan of three hundred and twenty-five dollars, together with 
the amount raised by vote of the district, April 17, 1849, was certified 
to the selectmen and assessors, and at the annual assesj>ment in 1849 
the assessors made one tax for both items. 



468 IIISTOllY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

'Ihe Board of Agents for the ^-ear 1849 were William Smyth, John 
C. Humphreys, Allen Colb}', Benjamin Furbish, and Richard Green- 
leaf. They put the schools in operation, basing their expenditures 
and calculations upon the supposition that the extra tax of three 
fifths, A'oted in April, 18-49, Avould be paid. 

Early in the spring of 1850 it was ascertained that very many of 
the large tax-pa^-ers had declined and absolutely refused to pay the 
extra school-tax. The consequence was that the district was largeh' 
indebted to school-teachers, and had no means of paying their claims 
so long as the extra tax was withheld. A meeting of the district was 
held March 7, 1850, at which the following resolution was passed : — 

'" Whei'eas certain individuals in the district have declined llie pay- 
ment of their taxes upon the ground that the law under which the 
tax is levied is unconstitutional. Therefore, Resolved that the Board 
of Agents be instructed by this meeting to procure such legal advice 
as they may deem expedient and take such measures as may in the 
speediest manner test the constitutionality of said law and secure the 
collection of the taxes." 

At the annual meeting in April, 1850, the following vote was 
passed : — 

" Voted, that the town collector lie requested at once to collect the 
taxes remaining unpaid, b}' distraint or otherwise, and that the dis- 
trict will indemnif}- him in the same." 

TMs vote of the district was formally certified to the collector, yet 
lie declined doing anything towards the collection of the extra tax. 

'I'he Board of Agents for the j-ear 1850 found themselves ver}' 
unpleasantly situated. The district was largely indebted to teachers. 
The larger part of the extra tax was uncollected, and the collector 
refused to perform his duty. At a meeting of the board. May 7, 
1850, the following vote was passed, all being present: — 

'-' Whereas Ste[)hen Snow, the collector of the town of Brunswick 
to whom was committed a certain tax, assessed upon the inhabitants 
•of the Milage District in said town, by the proper authorities of said 
lowii, raising money for the sui)poi't of schools in said Village Dis- 
trii^t-, has collected and paid over a part of said tax and neglects and 
refuses to collect and pay over the balance of said tax, the time men- 
tioued iu his warrant of commitment having exi)ired some time ago, 
ther*'fore : \'oted, that John C. Humphreys be a committee to call 
upon the treasurer of the town of Brunswick and inform him of the 
neglect and refusal of Stephen Snow, the collector, to proceed in the 
collection of the taxes, and request the treasurer to issue his war- 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 469 

rant against the said Stephen Snow, collector, agreealily to the pro- 
visions of the Revised Statutes, Chapter 14, Section 111, as the 
contingency has occurred which makes it the duty of the treasurer 
to issue his warrant against the collector for neglsct of dut}"." 

Mr. Humphreys reported that he called upon the treasurer May 11, 
1850, and handed him a copy of the vote, after reading which he 
returned an answer that he would see the collector the first of the 
week and see what could be done about it. 

At a meeting of the Board of Agents, Ma}' 7, 1850, the following 
vote was passed : — 

" Voted, that A. C. Robbins be a committee to obtain legal advice 
as to certain points affecting the welfare of this district, and which 
are now in dispute between the friends and opposers of the schools." 

Under this vote Mr. Robbins made a statement of all the facts in 
the case and laid it before Phineas Barnes, Esquire, and Honorable 
William Pitt Fessenden, of Portland, and received a written opinion 
from them in reply. Amongst other things they sav, "No particular 
form of assent is specified in the vote, and the law regards substance 
rather than form. ... If therefore the several proceedings in 
voting, certifying, and assessing the taxes, and their commitment to 
the collector, were correct and legal (all which we have taken for 
granted), we have no doubt that it is the collector's duty, and still 
remaining so, to collect these taxes, according to his warrant. The 
warrant constitutes both his authorit}' and his protection." If he 
neglects, they say the treasurer should be requested to issue his war- 
rant against him ; and if the treasurer neglects or refuses to do so, the 
proper remedy' is to appi}' to the Supreme Judicial Court for a writ of 
mandamus. 

May 23, 1850, the treasurer of the town gave to the Board of 
Agents a written refusal to issue his warrant against the collector, as 
requested by them. 

On the same date, the Board of Agents gave an order to Augustus 
I. Owen, one of the teachers, upon the treasurer of Brunswick. 

The latter indorsed upon this order the following : — 

" The subscriber declines paying the within, there being no funds in 
his hands subject to the order of the treasurer of the Village District." 

On account of this action of the treasurer, the Board of Agents 
gave Mr. Owen an order on the selectmen, on which the latter in- 
dorsed the following : — 

" The selectmen of Brunswick decline pacing or accepting the above 
order for the reason that the district has already received its full 



470 imsTORY OF BTtUNSWICE, TOPSHAM, AND HABPSWELL. 

proportion of school raone}- raised by the town, and that the amonnt 
raised by extra taxation in the district has not been collected and is 
not therefore subject to their order." 

May 25, 1850, William Smyth, Robert P. Dunlap, John C. Hnm- 
phre3s, Augustus C. Bobbins, and Leonard Townsend. the Board of 
Agents, petitioned the Supreme Court at the session to be held at 
Paris, Maine, on the last Tuesda}- of the month, for a writ of man- 
damus against the treasurer. Tiiey showed in their petition all the 
facts given in the preceding pages. 

Upon the foregoing petition, the affidavits in support thereof, by the 
petitioners, having been heard and considered by the court, it was, on 
the A J ay terra, 1850, 

" Ordered, That a rule be issued to the said John F. Titcomb, 
treasurer of the town of Brunswick, requiring him to show cause, if 
any he have, why he has neglected and refused to issue his warrant of 
distress against the said Stephen Snow, named in said petition, and 
why a writ of mandamus should not be granted b}- the court, com- 
manding him to issue such warrant of distress according to law ; at 
the term of this court to be holden at Norridgewock, within and for 
our county of vSomerset, on the second Tuesday of June, 1850, on the 
third day of the term, and that the petitioners give notice thereof to 
the said John F. Titcomb by causing an attested cop}' of this petition 
and of this order thereon, to be served upon him fourteen days at 
least before the said third day of the term of the court to be holden 
at Norridgewock aforesaid." 

At the court held in Norridgewock, the petitioners appeared by 
their comisel, Phineas Barnes, Esquire, and the respondents appeared 
by John S. Abbot, Esquire. The respondents asked for a continu- 
ance, which was opposed by the petitioners. It was finally agreed 
between the parties that the case should be continued to the term of 
the court to be held at Belfast on the fourth Tuesday- of July, 1850. 
It was also agreed that a hearing then and there should be had, and 
that the respondent should furnish the petitioners with an attested 
cop3' of his answer, fourteen days before the sitting of said court. 

At the court held in Belfast no witnesses were introduced b}' either 
party. The petitioners put into the case the documents already men- 
tioned. General Samuel Fessenden, of Portland, appeared for the 
respondents, and Phineas Barnes, Esquire, for the petitioners. 

In his answer to the petition of the Board of Agents for a writ of 
mandamus, the treasurer gave the following reasons for refusing to 
issue his warrant of distress against the collector : — 



EDUCATIOyAL HIS TOBY OF BRUNSWICK. 471 

1. That the Act of lucorporation of the Village District was 
unconstitutional, on account of its allowing them to raise mone}- addi- 
tional to that raised by the town. 

2. That the district was not legallj' constituted : (a) because the 
several districts had not voted to form a Village District, but onl}' to 
unite for a " high-school sj'stem " ; (&) because the old districts had 
never been discontinued ; (c) because the meetings had not Ijeen 
legal ; (d) because the vote of the town was illegal ; (e) because 
the Act of legislature was subsequent to the action of the town, which 
was itself conditional on an act of the district which it had no right to 
delegate to them the power to do ; (/) because the legislature has no 
right to create a school district by direct legislation, 

3. That the assessment of the tax b}' the district was illegal : (a) 
because there is no constitutional authority for the legislature to create 
a corporation of an}- kind, com2')eUi)ig individuals to become members 
thereof, and subject to taxation against their will, except in the case of 
the formation of a town ; (&) because the assessors had ne\er had 
an^- official notice that the conditions of the town had been complied 
with, and the district legally formed ; (c) because the money assessed 
by the assessors was never raised b}' a legal vote of the distilct ; the 
vote not onl}' authorized the purchase of land and the erecting of a 
school-house (which would be legal) , but also authorized the enlarge- 
ment and repair of the old school-houses, and the renting and furnish- 
ing of rooms for the use of schools, and the whole was embraced in 
one vote, contrar}- to the law providing the waj- in which " incidental 
expenses" should be paid; that the money was neither borrowed 
nor expended for purposes for which a school district is authorized b}^ 
law to borrow mone}' ; {d) because the several certificates and copies 
provided by law, to be given b}' the officers of the school district to 
the assessors, treasurer, and clerk, of the town, were not duly certi- 
fied, filed, and recorded, as required b}- law ; that no certificate of 
the vote of the district, authorizing the borrowing of mone}-, was ever 
certified b}' the clerk thereof to the above officers; (e) that if the 
legislature has power to authorize school districts to raise money, 
such power cannot be given to a single district, but should be granted 
b}' a general law operating throughout the State ; (/) that a school 
district is not such an organized bod}-, nor has such interest as to 
enforce the collection, by a town collector, of a tax b}- mandamus, — 
the treasurer being the officer of the town and not of any school 
district. 

Allen Colby, William H. Hall, and Benjamin H. Meder, in behalf 



472 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

of the petitioners, made depositions, July 18, 1850, to the following 
effect : — 

1 . That they resided in the district. 

2. That they had never known any persons claiming a separate 
organization as District Number 1 subsequent to the formation of the 
Village District. 

3. That the}' had never known of any public school kept in District 
Number 1, except what was under the authorit}' of the Board of 
Agents of the Village District. 

4. That the vote passed at the annual meeting of District Number 
1, April 24, 1848, did contemplate the throwing up of the old organi- 
zation and the formation of a new district. 

G. That they never heard the plan of a high school spoken of at 
that or any other meeting of the district, except in connection with 
the formation of a Village District. 

8. That tlie}' would have known if there had been any schools 
kept out of the public funds in that territory', other than those kept 
under the authority of the agents of the Vil age District. 

9. 'Ihat after the organization of the Village District, the people 
in what was formerl}' District Number 1 sent their children to the 
schools of the Village District. 

The committee on accounts, in their report for 1850, under the 
" Treasurer's Account," give the amount received from the agents of 
tlie Village District, thus i-ecognizing its existence. 

The school committee, in 1850, recognized the district in their 
report and spoke of the manifest improvement of the schools therein. 

Judge Howard, in ordering the issue of a writ of mandamus, made 
an exhaustive review of all the questions raised upon either side and 
full}' sustained the Board of Agents in every material point, though he 
pointed out some errors made by them. Thus ended one of the most 
important lawsuits to which the village of Brunswick has ever been a 
party, and both sides in the suit deserve credit for persisting in bring- 
ing to a legal settlement questions of such momentous importance to 
the welfare of the town and to the interest of education in general. ^ 

1'liis opinion was delivered by the judge, March 1, 1851, and was 
received in Brunswick the same day. A meeting of the Village Dis- 
trict was called on the nineteenth of the month. At this meeting 
Professor AVilliam Smyth made a report in behalf of the Building 
Committee. In this report a recapitulation was given of the tieeds of 

^ For the full account of tJiis trial, see Smith v. Titcomb, 31 Me. 272. 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 473 

the district in regard to school-houses, and of the votes. He reported 
that the Building Committee and Board of Agents had selected the 
lot of Miss Narcissa Stone, on the corner of Federal and Green 
Streets, and that he had been empowered hy a vote of each committee 
separately to purchase the lot. This he had done at a price of 81 ,000, 
payment to be made in five equal annual instalments, with interest at 
six per cent. Possession w-as obtained June 1. 1851. 

The committee had then turned their attention to the erection of a 
building upon this lot, but in the mean time it had been found that a 
portion of the tax-pa3'ers had positively refused to pay the taxes still 
due from them. The Building Committee had no alternative but to 
sta}' proceedings, and await the decision of the Supreme Couri. After 
that decision had been given they at once resumed their labors and 
contracted at once for the brick and stone necessary for the erection of 
the building, and they were being at that time deposited upon the lot. 

The report stated that the Board of Agents had been very much 
embarrassed by the want of suitable accommodations for the schools. 
'I'hev had been obliged to break up classes, separate the boj-s from 
the girls, and wtually to return to the confusion and inefficienc}- of 
the old system. 

On April 19, 1851, William Smyth, chairman of the Board of 
Agents, made a report of which the following is a synopsis : — 

He stated that the committee had been greatly embarrassed b}- 
want of accommodations and by the lawsuit. He remarked, those 
opposed " regarded themselves as maintaining an important constitu- 
tional principle and their own just rights." But the question had now 
been settled, and all acquiesced in it. The connuittee recommended 
that the thanks of the district should be given to their counsel, Phineas 
Barnes, Esquire, and especially to their colleague, A. C. Robbins, 
Esquire, " for the untiring effort and distinguished abilitj' with which 
their case was prepared by him for argument, — services gratuitously 
rendered indeed, but upon which the success of the district in tlie late 
suit, so far, at least, as its legal existence is concerned, is mainly to 
be attributed." The report goes on to state that after the termination 
of the suit, the town collector had collected enough to pay otf all the 
debts of the district, except the fees of the counsel and the expenses 
connected with the suit. 

The report spoke favorably of the schools as a whole, but considered 
the primary schools as of the chief importance. It recommended the 
permanent establishment of an apprentices' school, and stated that the 
material did not at that time exist for the perfect organization of the 



474 iiiyroRY of Brunswick, topsham, and harpswell. 

High School. Several suggestions were also made as to the best moile 
of raisint>- the necessary- money for school purposes. 

The superintending school committee, in their report for April, 1851, 
say, " as their deliberate judgment, that at no period has there been 
so mueli to commend in the management and success of the village 
schools or so little to censure. 

'• In the general interests of education in the village, they think that 
a manifest advance has been made during the 3-ear." They were also 
of the opinion that the condition of the schools throughout the town 
would bear a favorable com[)arison witli that of any former year. 

The new brick school-house erected for the use of the schools of the 
Village District was dedicated on Tuesday, December 9, 1851. The 
services were opened by some remarks from Professor AVilliam Smyth. 
Then followed a somewhat detailed account of the schools for several 
years [)reviously, by I'rofessor D. R. Goodwin, which was followed by 
remarks by John S. C. Abbot. After a prayer by Reverend Doctor 
Adams, remarks were made by Messrs. Adams, Boody, and Smyth, a 
hymn was sung, and the benediction pronounced by Father Stetson. 
There was quite an audience present, and the occasion passed oli'ver}' 
pleasantly. 

In April, 1852, the superintending school committee reported that 
there were nine hundred school children in the village. They said that 
" the Village District has been greatly indebted to Mr. E. G. Parshley, 
who taught a separate school of older pupils of the primary schools, 
and who were not entitled to enter the grammar schools. Al)out 
eighty attended this school, who were well taught and kept in admi- 
rable discipline. The only compensation Mr. Parshley had for this 
service was the thanks of the comnmnity," 

Speaking of these village schools, Mr. John JM. Adams, school com- 
missioner for Cumberland County, in his report, published in the 
spring of 1853, says : — 

" 'ihis system of graded schools comes as near perfection as any I 
have ever seen, not excepting even that of Portland, which under the 
fostering care of a few efficient and devoted friends, chief amongst 
whom stands Mr. Barnes, has acquired a high and well-merited 
reputation." 

The cost of the brick school-house, as given in the financial report of 
the Board of Agents in 1853, was $5,885.44. The cost of the lot, 
which was $1,000, is not included. A portion ($5,000) of this 
amount was raised by loan, the balance by a direct tax. 

lu 1852 there were, including the Village District, twenty-six school 



EDUCATIONAL niSTORT OF BRUNSWICK. 475 

districts in town. The whole amoimt received from all sources for 
the schools this 3-ear was $3,329.04. 

On Xovember 12, 1857, the High School pupils commenced a series 
of tableaux at their school-room, for the purpose of procuring funds 
for the purchase of apparatus. The}' met with good success. 

In 18G2 the apprentice school, which had been in operation in the 
winter season since 1851, was kept in the engine-hall on Pleasant 
Street. 

In 1867 the brick school-house on Bath Street was built. The 
amount of money for schools received from all sources was $0,782.27. 

In September, 1872, the school-house on the corner of Federal and 
Centre Streets was completed. It contains four rooms, with large halls 
in both stories. 

The condition of the schools in 1876 was as follows: the whole 
number of schools in town was twenty' -three ; the number of teachers 
emplo^'ed was thirty-one ; the total amount of school mone}* received 
from all sources was $10,403.08. 

It has been found impossible to obtain a list of the numl)er of pupils 
in Brunswick for each decade since the organization of the first town 
school, but the number at the different dates mentioned below will 
give some idea of the rate of increase. 

In 1804 the immber of pupils was 845 ; in 1805 it was 875 ; in 1806 
it was 885; in 1825 it was 1,533; in 1826 it was 1,598; in 1829 it 
was 1.603 ; and in 1876 it was 1,782. The actual attendance this last 
3'ear was, however, onlj' 864. 

ACADEMK^AL INSTITUTIONS. 

An account of Bowdoin College and the Medical School of Maine 
might with propriet}- be given in this connection, but on account of 
the length of the sketch, as well as for the reason that they are State 
and not town institutions, a separate chapter will be devoted to them. 

The first academical institution which should be mentioned here was 
the Brunswick Academy. 

This was a Gothic structure, which stood on Maine Street directly 
opposite the southwest corner of the college grounds. It was built 
b}- President Allen for a classical school. Mr. William Smyth (after- 
wards professor) taught it the first quarter, which ended on the 
eleventh of December, 1824. The second quarter began a week 
later, and was taught by William Hatch. The building was only used 
a few terms for a scliool and was then occupied by college students. 
Afterwards it was used as a dwelling by Mr. Charles J. Noj'es, and 



476 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

still later it was torn down and rebuilt, and is now occupied as a 
dwellinsf. 




The Brunswick Academy. 

Pleasant Street Sejiinary, — This seminary building was erected 
in the fall of 1842 or winter of 1843, on the south side of Pleasant 
Street, a few rods from Maine Street. It was dedicated on the twenty- 
seventh of March, 1843. An address was delivered by Professor A. 
S. Packard, and there was singing by a choir under the direction of 
Mr. Charles J. Noyes. The building was two stories, the upper story 
being leased for a club-room. The lower floor was the school-room. 
The first term began on the twentieth of March, 1843, under the 
instruction of M. B. Bartlett (Bowdoin, class of 1812). Mr. Bartlett 
is said to have been an excellent teacher, and the school was a good 
one. Mr. Bartlett conducted the school for about three years, and 
was succeeded by Mr. Alfred W. Pike, a graduate of Dartmouth College, 
who was already an experienced teacher. This building was after- 
wards, in 1843, used by the Episcopalian society as a chapel. It 
was subsequently removed to Maine Street, and is now occupied as a 
store by Mr. J. P. Weeman, a few doors north of the post-office. 

The Brunswick Seminary was incorporated in 1845, with the 
design " of establishing an institution, in which the youth of both 
sexes might receive a thorough and practical knowledge of those 
branches of education which pertain especially to the every-day 
business of life ; and, also, all those higher branches of a finished 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. All 

education, which are taught in boarding-schools and the higher semi- 
naries." 

In accordance with this design, a commodious building ^ was ob- 
tained, with apartments so arranged that the ladies and gentlemen, 
while they occupied different rooms, had all the advantages of being 
classed together, of meeting at recitations, lectures, and other general 
exercises of the school. 

The trustees of the school were Honorable Robert P. Dunlap, 
president ; John S. Gushing, Esquire, secretary- ; Parker Cleaveland, 
LL. D., treasurer ; Leonard Woods, Jr., D. D., General Abuer B. 
Thompson, Reverend George E. Adams, General John C. Ilum- 
phre3's. 

The instructors in 1845-6 were G. Clinton Swallow, M. A., princi- 
pal ; Miss Trj-phena B. Hinkley, preceptress ; Miss Frances E. 
Stowe, teacher of music on the piano, etc. ; Miss Olivia J. Record, 
teacher of drawing and painting; Albion K. Knight, M. A., teacher 
of vocal music; Miss Evelina Owen, assistant; Miss Mar^- B. Hill, 
Miss Ellen S. Shaw, Mr. John W. Watson, Mr. John S. Fuller, 
monitors. 

During the first year there were one hundred and sixty-nine stu- 
dents, of whom eighty-one were young gentlemen and eighty-eight 
30ung ladies. 

OTHER PRIYATK SCHOOLS. 

In addition to the seminaries already mentioned there have been 
many other schools taught in town by private persons, some of which 
might, perhaps, from their size and the successful manner in which 
they have been conducted, be justly placed in the foregoing class. 
They have not been, for the reason that they did not assume any 
higher name than that simply of a private school. 

All of these schools, concerning which we have been able to gain 
any exact information, will be mentioned under the name of their 
respective teachers. 

Miss Eunice Buss came to Brunswick in 1802 as the friend and 
companion of Miss Lucy Abbott, daughter of Honorable Jacob Ab))ott. 
After Miss Abbott's marriage in 1805, Miss Buss taught a small school 
for 3'oung children. After Mr. Abbott's death in 1820, the family pre- 
pared a small house for her in a corner of the garden-lot, about where 



1 This building was on the corner of Maine and School Streets, and is noiv the resi- 
dence of Capt. Isaac L. Skolfield. 



478 * HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Captain Jolui Bishop's house now stands. Here she taught school for 
a number of years. She afterwards maintained herself as a seamstress. 
She was highly esteemed, and was the presiding officer in many of the 
charitable associations of the ladies. In 1835 her health became 
impaired, and she returned to her former home in AVilton, Kew Hamp- 
shire. 

Mus. Cakoline p. Putnam, wife of Henry Putnam, Esquire, and 
mother of George P. Putnam, the New York publisher (recently de- 
ceased) , taught school in Brunswick for about eighteen years. From 
1807 1 initil about 1818 or 1819, she taught in what was then known 
as the old Dunlap house, now the residence of the family of the late 
Doctor John D. Lincoln. Miss Narcissa Stone was her assistant dur- 
ing a portion of that time. 

Mrs. Pctnam next taught for a j-ear or two in the Forsaith house, 
next south of Dr. Lincoln's, ^ occupying the southeast room for her 
school-room, and from there she moved into the old Stone Mansion, 
which was situated near the northerly corner of Maine and Mill Streets, 
but Avhich stood a little back from both streets. She occupied one 
half of this house and Dean Swift the other half. Li this house 
she taught until 1825, when it Avas destroyed b}' fire. J\lrs. Putnam 
tlien moved to New York, where she ever after resided. She is spoken 
of by those who knew her as an excellent woman and a good teacher. 

John M. O'Brien, a member of the first class of Bowdoin College, 
kept a i)rivate school for two or three years. The exact date is not 
known with certainty, but the school was probably kept between the 
years 1.S06 and 1810. 

INIiss Eliza Chapman, a Boston lady, sister to Mrs. (Governor 
Dunlap, kept a private school for 3'oung ladies from 1823 until 1829, 
in the conference room on Centre Street. She was a lady of fine edu- 
cation and was a very successful teacher. 

Mr. Smith taught a private school in Hodgkins Hall, on the corner 
of Maine and Pleasant Streets, in 1824. This teacher is said to have 
been Mr. William Smj-th, afterwards a professor in Bowdoin College. 

Abraham Preble kept a private school under Masonic Hall, in the 
winter of 1825, and announced another term to be kept in another 
place which would better accommodate his patrons. He kept school for 
several terms, but exactly' how long is not known. 

Lot Jones opened a school over the bank in September, 1828, 
where he taught the various branches usuall}' taught in academies, and 

' Reminiscences of Mrs. Lamb. 2 Reminiscences of Dean Swift. 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 479 

prepared students for college. He taught here for about one 3'ear and 
was a \Qvy successful teacher. He afterwards became an Episcopa- 
lian clergyman. 

Asa Dodge, of the class of 1827, Bowdoin College, and afterwards 
a raissionar}- physician in Syria, taught a school for 3'oung gentlemen 
and ladies, in 1829, and for two or three 3'ears after, in the conference 
room on Centre Street. His school was one of the best that was 
ever kept in Brunswick. He was a fine scholar and instructor, and 
is highly spoken of as a man b}' those who knew him. He died in 
Beirout, S^ria. 

Dauius Adams taught a school in "Washington Hall about the year 
1830. He was succeeded b}' 

Samuel Adams, who taught in the same place for a few terms. 

Harriet Lee kept a private school for misses in 1830, in the Rod- 
uev Forsaith house, on Maine Street. 

The Misses R. and S. Owex kept a female boarding and da}- school 
in 1830, and for two or three jears after, in the Owen house, which 
was situated on the corner of Maine and O'Brien Streets, on the lot 
now occupied b}- the residence of Mr. Benjamin Greene. 

Richard Woodhull, of the class of 1827, of Bowdoin College, 
taugiit a school for one or two terms about 1830, in the conference 
room on Centre Street. He succeeded Mr. Asa Dodge. 

Mr. Thomas Baker (Bowdoin, class of 1831) taught a school for 
young gentlemen in Washington Hall, from 1833 until 1838 or 1839. 
From here he went to Cape Ann, and from thence to Boston as a head 
master. He became quite celebrated as a teacher. 

Misses Deborah Folsom and Mary Dunnixg kept a famil}- school 
for girls for about three ^-ears, on Union Street, nearly- opposite O'Brien 
Street. This was about the 3-ears 1836 to 1838 inclusive. The}- were 
both successful teachers. 

Miss Tryphena B. Hixkley came to Topsham in 1842 as an assist- 
ant in Mrs. Field's school. Two 3-ears later Mrs. Field resigned the 
school, and Miss IIinkle3- conducted it on her own account for about a 
3-ear, when, at the solicitation of friends in Brunswick, she united her 
school with that of Professor Swallow, under the name of the Bruns- 
wick Seminary. At the end of about a 3-ear Miss Hiukle3- withdrew 
from this school and taught a da3--school in the Pleasant Street Semi- 
naiy. Here she taught for about a 3-ear. She then leased the house 
on the corner of Pleasant and Union Streets, r€centl3- owned and 
occupied b3- Mr. Samuel R. Jackson. She taught in this building for 
about five 3ears, keeping a boarding-school for young ladies. From 



480 BISTORT OF BRUXSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

here she moved into the O'Brien house, which stood on Union Street, 
nearly opposite O'Brien Street. In this house she taught for about 
seven 3'ears. Here her seliool was large and prosperous. Fi-oni the 
O'Brien house she moved into her present residence opposite the col- 
leges, which she purchased of John S. C. Abbott, and to which she 
made additi(^ns and improvements. 

In all of her schools Miss Hinklej' has been assisted hy her sister, 
Miss Josepiiixe Hinkley, whose special department has been that of 
drawing. Among the other ladv assistants she has had, at ditferent 
times, Miss Fannie White, a teacher of music ; Madam Zimmerman, 
a German lad}' and a fine music teacher; Miss Frances Adams (now 
Mrs. General Chamberlain), Miss Lizzie McKeen, Miss Fannie 
Stowe, Miss Sarah Newman, Miss Emih- Poole, and Miss Sophia AV. 
"VVheeler. 

For gentleman assistants Miss Ilinkle}- has depended largeh* upon 
the college. Among those who have assisted her at different times 
have been C. C. Everett, AVilliam Packard, Flgbert C. Smvth, William 
S. Tucker, Joshua Leightou, Henry Farrar, her brother Eugene B. 
Hinkle}', and Professors Brackett, Kusscll, Taverner, and Briggs. 
The average number of boarding scholars has been about fifteen, the 
largest number about twenty-seven. 

Alfred AY. Pike advertised the eighth term of the "Brunswick 
High School" to begin April 10, 1843. It was kept in AA^ashington 
Hall. In 1845 he advertised the " Brunswick High School and 
Teacher's Seminaiy." Vocal music to be taught by Jotham Sewall ; 
mathematics and French, b}' Samuel J. Pike ; drawing and painting, 
b}' Miss Frances Adams. In 1846, and for about three j'ears after, 
he kept a school in the Pleasant Street Seminary, then in a building 
which stood on the spot cut through for the railroad on the east side 
of Maine Street, and lastl}', in his own house, which was then a cottage 
on Potter Street, but which was afterwards removed to ]\Iaine Street, 
enlarged and improved, and is now the residence of General Chamber- 
lain. 

D. Kendrick, Junior, taught a private school for ladies in 1845, 
and for about a 3'ear, in Dunlap Block. 

In addition to the foregoing private schools for general instruction, 

there have been from time to time others taught for instruction in 

special branches. 

SPECIAL SCHOOLS. 

The schools of this character will be given under the head of the 
branches taught in them. 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 481 

Daxcing Academy. — In Januaiy, 1821, L. Champrosay began a 
school at Stoddard's Hall. The terms were six dollars foi- twelve les- 
sons, lie also advertised to give private lessons in French. 

School fok Embroidery. — In 1823 a school was established b}- a 
lady from Scotland, for woiking in embroidery. ^ 

School for Instruction in French. — In 1836, J. G. Mivelle 
Dechene tanght French at Mrs. Pollard's house. 

School for Musical Instruction. — Instrumental. — In 182G 
a Miss Brown of Boston, gave instruction on the piano and hai-p. 

School for Instruction in Navigation. — lu 1825 a school for 
instruction in the art of navigation was kept byB. F. Neall}', and an- 
other one in 1843 hy John F. Hall. 

School for Instruction in Fancy Painting. — In 1827, A. B. 
Engstrom taught the art of fanc^' i)ainting on paper, satin, or wood. 

SiX(iiNG-ScnooLS. — In 1825, Luke Hastings taught a school for 
instruction in vocal music. In 1836, Charles J. No3-es kept a similar 
school; and so did also L. W. Additon. in 1843. Since then schools 
of this character have been too numerous for specific mention to be 
made of them. 

Writing-Schools. — In 1824, I. Morgridge kept a school for 
instruction in penmanship, in Stone's Hall. He was succeeded the 
next winter by William Sawyer. In 1836 a Mr. Butler kept a school 
of this kind; in 1843, Mr. I. O. Richardson ; and in 1845 a Mr. Fisk 
kept one lu Dunlap Block. Further mention of such schools is un- 
necessaiy. 

The above b}- no means completes the list of miscellaneous schools, 
but the3' are all which have come to our knowledge that are worthy of 
especial mention. 

^ Patnam. 



482 nisiOBY OF bbunswice, topsham, and harpswell. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

EDUCATIONAL HISTOKY OF TOPSHAM. 

The earliest iiiforniation to be obtained in regard to educational 
matters in Topsham is that contained in tlie town records. It appears 
from tlicse that on March 18, 17GG, the town voted to raise £60 for a 
" minister and school-master" for that year, and 'I homas Wilson was 
chosen a committee to agree with him or them. At the annual meet- 
ing in 17(58, John Reed and John Fulton were chosen a committee to 
obtain a minister and school-master for that j'ear. At a meeting of 
the Pejepscot proprietors, held Jnlj- 23 of this 3"ear, it was voted : — 

" '1 hat Lott Number sixtyfive adjo3-ning to the aforesaid Lott 
granted to y* first settled Minister lying on the Rear of the Lotts con- 
veved to Benjamin Thomas and bounding Northwest on Land belong- 
ing to Heirs of William Wilson as described and laid down in the 
Plan, be and hereby is granted to the Town of Topsham, for a Lott 
for the Benefitt and advantage of a Publick School, to continue for 
said use forever — said Lott contains one hundred Acres. "i 

On Jul}' 14, 1770, the town voted that the school-master should be 
hired for one year from the date of his first commencing school. 

At the annual meeting in 1773, the selectmen were instructed to 
divide the town into several school districts and to proportion the taxes 
according to the number of children in each district. The amount 
raised this year for schools was £26 13s. 4d. 
> From 1786 to 17.92 the employment of a teacher was left with the 
selectmen. 

At the annual meeting of the town in 1795, the selectmen were 
instructed to take measures to secure the lot of land called the 
'^ Scliool lot," " which was said to belong to the town." The article in 
the warrant to provide for the emplo^nnent of a school-master was this 
jear passed over. 

At a town meeting held May 6, 1799, the selectmen were instructed 

^ Pejepscot Records. 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 483 

to divide the town into such school districts as the}^ should deem 
advisable. Three hundred dollars was appropriated for the support 
of schools this jxar. 

The selectmen neglecting for some reason to divide the town into 
school districts, Reverend Jonathan Ellis, Alexander Thompson, 
Senior, James Wilson, Arthur Hunter, William AYilson, and Samuel 
"VVinchell were chosen a committee for this purpose in 1800. The 
town also voted to have six school districts and to build a school-house 
in each district within thirteen months, and $1,200 was appropriated 
for that purpose, upon the condition that each district should give the 
land needed for its school-house. 

In 1801 the preceding action of the town was so far modified as to 
make seven instead of six districts. It was also voted this 5'ear that 
the school committee should consist of one person in each district. 

In 1802, Benjamin Hase}', John Merrill, and Benjamin J. Porter 
were chosen a committee to petition the legislature for permission to 
sell the school lot and to place the proceeds of the sale as an accumu- 
lating fund until it should net an income of three hundred dollars per 
annum, or in any other way which the General Court might think 
proper. 

In 1803 three of the school districts, Numbers 4, 5, and 6, were 
consolidated into one. 

On March 6, 1804, the General Court authorized the sale of the 
school lot and the investment of the mone.y accruing there fi'om.i 

Nothing of importance in relation to educational matters appears in 
the town records subsequently to this time, until the 3'ear 1825. In 
their report for that year, the school committee express doubts 
'' whether knitting and sewing ought to be permitted in town schools," 
and express the hope " that parents in future will be convinced of the 
impropriet}' of imposing this service on the instructress." 

In 1828 the town voted that the selectmen should make a sale of 
the school lot, in accordance with a former vote passed for that purpose. 

In 1830 the trustees of the school fund reported that the school lot 
was sold on the twelfth daj' of December, 1829, to Captain Samuel 
Perkins, for three hundred and fifty dollars. 

In 1833 the school fund arising from the sale of the school lot 
amounted to four hundred and twenty dollars and thirty-four cents. 

In 1837 the town voted that the surplus revenue money, that was or 
was to be deposited with the town by the State, should be kept as a 

* Massachusetts Acts, 1804. 



484 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

fund, and that the town treasurer should be permitted to loan the 
money on interest, under the direction of the selectmen, who should 
see that good security was taken, and that the interest should be 
divided amongst the school districts. The next year, however, 
though a strong protest was made against it, this vote was recon- 
sidered and the money was divided among the inhabitants. 

Between 1851 and 1870 the superintending school committee kept 
a record of their doings. From this record it appears that the follow- 
ing persons were chosen for school committee in 1851: Reverend 
Jonathan Clement, James Gilpatrick, and A. D. Wheeler. At their 
first meeting they drew lots, as provided by law, to determine the 
time for which they were respectivel}" to serve on the committee. 
Reverend Mr. Wheeler was selected to serve one .year, Mr. Clement 
for two, and Mr. Gilpatrick for three ^-ears. There were at this time 
nine school districts in town, which were designated as follows : — 
Numljer 1 was called the Jameson district. 

" 3 " " " Oak Hill district. 

" 4 " " " Middlesex district. 

^' 5 '^ " " Mallett district. ' 

" G " " " CWiance district. 

" 8 " '• " Jack district. 

" " " " Bay Road district. 

'' 11 " " " Alexander district. 

" 12 " " " Little River district. 
Numbers 2, 7, and 10 were united into one district, wliich was called 
the Village District. Districts Number 1, 8, and 12 were up the 
river, Numbers 4, G, and 9 were down the river, and Numbers 3, 5, 
and 11 were l)ack from the river. The total amount of school money 
received this year, from all sources, was nine hundred and ninety dollars 
and thirty-two cents. The whole number of children in town, between 
the ages of four and tvvent^'-one years, was six hundred and sixt}'. 

In 1852 the total amount of school monc}' was six dollars and thir- 
teen cents inore than the previous year. The school fund this year 
was six hundred and sixty-four dollars and fifty cents. 

Nothing has been found to show the exact time when the grading 
system was applied to the village schools, but on November 18, 1854, 
the following entry occurs in the records of the committee : " Messrs. 
Adams and Cotton met in the selectmen's office and examined Mr. 
Gaslin for the Village High School. He was found well qualified." 
It would seem from this, since no pi'evious reference to it has been 
found, that the High School must have been established this year. 



EDUCAIIONAL HISTORY OF TOP SHAM. 485 

On July 22, 1848, the school committee agreed upon the follo-ning 
as the requirements for admission to the High School, namel}', that 
pupils should have gone in arithmetic as far as simple interest, in 
geogi-aph}- though Colton's book, and in grammar through et^-mol- 
ogj. For admission to the grammar schools, pupils Were required 
to know the multiplication table and the simple rules of arithmetic and 
to ha\'e finished the primary geography. 

In 1859 the town voted that " the trustees of the ministerial fund, 
derived from the sale of the ministerial land granted the town for the 
support of Ihe ministry, transfer said fund, together with accrued 
interest, to the municipal officers, clerk, and treasurer of the town, 
as a fund for the support of the public schools, agreeably to the 
twelfth chapter of the Revised Statutes of Maine." This fund was 
not available, however, having been loaned to individuals, one of 
whom was dead, and the notes of all of whom had become outlawed. 

In 1861 the town elected Mr. Warren Johnson as supervisor of 
schools. The following resolation was found in the town records on 
a slip of paper inserted between the leaves, and was apparently over- 
looked by the clerk in copying his minutes, as it does not appear on 
the records : — 

"Whereas, in the judgment of the town, it is desirable that the 
management of schools be placed in the hands of one supervisor, and 
whereas the ill health of the Rev. Dr. Wheeler (the onh' member of the 
former board of school committee) would prevent him from discharg- 
ing the laborious duties of a supervisor, and the election of another 
necessitates his retirement after a service of nearl}' thirty j-ears. 

'* Resolved, That we sensibly recognize his long and effectual ser- 
vices as an able and earnest educator, to whom much is due for the 
former success of our school system." 

In 1862 the trastees of the school fund reported at the annual meet- 
ing that this fund was invested in good notes to the amount of six 
hundred and sixty-four dollars and forty-eight cents, and that the 
interest, amounting to thirty-three dollars and eighty-seven cents, 
had been paid, and had ]»een divided among the several school districts. 

In 1863 the town returned to the practice of selecting a school com- 
mittee instead of a supervisor. In December of this year the com- 
mittee made the following changes in school-books : The}' voted to 
use the Progressive Series of Readers, in place of Town's Readers ; 
Weld and Quackenbos, in the place of Bailee's grammar ; and Green- 
eaf's new arithmetics, in place of his old ones. 

In 1869 the Wilson Series of Readers was adopted for five years. 



48l) HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 



SCHOOL-TEACHERS. 

The names of the school-teachers prior to 1800 are unknown. The 
earliest teacher in town of whom any record is found was Reverend 
Jonathan Ellis. Mr. Ellis taught school during a large portion of his 
residence in Topsham, between 1789 and 1811. At first he taught in 
a school-house at the eastern end of the town, near the old first meet- 
ing-house ; afterwards in the school-house, which stood on the lot now 
owned h\ Captain William S. Skolfield, on the corner of Pleasant and 
Elm Streets. It was a small building directly opposite where the 
Orthodox Church now stands. Afterwards he kept a school for three 
or four j-ears in the Court House. He was teaching there at the time 
of the great eclipse of the sun in 1806. 

Mr. James Wilson distinctly remembers that the school closed at the 
time, and that the scholars came to his ftither's house to smoke pieces 
of glass in order to watch the eclipse. In his diar}' Mr. Ellis men- 
tions the fact that he completed his school in District Number 4 on 
August 2o, and in District Number 6 on October 7, 1800. On the 
first date there was a public exhibition by the school. Mr. Ellis was 
an excellent teacher. 

In 1802, Mr. John Hern taught in a small school-house, which stood 
near the Benjamin Wilson house. 

About 1825, Mr. Josiah Perliam came to Toi)shani and taught 
the village school. He occupied the next room to the post-offlce, 
which then stood opposite the bank, where he cooked his own food, 
and lived by himself. He is said to have been a good teacher and 
a worthy, persevering 3'oung man. In later years he made himself 
famous by inaugurating a series of cheap excursions, known as 
"■ Perham's Excursions," and still later was proprietor of " Perham's 
Seven-Mile Mirror," a panorama which was exhibited in many of 
the principal cities and towns throughout the country. He is said to 
have been the first man to sign a petition for a charter for the Pacific 
Railroad. 

Of other teachers prior to this date, sufficient is not known to enable 
us to make mention of them, and the subsequent teachers of the 
public schools of the town have been too numerous. 

ACADEMICAL INSTITUTIONS. 

The Topsham Acadeni}- was started in the ^ear 1847 or 1848 b}- a 
few prominent citizens of the town. The}' purchased the old Court 
House and converted it into an excellent school- house, with recitation- 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 487 

rooms, libraiy, etc. The teachers the first ^'ear were Messrs. Dexter 
A. Hawkins, chiss of 1848, and Charles H. Wheeler, class of 1847, 
Bowdoin College. They were succeeded by Messrs. Albert H. Ware 
and George O. Robinson, both of the class of 1849, of the same col- 
lege. The latter whs succeeded by Mr. Francis Adams, of the class 
of 1850. Mr. John Clement taught the school after Adams left. 
The school was given up about 18oS, the last teacher being Mr. 
Joshua Laighton, of the class of 1857, Bowdoin. 

The tuition at this academ3'was. for instruction in the lower depart- 
ment, four dollars ; in the higher department, five dollars. There 
was a quite good library connected with this institution, and a lit- 
erar3' society the name of which is not now rememl)ered. 

In 1856, Mr. Warren Johnson, of the class of 1854, Bowdoin Col- 
lege, purchased the residence of Major William Frost, deceased ; 
enlarged it somewhat, and on May 20, 1857, opened it for a boarding-* 
school, under the name of the Fkanklin Family School. While 
under his n)anagement, as well as since, the school proved to be a ver}' 
excellent one. It was afterwards kept l>y his brothei', Samuel J. 
Johnson, then hy H. A. Randall, then by R. O. Lindsey, and the 
latter was succeeded by a Mr. Billings. It is now under the manage- 
ment of Mr. D. L. Smith, an experienced and successful teacher. ^ 

In 1865 an earnest but unsuccessful effort was made to secure the 
location of the State Agiicultural College in Topsham. Mr. Daniel i". 
Coffin, of New York, formerly a resident of this town, sent a donation 
of two himdred and fifty dollars to aid in securing its location there. 
An account of the efforts made b}' the citizens is given in another chapter. 

PRIVATE SCHOOLS. 
Some time in the last century Mr. Samuel Thompson offered to keep 
a private school, if he coukl obtain twenty-five scholars, at a price 
ranging from sixteen to twent^'-five cents a week. Whether or not he 
succeeded in getting up this school is not known, but it is certain that 
he taught a village school for a long time. He was subject to fits of 
derangement, and at times the town authorities had to confine him in a 
" cage." This was a one-story and one-room structure at the Topsham 
end of the toll-bridge, somewhere on the site of the present paper- 
mill. He was attended to here by Denem Winslow, the toll-gatherer. 



'^Mr. Warren Johnson had hegnn to prepare for these pages an account of the school, 
but his sicl'ness and death prevented its completion, and we are consequenthj unable to 
give a fuller sketch. 



488 HISTORY OF BBUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

Moses M. Marsh, a well-known school-master of Brnnswick, once 
taught a scliool in Topsham. It may have been a pnhlic and not a 
private school. Enoch H. Hines also taught here prior to his death 
in 1828. He tanght district schools, but maj' possibly haA-e taught a 
private school also. 

On May 8, 182G, the Topsham Female School was opened in 
Greene's Hall. It was taught by a lad}'. 

On March 9, 1829, a Miss Eastman commenced a school for young 
ladies. The studies taught were reading, writing, grammar, geog- 
rapli}', ancient and modern history', arithmetic, philosophy, geometry', 
French, and painting, according to the method of Engstrom. 

Tuition was three to six dollars a term. How long a time this 
school was kept up is not known. 

Mrs. Fields's School. — Mrs. Elizabeth Fields was the widow of 
• Eobert Fields, Esquire, barrister in England, a lawyer of no mean abil- 
ity, who was induced to come to America, and resided for many ^ears 
in Boston, in the practice of his profession. He died in 1812. In 1830, 
Mrs. Fields, while on a visit to General King's family of Bath, in an 
afternoon's drive, chanced to pass the Doctor Porter house, ^ in Tops- 
ham, which General King pointed out to her as " his property, once 
the residence of his sister, and now likely to remain unoccupied for 
years." At once the idea suggested itself to Mrs. Fields of taking 
possession of it as a boarding-school for 3'oung ladies, and after mak- 
ing the necessary arrangements witli General King regarding repairs 
and rent, she immediatel}' proceeded to place it in order for occupancy, 
and in 1831 opened her school with twelve boarding and as many 
day scholars. General King sent his only daughter, and used his 
influence, which was b}' no means small, in inducing many of his 
friends in Augusta and elsewhere to send their daughters. Miss Car- 
oline Weld was the first assistant teacher. Subsequently Mrs. Ilelds 
secured the assistance of Miss Mary Thacher, daughter of Peter 
Thacher, Esquire, of Lubec, a 3'oung lady of unusually fine mind and 
intellectual acquirements, and a Mr. Purinton, who was previously in 
one of the principal Bath schools. Later, in 1838, when Miss Thacher 
left the school to be married, her place was filled b}' Miss Hester A. 
C Ilinkley, from Hallowell, equall}' competent, and who, in her turn, 
having left in 1842 to be married, was succeeded by an accomplished 
sister. Miss Tr3'phena Ilinkley, who continued in that capacity until 
Mrs. Fields gave up the school in 1844, when Miss Hinkley took it, 

* Noio the residence of Mrs. Susan T. Purinton. 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 



489 




490 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

and contiuued it on her own acconnt for some time.^ After Mr. Pn- 
rinton left, his place was always filled by competent male teachers, 
among- whom were Doctors WiUiams, Tarlin, and Hall, then students 
at the ]\Iedical School, and after them a Mr. Curtis, of Topsham. 
The average number of boarders was sixteen, and of day scholars 
about twelve. Mrs. Beers, the widowed daughter of Mrs. Fields, was 
music teacher all the time. This school was considered to l)e of a 
superior character, and Mrs. Fields was held in the highest esteem by 
the entire community. - 

To this account we are enabled to add the following interesting 
reminiscence of a former pupil : — 

" For four 3ears I was a pupil of hers, with occasional vacations. 
As it was the first school I ever attended, I could not at the time com- 
pare it with others, but the more I know of other boarding-schools, 
the more clearl}' I see that she was unique, and in many respects supe- 
rior. There were no written regulations. In fine weather we were 
encouraged to study out of doors. The grounds were ample, well 
provided with arbors, shade-trees, swings, and ' teeter-boards.' 
There was an old corn-house in view^ from the school-room windows, 
which sometimes was a summer resort for a difficult French lesson. 
Five or six of the Telemaque class, each with her book and one dic- 
tionar}', would often have a fine social time while getting out the 
translation. 

" Plenty of exercise, in the open air when the weather would allow, 
and in-doors in storm}- weather, was enforced upon us. Whenever 
the evenings were cool enough to require a fire, a good dance, of at 
least an hour, was requii-ed before going to bed. 1 he school-room 
was large, with an immense fireplace opposite the windows, and in 
one corner, farthest from the fireplace, stood a large box-stove. 
When the weather was very cold, both stove and fireplace were used. 

" Mrs. Fields's seat was at the left hand of this fireplace by a large 
desk, and she used to plaj- the guitar herself, and call olf for tlie 
school-room dancing. 

" The food was plain, wholesome, and abundant. She always pre- 
sided at the table and fared exactly like her scholars. 

'• In the mornings we all met in the school-room, at half past six in 
summer and about eight in the shortest days of winter. Prayers were 
read, then came breakfast, and at eight in summer and nine in winter 
school began. 

^See " iV/.s.s Hinklep's School " 

2 The material for the foregoing is famished by Mrs Marrj Beers McLdlau, (jruiul- 
dauyhter of Mrs. Fields. 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF TOFSHAM. 491 

" English studies came first, arithmetic, grammar, and spelling. 
No one was excused from spelling. Mrs. Fields would say, ' My 
dear, if 3'ou can. spell, it takes but little of ^our time ; if 3'oa cnmot, 
3'ou ought to learn ' One of her commonest ciiticisms upon a com- 
position would be, ' Very well, my dear ! Now take it and rewrite it, 
and see in how much less space you can get every idea ' She used to 
say that diffuseness and obscurity were the great faults of modern 
literature. Writing from dictation was with her a fiivorite method of 
drill in spelling and punctuation. 

" Some young lady was alwa^-s assistant teacher for the beginners ; 
but when the assistant least expected it, Mrs. Fields herself woitld 
stap in and hear the recitations, sending the assistant to hear her own 
particular classes meanwhile. 

"At about eleven a. m., Mrs. Beers, her daughter, who was a 
music teacher, came in and attended to penmanship, setting the copies 
herself. At noon we had an intermission of two hours in summer 
and one in winter, with dinner about one o'clock. We had the range 
of the extensive grounds, provided onlj' that we did not go out of 
bounds without permission and were prompt in minding the bell. 

" After dinner was playtime until two o'clock. Then came sewing 
of various kinds, embroidery and fancy, in all its branches ; also lace 
mending and fine darning, plain and fanc}' knitting. When we were 
all fixed at our work, some one was called on to read aloud, not more 
than fifteen or twenty minutes at a time. At five, school was out. 
After supper we usually had an hour for study, and then the tables 
were cleared for a dance or some other frolic until bedtime. 

" The standard of honor was very high with Mrs. Fields, and 3'et I 
can recall no instance of punishment for dishonorable conduct, except 
her withering sarcasm and a feeling that the offender was not trusted. 
There was no standard of rank and no public examination, though 
visitors were always welcome. There was one custom conducive to 
social training. The house was open for a weekly reception most of 
the time. Thursdays Mrs. Fields and her pupils were always ' at home' 
to all personal friends of herself and pupils. The latter were taught 
to behave as the daughters of the house in entertaining guests. I do 
not remember whicli was treated as the greatest fault, — a prudish 
avoidance of a gentleman guest, or an appearance of coquetry and 
flirtation. Music, dancing, and conversation were the amusements 
of these reunions." 

For several years subsequent to 1840, private schools were kept in 
town by Miss Mary B. H. Wheeler, who had an excellent reputa- 



492 HISTORY OF BRUXSWICK, TOPSHA^r AXD HARPSWELL. 

lion nil an instructress of younir children. There are nianv middle-aged 
p-n"sons in town who received their earUest tuition from her. and many 
who remember her pleasant ways with children. 

About the year 1840. Miss Thkoposia Wilsox commenced a private 
school. She taught schools, both public and private, in Topsham, for 
about thirty-four years. She was well known in the couunnnity as a 
successful and experienced teacher as well as an accomplished and 
estimable lady. 

■In the fall of 1842. ^Messrs. J. L. Nnttinuand d. F. AVoodside both 
advertised that tliey would teach a prixate hiirh school in Topsham. 
It is presumed that one. if not both, did keep such a school that year. 

SPECIAL SCHOOLS. 

Schools for special instruction, especially in writing; and in singing, 
have been of quite frequent occurrence in Topsham. Sullicient mate- 
rial has not. however, been obtained to enable one to give any 
extended account of them. The earliest writing-school of which any 
account has been found was taught in the summer of 1824, at the 
school-house, near the Court House, by ^Vlr. J. ^Morgridge. The earliest 
singing-schools known were those taught by Andrew Deunisou, pre- 
vious to 1820, aud in 1844 by L. "\V. Additou. 



EDVCA'IIOXAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 403 



CHAPTER XVII. 

KDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF HARPSWFXL. 

TiiK earliest reference that has been found to any provision for a 
school in llarpswell is the ai)propriation of £20 for that purpose by 
the town on May 9, 17.79. Where a school was kept this year and 
l»y whom is nowhere stated. 

In May, 17G0, the town voted that eacli part of the Xeck, and also 
the Island, should draw their proportionate part of the school money 
that was collected and should hire mistresses.^ 

At the annual meeting in 1761, the town appropriated £20 for the 
support of a school and instructed the selectmen to provide one. 

In 1702 the town voted to raise £20, as usual, for a school. 

At the May meeting in 1763, the town voted not to build a school- 
house near the meeting-house. The town also voted to pa}' James 
Uooker £1 and 13.s. for going to Falmouth, " the Place being Pre- 
sented for want of a school.'"' By reference to the records of the 
Court of General Sessions for Cumberland County, October term, 
1762, it appears that though the town had been presented, it was 
excused from a fine by reason of the selectmen testifying that they had 
emi)loyed a man as teacher who had been taken sick and had conse- 
quently been unable to attend to his duty. 

In 17G.) the town voted to pay William Sylvester, Esquire, £1 and 
U.S. " for the charges that he had paid on account of there being no 
school the last summer." 

At the annual meeting in March, 1771, the town voted to build 
three school-houses. It is not known exactly where these buildings 
were located, but in all probability one of them was on Great Sebas- 
codigan Island and the other two on the Neck. 

In JMay, 17)S0, the town voted to raise £300 for the support of 
schools. The diflCerence between this sum and £20 seems extreme. 
It is undoubtedly due to the depreciation of the currency. 

'■ No reference occurs in the records of Brunswick or Tooshnm to the employment 
of uni/ mistresses in the last century. 



494 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

In June, 17<S1, £15 was voted by tho town for seliool mono}", " to 
be reckoned in silver dollars as six shillings each, or in other currenc}' 
eqnal to silver." 

P'rom this time nntil Ma}-, 1791, the town took no action in regard 
to school matters, except to pass the usual appropriation of mone}-. 
On this latter date it was voted that '• Orr's Island and Bavlie's Island 
are to have five pounds of the school mone}' for them to keep a school 
with them the present A'ear, and for no other use." The appropriation 
for schools was this j-ear £25. 

In 1797 the town voted that " the selectmen should class the town 
into school classes, and appoint a day for each class to meet and 
choose a head for their respective classes." 

In Ma}', 17'J'S, the town voted to accept the school classes or dis- 
tricts on the Island, as the selectmen had divided them. Marlborough 
Sylvester was chosen to be the head of the first district on the Neck ; 
Captain William Tarr to l)e head of the second district on the Neck ; 
Clement Orr, of the district on Orr's Island and Bailey's Island ; Sam- 
uel Snow, of the first district on Sebascodigan ; Stephen Purinton, 
of the second district on the latter island ; and Josiah Totman, of the 
third district on this island. From this it appears that the town was 
divided into six districts, of which two were on the Neck ; one included 
Orr's and Bailey's Islands ; and the remainder were on Great Sebas- 
codigan Island. 

'1 he records of the town contain nothing fuither in regard to schools 
until 1810. This year the town A'oted that school committees should 
be chosen in each district. 

On November 7, 1814, the town passed a vote unlike an}- that we 
have ever met with in the doings of an}- other town. It voted " that 
the school money raised on the first Monday of May last shall be 
appropriated towards pa}ing the expenses .the selectmen were at for 
their attendance and expenses for the militia." Inter arma leges 
silent ! 

In September, 1821, the town voted to choose a superintending 
school committee of three, and Reverend Samuel Eaton, Alcot Stover, 
Jr., and Captain Stephen Snow were elected. Agents were also 
chosen this year for the different school districts. 

In 1822 a school committee of seven members was chosen. 

At a meeting of the town in September, 1828, it was voted that the 
school committee should not be paid for their services. As there is 
no evidence of any dissatisfaction with the committee, the above vote 
probably indicates the impression that existed in the town that the 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF IIARPSWELL. 495 

honor of holding such a weight}- office ought to be considered a suf- 
ficient compensation. 

Jn 1834 a new division of the town into school districts was made. 

In 1857 the town voted to dispense with a superintending school 
committee and to choose a supervisor. Thomas U. Eaton was elected 
to this office. From this time until 18G2, inclusive, a supervisor of 
schools was chosen each year. 

In 18(J8 the town abandoned the idea of electing a supervisor, and 
Avent back to the old plan of choosing a school committee of three. 

SCHOOL-HOUSES AND TEACHERS. 

The town in 1771 voted to build three school-houses, but it is not 
known whether they were erected that year nor where the}' stood. If 
the}' were all built at that time, it is probable that two of tliem, at 
least, were built upon the Neck. If the other Avas bnilt upon Sebas- 
codigan Island, it was probably destroyed by fire, as according to very 
trustworthy traditional testimony the first school-house noAV known to 
have been built upon that island Avas not erected until about 1785. 
This school-house was first located a few rods south of the buiying- 
ground, but about 1845 it was removed to its present location, about 
two hundred rods north of Avhere it formerly stood. This house has been 
often repaired and is still quite sound, and is annually used for schools. 

In 178G, or a year or two later, the second school-house on this 
island was built on the land of Nathaniel Purinton. It was destroyed 
by fire in 1826, and the present building was erected soon after on the 
site of the former. 

No information has been obtained in regard to the erection of school- 
houses in other portions of the town, and but little can be said con- 
cerning the early teachers here. 

An Irishman by the name of Patch is said to have taught the first 
pultlic school on Great Island. He kept a school in the old school- 
house for seven or eight winters. Some of the later teachers in that 
district have been Wentworth Dresser, a Mr. Hill, T. Coten, and Mr. 
Kdgecomb, of Topsham, who is the present teacher there. 

'Ihe first teacher in the second school-house was John Sullivan, also 
an Irishman. He is said to. have been a good teacher, but addicted to 
habits of intemperance and accustomed to close his scliool for a week 
or more in order to go upon drinking " sprees." Among his succes- 
sors in that school have been Samuel Williams, Nathaniel Purinton, 
W. Dresser, Doctor SeAvard Garcelon, Jeremiah Hacker, S. Purinton, 
G. C. Smith, and the present teacher, Alvah A. Plummer. 



496 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

There arc upon Great Island six school districts, and the schools 
average from sixteen to twentj^-eight weeks each in length. From 
twenty to fort}' dollars per month and board are the wages to male 
teachers, and from two to six dollars per week and board to female 
teachers. Board is from two to four and a half dollars ]U'r week. 
The average number of scholars in each school is about twenty. 

ACADEMICAL INSTITUTIONS. 

The only school of this character in town was the IIakpswell 
Academy. Some of the prominent citizens, desirous of having better 
advantages of education offered to the children of the town than were 
afforded by the common schools, formed a corporation for the promo- 
tion of that object in the year 1859. 

The first meeting of the Ilarpswell Acadeui}- Corporation was held 
June 13, 1859, in Johnson's Hall. The Act of Incorporation was 
accepted, and a committee of three were chosen to i)repai'e a code of 
by-laws. These b^'-laws, which were accepted at the next meeting, 
provided, amongst other things, that the annual meeting should l)e held 
on the second Monday in June, that the oflicers should consist of a 
president, secretary, treasurer, and a visiting committee of three, 
together forming a Board of Trustees ; that the visiting committee 
should visit the school twice each term, and should have entire control 
of the school and building ; that the Board of rrustees should employ 
the teachers, fix the terms of admission to the school, and make all 
purchases ; and that " there shall never be a majority of the trustees 
elected from an}' one sect or denomination of Christians." 

At this meeting, Paul Randall was chosen president, Harmon Pen- 
nell, vice-president ; Robert Pennell, secretar}' ; Henry P)arnes, treas- 
urer ; and Clement Skolfield, Isaiah Snow, Stephen Pnrintou, Thomas 
Pennell, and Lemuel II. Stover, a visiting connnittee. A committee 
of three was also chosen to raise money and select a place for an acad- 
emy building. On July 2d of this year, the trustees voted to accept a lot 
of one fourth of an acre of land offered by David S. Dunning at the sum 
of twenty-fl\'e dollars, and very shortly after this a neat and substan- 
tial building was erected on that part of the Neck which is designated 
North Harpswell. The corporators, ho^vever, went in debt for the 
building, and accordingl}', at a meeting held March 1, 18G0, the 
academy was mortgaged in order to raise money to pa}' the indebted- 
ness. On April 18, 18(15, the trustees voted to raise money by 
subscription to redeem this building. 

How successful this attempt Avas, is not stated in the records. 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 497 

The first term of school in this academ_y commenced Monda}-, Sep- 
tember 5, 1859, under the instruction of H. C. White, M. D., \Nithone 
or more assistants. The rates of tuition were as follows : — 

In Priraar}' Department, per term . . $2.00 

'• Common English, " . . 3.00 

" Higher Branches, " . . 4.00 

" Drawing and Painting, " . . 1.50 to 2.00 

" Music, " . . 6.00 

For use of instrument, one dollar extra. 

The school Avas kept up a few 3-ears, but finally failed from want of 
adequate support and encouragement. The building is still standing. 

PRIVATE SCHOOLS. 

The first school-teacher upon Great Island was a man named Hob- 
b}'. He taught in private houses. Private schools were held in many 
families prior to the building of the first school-house, but there have 
been but few held in the part of the island Avhere the second school- 
house is located. Stephen Purinton, however, is known to have had 
schools for his children. The onty private teachers besides Hobby, 
who are remembered to have taught here in early times, were Messrs. 
Patch and Sullivan. 

The first teacher on Orr's Island is said to have been a man l)}- the 
name of Kinnecura, and the first one upon Merriconeag Neck is said 
to have been a Mr. Walker. Both of these teachers taught private 
schools. 

The only teacher of a private school on the Neck beside Mr. Walker, 
of wliom we have been able to learn, was Parson Eaton, who taught a 
few day-scholars in some of the higher branches. Although we have 
no positive information upon the subject, it is probable that Mr. 
Eaton's scholars were onl^' those who desired to secure a higher edu- 
cation than could at that time be obtained at the common schools, and 
the}' very likely were the children of the more wealth}- citizens. 



3J 



498 JiiSTonY OF Brunswick, topsham, and harps well. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

BOWDOIN COLLEGE AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF MAINE. 




BowDOiN College in 1821. 



In jS'ovember, 1788, petitions were sent to the Geneva! Court of 
Massachusetts from the Cumberland Association of INIinisters, as well 
as from the Cumberland Count}- Court of General vSessions, for the 
incorporation of a college in that county. No decided action, how- 
ever, was taken on these petitions until 1790, when a favorable report 
was made b}' a committee of the legislature, to which the matter had 
been referred. In March, 1791, in consequence principall}' of the 
exertions of Honorable Josiah Thatcher, a senator from Cumberland 
Count}', a bill for a college, to be called the Maine College, passed 
the Senate, but failed to pass the House. 

At the next session, in the winter of 1791-2, upon the motion of 
H. Slocum, Esquire, a member from Bristol Count}', a committee was 
raised ' ' to consider the expediency of establishing a college in the 
District of Maine." All mention of Cumberland Couuty was avoided, 



BOWDOIN COLLEGE AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF MAINE. 499 

and the motion was made by a member from another count}' in order 
that no prejudice might be excited against the measure. Governor 
Eustis was appointed chairman of tlie committee, and a bill was pre- 
pared, establishing a college which was first proposed to be called 
Winthrop College, but which was called in the Act of Incorporation 
Bowdoin College, " the name l)eing selected as one of the most hon- 
ored names that Massachusetts could boast." The bill passed the 
House at this session, but owing to a disagreement between the two 
houses in regard to the name and location of the college, the bill was 
not formall}' enacted until June 24, 1794, when it passed both houses 
and received the signature of the governor, Samuel Adams. The 
towns of Gorham, Portland, North Yarmouth, Brunswick, New 
Gloucester, Freeport, and Winthrop were pertinacious in urging their 
respective claims as being the most fitting seat of the college, and 
in some of them subscriptions were raised to secure the location. 
The town of Brunswick was at length selected as a compromise 
between the confiicting interests of the claimants, the citizens of the 
town having made what was considered at the time a valuable consid- 
eration for the preference. 

The founders of this institutioij appear to have formed adequate 
conceptions of what such a college should be. Their evident design 
was, as expressed in their own words, to found a seminary which 
should " promote virtue and piet}', and a knowledge of the languages 
and of the useful and liberal arts and sciences." 

The government of the college was, by its Act of Incorporation, 
vested in a Board of Trustees and a Board of Overseers, the former 
consisting of thirteen, and the latter of forty-five members. The 
trustees are the legislative bod}-, and the overseers possess a vetoing 
power. Five townships of land, each six miles square, of the unap- 
propriated lands in the then District of Maine, were granted for the 
" use, benefit, and purpose of supporting " the college. 

" Immediatel}' after the charter was granted, establishing an insti- 
tution which was to bear his family name, the Honorable James 
Bowdoin, of Boston, afterwards minister plenipotentiar}' at the Span- 
ish court, generously bestowed both mone}' and lands, the estimated 
value of which was $6,800. The first meeting of the Boards of the 
college was held at Portland, December, 1794. In consequence, how- 
ever, of a deficienc}' of available funds (for the best lands of the State 
having been previousl}' selected by other grantees, there was great 
difflculty in effecting a sale of the college townships, or an}- portion of 
them, without a sacrifice) , eight 3'ears passed before the college went 



500 inSTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

into operation. Indeed, notwitlistanding the original grant of tlie 
legislatnre, and the patronage of the individual already' named, noth- 
ing but great zeal and unwearied perseverance on the part of the most 
active friends of the project carried it through to its accomplishment. 
Besides two stated meetings of the Boards each 3'ear, special meetings 
were occasionalh' called : but it was no eas}' matter to sustain the 
interest of all the members in an institution which as yet existed but 
in name, and it was alwa3's difficult even to form a quorum for the 
transaction of business. Committees were repeatedly appointed b}' 
the Boards to solicit donations, but the public had not then learned to 
give, and when thousands were needed, the amount contributed was 
small, and mostl}' in books. Mutual recriminations of inefficienc}' 
and neglect passed between the two Boards, and some were almost 
ready to despair of success " 

Although but few donations were made to the college at this time, 
it is gratifj'ing to know that neither the citizens nor the Pejepscot 
proprietors were unmindful of the benefit the location of the college in 
Brunswick would be to this town. Thirt}' acres of land were given to 
the college for its location b}' Captain John Dunlap, William Stan- 
wood, and Brigadier Thompson, though the college afterwards had to 
purchase a part of it from more rightful owners. ^ 

The Pejepscot proprietors also, at a meeting held April 3, 1799, 
voted to give a deed of two hundred acres of land to the trustees, 
" for the use of the college forever." 

The following were the original trustees and overseers of the 
college : — 

Trustees. — Reverend Thomas Brown, Falmouth; Samuel Dean, 
D. D., Portland; John Frothingham, Esquire, Portland; Peverend 
Daniel Little, Wells ; Reverend Thomas Lancaster, Scarboro' ; Hon- 
orable Josiah Thatcher, Gorham ; David Mitchell, Esquire. North 
Yarmouth ; Reverend Tristram Oilman, North Yarmouth ; Reverend 
Alden Bradford, Wiscasset ; Thomas Rice, P^squire, Pownalboro' ; 
William Martin, North Yarmouth ; and the president and treasurer 
of the college. 

Overseers. — Edward Cutts, Kittery ; Thomas Cutts, Pepperel- 
boro' ; Simon Frye, Fryeburg ; David Sewall, York ; Nathaniel Wells, 
Wells; Reverend jMoses Hemmenway, D. I)., Wells; Reverend Silas 
Moody, Arundel ; Reverend John Thompson, Berwick ; Reverend 
Nathaniel AVebster, Biddeford ; Reverend Paul Coffin, Buxton ; Rev- 

^John McKeen, Reminiscences of Brunswick in 1802. 



BOWDOIN COLLEGE AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF MAINE. 501 

erend Benjamin Chadwick, Scarboro' ; Reverend Samuel Eaton, 
Harpswell ; Reverend Samuel Foxcrpft, New Gloucester ; Reverend 
Caleb Jewett ; Reverend Alfred Johnson, Freeport ; Reverend Eli- 
jah Kellogg, Portland ; Reverend Ebenezer Williams, Falmouth ; 
Reverend Charles Turner, Sandford ; Daniel Davis, Portland ; 
Samuel Freeman, Portland; Joshua Fabian, Scarboro'; William 
Gorham, Gorham ; Stephen Longfellow, Gorham ; Josejjh No^-es, Fal- 
mouth ; Isaac Parsons, New Gloucester ; Robert Southgate, Scarboro' ; 
John Wait, Portland ; Peleg Wadsworth, Thomaston ; AYilliara 
Widger}', New Gloucester; Reverend Ezekiel Emerson, Georgetown; 
Reverend Jonathan Ellis, Topsham ; Jonathan P)Owman, Pownalboro' ; 
Edmund Bridge, Augusta ; Daniel Cony, Augusta ; Henr}' Dearljorn, 
Pittstou ; Dunuiaer Sewall, Bath ; Samuel Thompson, Topsham ; John 
Dunlap, Brunswick ; Francis Winter, Bath ; Nathaniel Thwing, Wool- 
wich ; Alexander Campbell, No. 4 Washington County ; Paul Dudley 
Sargeant, Sullivan ; and the president and secretarj- of the college. 

The site for the college was selected in 170G. It is situated on a 
plateau about three quarters of a mile south of the Androscoggin 
Bridge, near the pine plains. A beautiful grove of pines forms a part 
of the college grounds, and its proximit}' suggested the motto of one 
of the literary societies of the college.^ 

It was decided at this time to erect a building as soon as practicable, 
and in 1798 one was constructed of brick lift}' feet long, forty feet 
wide, and three stories high. Owing to lack of means, however, it 
was not ready for use until the summer of 1802. In this latter year 
a wooden house was erected for the use of the president of the college. 

About this time a part of the college lands was sold, and thus 
a new and more vigorous impulse was given to the growth of the 
college. 

'• In July, 1801, the Boards proceeded to elect a president. Among 
several candidates the choice fell upon Reverend Joseph McKeen, a 
clergyman of high standing, of Beverly, Mass. The selection was 
fortunate for the institution. Possessing sound judgment and great 
sagacity, President McKeen was enabled to give a wise direction to 
measures, and to establish precedents of great importance to the 
future stabihty and prosperity of the institution. Through his instru- 
mentality the tenure of office, a point which elicited much discussion, 
was established on a proper basis. In the folloAving November, John 



^The motto of the Peucinian Society is " Piiios loquentes semper habemas" {The 
murmuring pines we always have). 



502 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Abbot, A. M., Harvard, Avas chosen Professor of Languages. The 
President and Professor of Languages were installed September, 1802. 
Great interest was felt by the friends of learning and education 
throughout the Commonwealth in this undertaking, and the ceremonies 
of the inauguration attracted to Brunswick a large assemblage, in 
which were men of the first distinction in the State. For want of a 
building suitable for the occasion, a platform with accommodations for 
spectators had been erected in the pine grove in the rear of the ground 
where the college grounds now stand. The scene in which the}' were 
participating could not but have deeply affected the principal actors. 
. On this occasion, the name of the college building, already 
erected, was proclaimed in due form, — Massachusetts Hall. 

" On the day following this interesting occasion eight students were 
examined for admission into the college, two of whom came from the 
metropolis of the Commonwealth and its neighborhood, showing the 
interest and the confidence felt there in this new child of promise. 

" The duties to which President McKeen was called were arduous 
and highly responsible. For two years he was aided onh' b}^ the 
faithful services of the Professor of Languages. The ol)stacles and 
the discouragements he was compelled to encounter in laying the 
foundation of an institution which was attracting notice and exciting 
much expectation in the community, without apparatus of any kind, 
and almost Avithout funds, situated in a part of the country- where 
superfluous wealth was not 3'et known, at a period when such an under- 
taking was a novel one, cannot now be dul}' appreciated. Before they 
were introduced to their labors, the president and professor visited 
the principal colleges of New England, that they might avail them- 
selves of the best experience of the time for the successful manage- 
ment of the college. It should be mentioned as an honorable 
testimonial to the enlarged and indepeudent views which governed the 
measures then adopted, that the requisitions for admission at once 
placed the new institution, in this respect, on a level with the oldest 
and best conducted institutions in the country', — a rank which it has 
ever maintained." 

His house not having been completed in time, the president and his 
famil}', for a while, oecuined rooms in Massachusetts Hall, the lower 
stor}' of which had been fitted up, temporarily, as a chapel and recita- 
tion-room, and the upper portion for dormitories. There was no bell 
of ail}- kind, and the pupils were summoned to prayers morning and 
evening by the thumping of the president's cane on the staircase. 



BOWnOIN COLLEGE AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF MAINE. 503 

111 addition to these daily devotional exereiges, President McKeen 
also preached on Sunday, either in the meeting-house of the First 
Parish or in the college chapel. 

In 1804, Samuel Willard was appointed a tutor, and took up his 
residence within the college. One or two resident tutors were chosen 
annually after this until 1824. 

Soon after its incorporation Mr. Bowdoin presented the college 
with £823 4s,, with a " request that the interest thereof may be 
applied to the establishment and support of a professorship of jNIath- 
ematics, and of Natural and Experimental Philosoph}', and that this 
interest be added to the principal until a professor shall be appointed." 
To fill this professorship the boards, in Ma}', 1805, elected Parker 
Cleaveland, A. M., Harvard, who was at that time a tutor at Cam- 
bridge. He was inducted into office in October. During this year 
the first chapel was erected. It was constructed of wood, witli rooms 
for the library and philosophical apparatus in the second story. It 
was not designed for a permanent building, but was, however, 
enlarged and improved in 1817, and served the purposes for Avhich it 
was built until 1845. 

In 1805 the first literar}' society was instituted. This society, the 
Peucinian, was founded by Charles Stewart Daveis, Alfred Johnson, 
Nathan Lord, Robert Means, Enos Merrill, Benjamin Randall, Joseph 
Sprague, and Henr}' Wood, members of the three highest classes of 
the college. Robert Means was the first president. At first the 
society consisted solely of members of college, but in 1814 the mem- 
bers who had graduated held a meeting and, together with those 
belonging to the college society, formed a general society, of which 
Charles Stewart Daveis was elected the first president. With varying 
periods of prosperity' and reverses, the society has continued to the 
present da}'. Its membership in 1858, the date of the last catalogue, 
was as follows : — 

Whole number of members, 1 ,023 ; initiated members, 945 ; hon- 
orary members, 78 ; members of General Societ}', 882 ; members of 
College Society, 63. 

The first Commencement of the college was celebrated in Septem- 
ber, 1806, when the first class was graduated. The following-named 
individuals composed this class : — 

Mr. Richard Cobb, who died in 1837, aged 49 ; Mr. Isaac Foster 
Coffin, who died in 1861, aged 74; John Davis, who died in 1841, 
aged 62 ; Mr. John Maurice O'Brien, who died in 1865, aged 79 ; 
Moses Quinby, S. H. S., who died in 1857, aged 71 ; Mr. George 



504 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK,. TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Thorndike, who died in 1810, aged 21, and who also received his 
degree at Harvard, in 1807; Reverend Benjamin Titeomb, who died 
in 1829, aged 42. 

At the same time the following fourteen persons, graduates of other 
colleges, received at their own solicitation honorary degrees : Eben- 
ezer H. Beckford, of Harvard ; Oliver Bray, of Yale ; Jason Cham- 
berlain, of the University of Brunswick; 'Ihomas J. Eckley, of 
Harvard; Jacob H. Elliott, of Harvard ; Abraham Eustis, of Har- 
vard ; Jacob C. Jewett, of Harvard ; Thomas M. Jones, of Harvard; 
Isaac Lincoln, of Harvard ; Samuel Orne, of Harvard and Yale ; 
Albion K. Parris, of Dartmouth ; Leverett Saltonstall, of Harvard 
and Yale ; Ichabod Tucker, of Harvard ; and Owen Warland, also of 
Harvard. 

This being the first occasion of the kind in a portion of the Com- 
monwealth then looked upon as almost a wilderness, excited much 
interest throughout Massachusetts. A large number of people attended 
from the Distiict of Maine, and many from Boston and vicinit}'. There 
was, perhaps, a larger attendance than has been usual since that time. 
This Commencement is memoralile not onl}' on account of its being 
the first one, but also on account of a storm of uncommon severity', 
which began the da}' before the one appointed for the exercises of 
graduation, and for three da^'s rfiged without abatement. The exer- 
cis2S were postponed one day, but were obliged to be held the next. 

The successful working of the college at this time is shown b}^ the 
fact that in 1807 forty-four students had been admitted to it, the 
libraiy contained between fourteen and fifteen hundred volumes, and 
a philosophical and chemical apparatus had been obtained which was 
probabl}' unsurpassed at that time by an}' in New England, except b}' 
that in Ilavvurd Universit}'. A new building, subsequently named 
Maine Hall, was commenced this 3'ear. It was of brick, one hundred 
feet long, forty Avide, and four stories high, and was intended for 
dormitories. 

In consequence of the illness of the president at this time, his 
duties were distributed among the three remaining instructors. The 
tutor, Nathan Parker, A. M., Harvard, afterwards Reverend Doctor 
Pai'ker, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, '' a most efficient and able 
officer, both of instruction and government," performed regularlj- the 
chapel duties of the president during the A^acancy in that office. 

In September, 1807, in consequence of the death of President 
McKeen, it became necessar}' to choose his successor. Some perplex- 
it}' arose in consequence of the number of applicants for the position, 



BOWDOIN COLLEGE AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF MAINE. 505 

but finally the Boards made selection of Reverend Jesse Appleton, 
A. M., Dartmouth, who was at the time settled in the ministry in 
Hampton, New Hampshire. His inauguration took place in Decem- 
ber of the same year. 

" President Appleton brought to the discharge of his duties a con- 
scientiousness which forbade him to relax any effort, and a deep sense 
of responsibilit}" both for the literary reputation and the moral and 
religious welfare of the institution. He possessed also rational views 
of collegiate discipline, great discretion, unshrinking integrity, an 
uncommon spirit of command, true love of learning, cultivated taste, 
habits of close application, and a delicacy and refinement of character 
which could not be surpassed. He had gained in a degree unusual 
for one of his age the respect of the clergy, both of Massachusetts 
and New Hampshire, as may be inferred from the fact that in 1803 he 
was one of the two most prominent candidates for the Theological 
Chair of Harvard University. The selection of such an individual for 
the presidency of the college was deemed highly auspicious. But he 
was called at the outset to encounter peculiar trials. Not to mention 
the relaxation of discipline likel}' to ensue on account of the pro- 
tracted illness of the former president, and the interval between his 
decease and the coming of a successor, it was a time when there was 
throughout the community a tendenc}' to looseness of sentiment and 
character. At no period in the histor}' of our colleges has there been 
more recklessness on the part of 3'outh. The habits of society, which 
then made the use of intoxicating liquors an essential even of common 
hospitality, exerted a most deleterious influence on all our colleges. 
. . . B3' the unwearied assiduit}-, however, of President Appleton, 
by a uniform system of discipline, great energy, and firmness tempered 
with parental solicitude for the welfare of his pupils, and the influence 
of high moral and religious principle, which pervaded in an uncommon 
degree all his intercourse with the students, the difficulties to which 
we ha-se alluded were gradually' overcome, and under his adminis- 
tration the college acquired high repute for good morals as well as 
sound scholarship." 

In the month of June, 1808, a few students associated themselves 
together for literary purposes, under the name of the " Athensean So- 
ciety of Bowdoin College." Henr}' Wood was the first president. 
This societ}' for a few years surpassed its rival the Peucinian, but 
soon languished, and in 1811 was temporarily discontinued. It was 
revived again in 1813, but was again disbanded in 181G and its librarj^ 
divided. In 1818 it was again revived, and has continued till the 



506 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

present time. In 1820 the General Society was formed, and LcA'i 
Stowell was chosen as its first president. Jn 1822 its librar}' was 
injured in the burning of Maine Hail, in which it was kept. In 
1828 this societ}' was incorporated by an Act of the legislature, 
and a new seal was adopted.^ In 1836 its librar}- was again almost 
totall}' destroyed by fire. In 1850 it received the cabinet of curi- 
osities and other property of the " Caluvian Society." Tlie mem- 
bership of this society in 1856, the date of its last catalogue, was 
as follows : Whole number of members, 885 ; initiated members, 
739 ; honorary members, 79 ; members of the General Society, 748 ; 
of the College Society, 67. Though these two literary societies still 
exist, yet neither of them, it is believed, are supported with tlie fonner 
vigor and eutliusiasm. 

In 1811 , Mr. Bowdoin, the steadfast friend of the college, died. He 
bequeathed to tliis institution his valuable private library of more than 
two thousand volumes, besides a large number of pamphlets, charts, 
maps, and several articles of philosophical apparatus, a valuable col- 
lection of minerals, comprising nearlj' five hundred distinct specimens, 
arranged b}' Haliy, nearly four hundred models in cr3-stallograph3', 
and a valuable collection of paintings and engravings which he had 
collected in Europe. The value of this legacy was certainly' not less 
than Si 5, 000. 

At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the college, on Ma}' 19, 
1812, it was voted " that in consideration of the great munificence of 
the late Honorable James Bowdoin, Esquire, toward this institution, 
and the interest talvcn by it in his lamented decease, it is expedient 
and becoming that public notice be taken of the event ; and therefore, 
voted, that the secretary' of this Board be requested to deliver, at the 
ensuing Commencement, an eulogy on his memor}." The Board of 
Overseers concurred in this request, and at the ensuing Commence- 
ment, September 2, the eulogy was delivered by Reverend Mr. Jenks, 
and was afterwards published in pamphlet form ly a vote of the Boards. 

This year Reverend William Jenks, A. M., Hansard, at that time 
settled in the ministr}' at Bath, the secretarj^ of the Board of Trustees, 
was appointed Professor of Oriental and English Languages. He com- 
menced his duties January 5, 1813. " The erudition of this gentle- 
man, and his classical taste, I'endered his services an important acqui- 
sition." His appointment was for three j'ears onl}', and he kept up 

1 On the seal loas engraven a head of Minerva, ivith the inscription : " Athencean 
Society, B. C, Cul Su. Sci. Cor." The abbreviations are for, " Bowdoin College, Cul- 
tores suos scientia coronat " (Science crowns her worshippers). 



BOWDOIN COLLEGE AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF MAINE. 507 

his connection with his societj" in Bath. Efforts were made to retain 
him as a permanent instructor, but they were unsuccessful. At this 
time the finances of the college were in a low state, almost the only 
source of income being the sale from time to time of some of its wild 
lands, which were not then of much value. 

In 1814 an Act was passed by the General Court, making an annual 
grant to the several colleges in the Commonwealth, for ten^ears. The 
portion allotted to this college was $3,000, one fourth of which was to 
be appropriated to the payment of the tuition of indigent students. 
This 3ear the "Benevolent Society of Bowdoin College" was insti- 
tuted. It was at first composed entirely of graduates and undergrad- 
uates of the college, but it afterwards admitted those not connected 
with the institution. It was incorporated and had, at one time, funds 
to the amount of seven hundred dollars. From the printed constitu- 
tion of the society the following facts are obtained : — 

The object of the societ}' was to assist " indigent young men of 
promising talents and of good moral character in procuring an educa- 
tion at this college." No person could receive pecuniar}' assistance 
unless he had been a member of college, for at least one term. Any 
one of twenty-one years of age or over could become a member by 
paying one dollar on admission and one dollar annually', or a life 
member by pa^'ing ten dollars. The society received donations of 
books, furniture, clothing, or money, and the donor could designate 
the manner in which the gift should be appropriated, " provided it be 
for an object consistent with the design of the societ}'." One half of 
the mone}' received into the treasury and not appropriated by the 
donors was reserved as a permanent fund, of which only the annual 
income could be used. 

The death of President Appleton occurred in November, LSI'), and 
in consequence thereof a special meeting of the Boards was called in 
December, to elect his successor. Their choice fell upon Eeverend 
William Allen, A. M., Harvard, of Hanover, New Hampshire, who 
had been president of Dartmouth College. In September previous, 
Samuel P. Newman, A. M., Harvard, was elected to the professor- 
ship of Latin and Greek, which had been rendered vacant by the 
resignation, in 1816, of Professor Abbot. The new professor and 
president were both inaugurated in May, 1820. 

The formation of the new State of Maine in 1820 aflfected consider- 
ably the welfare of the college. 

In the " Act of Separation," passed by the legislature of Massrch i- 
setts, June, 1819, it was provided that the grants already made to the 



508 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, T0PSIIA3I, AND HARPSWELL. 

college, which would not expire mider four years, should continue in 
full force after the District of Maine became a State, and that all the 
chartered rights of the college should be enjo^-ed without change, 
'• except by judicial process according to the principles of law. B3' 
the Constitution of Maine, on the other hand, the legislature were 
restrained from making any grant to an^- literar}' institution, unless 
they should have a certain right of control over such institution " 
The trustees and overseers of the college, therefore, deemed it wise to 
vest such right of control in the legislature of Maine, in order to be 
able to derive aid from the State, Accordingl}' an application was 
made b}' them to the legislatures of both States " for their assent to 
such modifications of the college charter as would remove any impedi- 
ment in the way of the college receiving patronage from the legislature 
of Maine." 

In response to this petition, the legislature of Massachusetts, on 
June 12 of this j'ear, passed a resolve giving their consent to the alter- 
ation of the clause in the " Act of Separation " whicli referred to this 
college, provided the legislature of Maine consented thereto, and that 
the alteration did not affect the rights or interests of the Commonwealth, 
Four days later, the legislature of Maine passed an Act, so far modi- 
fying the " Act of Separation" as that the powers and privileges of 
the president, trustees, and overseers of the college should Ije sul)ject 
to be " altered, limited, restrained, or extended. b}' the legislature of 
the State of Maine, as shall b}' the said legislature be judged necessary 
to promote the best interests of said institution," The college having 
given its assent to this Act, the legislature of Maine granted a contin- 
uance of the sum which had been given b}' Massachusetts, and which 
had been appropriated for the purpose from a tax on the banks, By 
the power given them in this Act, the legislature also, in March, 
1821, passed another Act increasing the number of trustees to twenty- 
five and of overseers to sixt}^ and the governor and council, by author- 
ity granted by the same Act, proceeded to fill by appointment the 
places which had been thus created. In this way thirt^'-three indi\ id- 
uals were introduced into the two Boards. 

The college buildings at this time were three in number, arranged to 
form the three sides of a square, but at suitable intervals from each 
other. The southern building was of wood and two stories high. The 
lower apartment contained the library, consisting at that time of aliout 
six thousand volumes. The building on the north was a large, square 
brick building, three stories high, divided into apartments for the 
philosophical apparatus, laborator}-, mineralogical cabinet, etc. The 



BOWDOIN COLLEGE AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF MAINE. 509 

eastern building was of brick, and was four stories high, and contained 
thirt3'-two rooms for students. 

In 1822 an additional building, Winthrop Hall, was erected for 
dormitories. In March of this 3'ear, Maine Hall took fire and the 
entire interior was burnt, though the walls were not materialh' injured. 
The fire was discovered at three o'clock in the afternoon, and when 
first noticed was be3'ond control. It is supposed to have caught in 
the garret, but no satisfactorj- knowledge of its origin can be given. 
The loss by this fire was considerable. The building alone cost 
$16,000. The theological librar}-, consisting of from three to four 
hundred volumes, was almost entirely consumed. Twelve of the stu- 
dents lost all their Avearing apparel, except what they had on at 
the time, together with their furniture and bedding. The private 
property thus lost was estimated at the time at not far from $1,500. 

This severe blow to the prosperity- of the college was averted In* the 
public liberality. Individual donations were extensively made, and 
contriliutions were received in a large number of the churches in Maine 
and Massachusetts, and thus the loss was full}' repaired. 

In 1824 two new professorships were created. Reverend Thomas C. 
Upham, A. M., Dartmouth, who was settled in the ministr}- in Roches- 
ter, New Hampshire, was chosen Professor of Metaphysics and Ethics ; 
and Samuel P. Newman, Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory. The}' 
were inaugurated in February of the following year. Professor New- 
man also conducted the recitations in c\\\\ polit}' and political economy, 
and Hebrew was taught b}^ Professor Upham. 

This year Alpheus S. Packard, A. M., a graduate of the college in 
the class of 1816, who had been a tutor since 1819, was chosen Pro- 
fessor of Languages and Classical Literature. 

Professor Packard was the son of Reverend Doctor Hezekiah Packard, 
and was born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, on December 23, 1798. 
His connection with the college for a period of fifty-eight years is 
evidence not only of the high esteem in which he has always been held 
by the public, as well as by his colleagues and the alumni, but is also a 
proof of the wisdom originall}' displa^'cd in his selection. Professor 
Packard, in addition to the professorship to which he was originall}' 
chosen, was appointed from 1842 to 1845 to fill the vacancy in the 
Chair of Rhetoric and Orator}^, and in 1864 was made Professor of Natu- 
ral and Revealed Religion. In addition to his college duties, he has, 
from time to time, supplied the pulpit in the churches of the neighbor- 
ing towns. In 1860 he was honored with the title of S. T. D. from 
this college. In 1828 he was elected a member of the Maine Histori- 



510 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HABPSWELL. 

cal Society, in which he has for some j'ears held and still holds the 
office of secretary. He has also for several 3'ears been one of its 
standing committee. 

In 1825, William Smyth, A. M., a graduate of this college in the 
class of 1822, who had been a tutor for two 3ears previousl}', was 
appointed Associate Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. 
In 1828 he was made a professor in full. Tliis year, 1825, a branch 
of the literar}' societj' of graduates, known as the Phi Beta Kappa, of 
which there is a branch in nearl}- all of tlie older colleges of the 
country, was organized at this college. 

In 1826 the first graduation^ of a student belonging to the colored 
race occnrred. John B. Eussworm, afterwards governor of Liberia, 
was the name of this individual. 

In 1829, Henry W. Longfellow, A. M., a graduate of the class of 
1825, was chosen to the professorship of Modern Languages, towards 
the foundation of which $1,000 had been bequeathed by Mrs. Dear- 
born, formerly the widow of Honorable James Bowdoin. Professor 
Longfellow resigned his office in 1835, having been invited to a sim- 
ilar professorship in Harvard University. AVhat is usnall}' designated 
as '' Commons Hall" was built this ^-ear. It was designed, and for 
many years was used, as a dining-room for the students. It is now 
used as a laboratory of analytical chemistr}'. 

In March, 1831, an Act was jDassed by the legislature which provided 
that no person then holding the office of president in any college in 
the State should hold said office bej'ond the da}' of the next Com- 
mencement of the college, unless he should be re-elected ; and that no 
person should be elected or re-elected to the office of president unless 
he should receive in each Board two thirds of ail the votes given on 
the question of his election ; and that any person elected to said office 
should be liable to be removed at the pleasure of the Board or Boards 
which should elect him. It was furthermore provided that the fees 
usually paid to the president for degrees should be paid into the 
treasur}-, for the use of the college, and be no longer a perquisite of 
office. "This unprecedented act of legislation excited the deep con- 
cern of all who felt an interest in the permanency and stabilitj' of our 
literary institutions. Though applicable alike to both colleges of the 
State, its immediate object and direct bearing no one has ever pre- 
tended to diso-uise." 



1 III 1858 a colored gentleman named Jacob 31. Moore icas graduated from the Medical 
School. 



BOWDOIN COLLEGE AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF MAINE. 511 

At their next meeting the trustees and overseers voted to acquiesce 
in this act of the legislature, and at once proceeded to choose a presi- 
dent, but foiled in consequence of their inability to get a two-thirds 
majority in both Boards. A committee of the two Boards was chosen 
to petition the legislature for a repeal of the provision of the Act 
requiring a two-thirds majorit}' in each Board. President Allen, how- 
ever, did not wait the result of this petition, but at once proceeded to 
test the constitutionality of this legislative enactment by a suit in the 
Circuit Court of the United States. The case was argued before 
Honorable Joseph Story, associate justice of the Supreme Court, and 
Honorable Ashur Ware, district judge. The decision of the court had 
not onlj' an important bearing upon the welfare of this college, but 
was also one which involved the chartered rights of all such institu- 
tions, and is deserving, therefore, of more particular mention in these 
pages. 

The following abstract of this decision is taken from a published 
sketch of the college by Professor Packard, from which we have 
already freely quoted : — ^ 

"•1. A college established for the promotion of learning and piet}' 
is a private and not a public corporation. In the charter of Bowdoin 
College tlie visitatorial power is intrusted to the Boards of Trustees 
and Overseers ; as soon as they accepted the charter, they acquired 
a permanent right and title in their offices, which could not be diverted 
except in the manner pointed out in the charter. The legislature was 
bound by the Act ; the}' could not resume their grant, and they could 
not touch the vested rights, privileges, or franchises of the college, 
except so far as the power was reserved by the sixteenth section of the 
Act. The language of that section is certainly ver}- broad, but it is 
not unlimited. It is there declared that the legislature ' may grant 
further powers to, or alter, limit, annul, or restrain any of the powers 
b}' this Act vested in tlie said corporation, as shall be judged necessary 
to promote the best interest of the college.'' Whatever it may do, then, 
must be done to promote the best interest of the college. It is true 
that it is constituted the sole judge of what is the best interest of the 
college ; but still it cannot do anything pointedly destructive of that 
interest. Its authority is confined to the enlarging, altering, annulling 
or restraining of the p>ov;ers of the corporation. It cannot intermeddle 
with lis property ; it cannot extinguish its corporate existence ; it can- 
not resume all its property, and annihilate all its powers and fran- 

^ For the full text of this decision see Allen v. McKeen, 1 Sumner's Report, 276. 



512 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

chises. The legislature ni«st leaA-e its vitality and property, and 
enable it still to act as a college. It cannot remove the trustees or 
overseers, though it may abridge, as well as enlarge, their powers. 

''2. Bowdoin College has never surrendered any of its rights. 
Whatever may have been the intentions of those concerned, at the 
outset, in regard to a surrender of the college to the State, there has 
been a miscarriage of the parties ; it never has been dejure under the 
control of the legislature of Maine. 

"3. But admittuig that the college, as was contemplated, did 
come under the control of the legislature of Maine, when it is stated 
in the Act moditying the college charter, that the president and trus- 
tees and overseers of Bowdoin College shall enjoy their powers and 
privileges, subject to be altered, limited, restrained, or extended by 
the legislature, no authority- is conferred upon the legislature to add 
new members to the Boards by its own nomination or by that of the 
governor and Council of the State. That would be an extension, not 
of the powers and privileges of the Boards, but of the legislative 
action over them. If the legislature could add one new member of 
its own choice or appointment, it could add any number Avhatsoever. 
It could annihilate the powers and privileges of the charter Boards 
under the pretence of alteration or extension. The legislature might 
authorize an enlargement of the Boards, but the places thus created 
must be filled b}- the Boards themselves. 

"4. The Act of the legislature, removing the presidents of Bow- 
doin and Waterville Colleges out of ollice at a certain time, is a direct 
exercise of a power which was expressly and exclusively conferred on 
the College Boards b}' the original charter, and which has never been 
taken from them. 

" 5. President Allen was in office under a lawful contract made with 
the Boards, b}' which contract he was to hold that ottice during good 
behavior. The Act of the legislature directly impairs the obligations 
of that contract. It takes away from him his tenure of otlice, arfd 
removes him froin it. Holding his office during good behavior, he 
could not be removed from it except for gross misbehavior ; and 
then only b}' the Boards, in the manner pointed out in the original 
charter. Immediately upon the decision of the court being an- 
nounced. President Allen resumed the discharge of the duties of his 
office." 

In 1835, Daniel I?. Goodwin, then a tutor in college, succeeded 
Longfellow as Professor of Modern Languages. He served in this 
capacity until 1853, when he resigned, for the purpose of accepting the 
presidency of Trinity College, Connecticut. 



BOWDOm COLLEGE AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF MAINE. 513 

President Allen resigning in 1839, Reverend Leonard Woods, of 
Bangor Theological Seminary, son of Reverend Leonard Woods, a 
well-known divine, was elected as his successor. President AVoods 
was at that time well known for his scholarly culture and attainments, 
and his reputation has steadily inareased. In 1839 he received the hon- 
orary degree of D. D. from Waterville College, and in 1846 from Har- 
vard College. In 18GG he received that of LL. D. from Bowdoin. 
He was not onl}^ an^ eminent scholar and a fine teacher, but he 
attracted students b}- his courteous demeanor and hj his lenient dis- 
position. He resigned in 18G6, after a period of service extending 
over twenty-seven 3-ears, — a much longer service than that of an}' 
previous president. 

In 1812 a professorsliii) of Political Economy was founded, and 
Alpheus S. Packard was chosen as the first professor in that branch. 
He was succeeded in 1845 by Henrj' H. Boody, then a tutor. 

On July 1 6 of this latter year, the corner-stone of King Chapel was 
laid with Masonic ceremonies. There were present the Grand Lodge 
of Maine, the Boston Encampment of Knight Templars, the I*ortland 
Encampment of Knight Templars, the Mount Vernon Chapter of Royal 
Arch Masons of Portland, the Montgomery Chapter of Bath, Ancient 
Landmark Lodge of Portland, Solar Lodge of Bath, Freeport Lodge 
of Freeport, and United Lodge of Brunswick. At the northwest 
angle of the ground there was a raised platform, upon which were the 
oflicers of the college, the Grand Lodge, and the Knight Templars. 
President Woods read the psalm '■'■ Lcjetatus sum" and made an 
address. Prayer was oifered by Reverend AVilliam T. Dwight, and 
John T. Paine, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maine, assisted 
by Honorable Robert P. Dunlap, ex-Grand Master, then laid the stone 
in due form. A silver plate provided by the college, and one provided 
by the Grand Lodge, were then deposited in the proper receptacle in 
the stone. 

In 1855 the new chapel was completed. The entire cost was 
$45,000. On June 7 it was dedicated. The services of the occasion 
consisted of a selection from the Scriptures and a prayer by Reverend 
George E. Adams, a hymn, an address b}- President Woods, a second 
hymn, a sermon b}^ Professor Hitchcock, and a concluding prayer by 
Reverend Doctor Dwight. The services were attended by the under- 
graduates, many graduates, the college boards and faculty, and many 
friends of the college, who assembled in the library, from whence they 
moved to the chapel in a procession conducted b}- Honorable Charles 
J. Oilman as marshal. 
33 



514 HISTORY OF BEUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIAFPSWELL. 

Tu 1848 a professorship of Rhetoric and Elocution was founded, that 
of Political Econonu' being merged in it, and Professor Henry H. 
Bood}' was appointed to this office. He was succeeded in 185G b}' 
Egljert C. Smyth, son of Professor William Smyth, a graduate of the 
college in 1848, and a tutor in 1849. 

A professorship of Natural and Revealed Religion was founded in 1850 
by subscriptions among the Orthodox Congregationalists, and Calvin 
E. Stowe, D. D., of the class of 1829, an eminent scholar and theolo- 
gian, was chosen to that office. He was succeeded in 1^52 b}' Roswell 
D. Hitchcock, a graduate of Amherst in 183(3, now of New York City. 
In 1856, Professor E. C. Smyth was transferred to this chair, and 
Joshua L. Chamberlain, of the class of 1852, was appointed to the 
Chair of Rhetoric and Oratory. In 1858, AVilliam Russell, a distin- 
guished elocutionist, assisted in his branch. 

Professor Goodwin resigned in 1855, and Charles Carroll Everett, 
now a professor in Harvard College, occupied the Chair of Modern 
Languages for two years, from 1855 to 1857. He was succeeded by 
Professor Chamberlain for two years, when William A. Packard, class 
of 1851, now professor at Princeton, gave the instruction for one year. 
In 18G1, Professor Chamberlain was again placed in the Chair of Mod- 
ern Languages, that of Rhetoric and Oratory Iteiug filled in 1862 b}' 
Reverend Eliphalet Whittlesey, a graduate of Yale. 

In August of this 3'ear, 1862, Professor Chamberlain resigned his 
office to go into the army for the period of the war then raging. The 
boards, however, granted him leave of absence instead of accepting 
his resignation, and Stephen J. Young, class of 1859, was made Pro- 
visional Instructor in Modern Languages, to which, on Professor Cham- 
berlain's resigning in 1865, he was elected as professor. 

Professor AV'hittlesey also went into the armj-, and the duties of his 
chair were performed by members of the faculty. At the close of the 
war Professor Whittlese}' resigned, and General Cliamberlain was 
re-elected to the Chair of Rhetoric and Orator}-, which, however, he 
again resigned in 1866, to accept the office of governor of Maine. Pie 
was followed by John S. Sewall, class of 1850, who held the chair 
until 1875, when Professor Henry L. Chapman, Bowdoin, class of 
1866, was transferred to this from the Chair of Latin. 

In 1859, Paul A. Chadbourne, a graduate of Williams, was chosen 
Professor of Chemistry and Natural History. He was succeeded in 
1863by CjTusF. Brackett, a graduate in 1859, tutor in 1863. In 1864, 
Professor Brackett was appointed Adjunct Professor of Natuial Sci- 
ence, and in 1865 to a full professorship in the Josiah Little Chair of 



BOWDOIN COLLEGE AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF MAIXE. 515 

Natural Science, to which, however, in 1868, George L. Goodale, a 
graduate of Amherst in 1860, was elected. 

In 18G2, William P. Tucker, class of 1854, tutor since 1857, was 
instructor in mathematics for one year. He had, in the mean time, as 
librarian, prepared an elaborate and valuable catalogue of the college 
library-. In 1865, Edward N. Packard, tutor since 1863, was instruc- 
tor, and in 1866 Adjunct Professor of Mathematics. The death of 
Professor Sm3-th in 1868, while intensely' engaged upon the building of 
Memorial Hall, left the Chair of Mathematics and Natural Philosoph}' 
vacant, and Charles E. Rockwood, a graduate of Yale, was chosen to 
the pla.ce. 

In 1864, Professor E. C. Smyth resigned the Chair of Natural and 
Kevealed Religion, and was succeeded by Professor Alpheus S. Pack- 
ard, who was transferred from the Chair of Ancient Languages, to 
which, in 1865, Reverend Jotham B. Sewall, class of 1848, tutor in 
1851, was chosen. In 1871, Henrj' L. Chapman was chosen Adjunct 
Professor of Latin, and in 1872 a full professor. 

In 1865 the alumni of the college voted to erect a building to be 
called Memorial Hall, in honor of the graduates and students of the 
college who had died in the civil war. A subscription was at once 
started to carry the plan into execution, and a committee was raised 
for the purpose. A sufficient amount of funds was raised to warrant 
the prosecution of the work, and the corner-stone was accordingly 
laid in 1866. The outside of the building has since been completed, 
but enough funds have not yet been secured to enable it to be finished 
inside. When more prosperous times return, there is scarcely a doubt 
but that the original intention will be carried out. 

President Woods resigning in 1866, Reverend Samuel Harris, 
S. T. D., a graduate of 1833, was elected to his place in 1867. 
He took upon himself, also, the duties of the Professor of Moral 
Philosophy and Metaph^'sics, Professor Upham being that 3-ear 
honored with the Emeritus title. 

In 1871 the eminent scholar, civilian, and general, Ex-Governor 
Chamberlain, was chosen to succeed President Harris, and at this time 
quite a reorganization of the college occurred. A scientific depart- 
ment was established and several new chairs of instruction were 
founded. George L. Vose, C. E., was elected Professor of Civil P^n- 
gineering ; Edward S. Morse, Ph. D., of Salem, Professor of Compar- 
ative Anatomy and Zoology ; Mr. James B. Tajdor, Provisional Pro- 
fessor of Elocution and Oratory ; the Chair of Latin was separated 
from that of Greek ; and United States officers were brought here by 



516 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AXV HARP SWELL. 

orders of the government, — Brevet ]\Iajor J. P, Sanger, Fourth 
United States Artillery, as Professor of Militarj' Science, and John N, 
McClintock, class of 1867, of the United States Coast Survey, as 
instructor in Topographical ^Engineering. 

In 1872, Professor Brackett was made Professor of Chemistry and 
Physics, and Robert L. Packard, class of 18G8, Assistant Professor of 
Applied Chemistr}', for one j'ear. In 1873, however, Professoi'S 
Brackett and Goodale resigned, and Heniy Carmichael, a graduate of 
Amherst and of Gottingen, German}', was elected Professor of Chem- 
istry and Physics, and Doctor Charles A. White, of Iowa, Josiah Lit- 
tle Professor of Natural Science. In the winter of the same year, 
Professor Rockwood resigned, and Charles H. Smith, a graduate of 
Yale, was Professor of Mathematics. Doctor White resigned in 
1875, and the instruction has since been given by different persons. 
Professor A. S. Packard, Jr., class of 1861, giving an annual course 
of lectures on entomology ; Mr. George L. Chandler, class of 1868, 
giving instruction in natural history in 1875-6; and Mr. Leslie A. 
Lee, a graduate of St. Lawrence University (Canton, N. Y.), class of 
1872, in 1876-7. 

In connection with the new plan, arrangements were also made for 
other instruction in various branches, should such be needed. Pro- 
fessor Paul A. Chadbourne was engaged to give the instruction in 
mental philosoph}'. Exercise in the gymnasium was made regular 
and obligator}', and militar}' science and tactics were required to a 
certain extent, of all not specially excused. Professor Chadbourne 
was succeeded in 1873 ly Reverend E. C. Cummings, and by Presi- 
dent Mark Hopkins in 1874. This year, however, the Edward Little 
Chair of Mental and Moral Philosophy was founded, and President 
Chamberlain was chosen as professor. 

In 1875, Major Sanger's detail expired, and Brevet Captain Louis V. 
Caziaro, First United States Artillery, was appointed in his place as 
Professor of Militar}^ Science and Tactics. Mr. Charles H. Moore 
has been instructor in Latin since Professor Chapman's resignation, 
except one 3'ear, when Professor A. H. Davis held the chair pro- 
visionally. 

Professor Young, having accepted the office of treasurer, relin- 
quished the duties of his chair, and they were performed for one year 
by Instructor Moore, and since then by Charles E. Springer, class of 
1874. 

In 1873 the old Commons Hall was remodelled into a laboratory of 
ivnalytical chemistry, and Mr. F. C. Robinson was chosen instructor 



BOWDOIN COLLEGE AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF MAINE. 517 

in that department of chemistr}'. The same year the lower floor of 
Memorial Hall was fitted up as a gymnasinm. Honorable Peleg W. 
Chandler, of Boston, also, this .year, remodelled old Massachusetts 
Hal} into a beautiful room, called the Cleaveland Cabinet, in memory 
of (the late Professor Parker Cleaveland. 

A picture gallerj' has also been finished in the chapel, over the 
librar}-. Two fine pictures have been added to the panels of the 
chapel, one given b}" IMrs. AVilliara S. Periy, in memor}' of her 
husband, the suT)ject being "The Transfiguration"; the other, 
"Moses giving the Law," which is the beautiful memento left bv the 
class of 1877. The last makes the seventh of the pictures which 
have been, from time to time, added to the chapel panels. 

Since 1872 over $25,000 have been given the college as scholarships 
to aid deserving students, and $100,000 towards a general endow- 
ment of the college. 

Measures have been taken to endow a " Longfellow Professorship 
of Modern Languages," and a " Cleaveland Professorship of Chemis- 
try and Mineralogy." Etforts ai'e also being made to add the 
" Uphara Professorship of Mental Philosophy." 

Manj' valuable gifts have been made the college in the way of books 
and natural-histor}- collections. Especialh' notable are the collection 
of Mrs. Frederick Allen, of Gardiner, comprising more tlian one 
thousand specimens, including man}- from Mount ^Etna. presented by 
her daughtei", Mrs. Pulton, of Boston ; the Cushmau collection of birds 
of Maine ; and the Blake herbarium. 

The whole number of graduates from the college up to 1876 is one 
thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven. The number of students 
at present is about one hundred and thirty-seven, and of officers of 
instruction, fifteen. 

The number of volumes in the college library is 17,500; in the 
medical librar3-, 4,000 ; in the libraries of the Athensean and Peucin- 
ian Societies, 13,100 ; and in the Historical Societ3-'s library, which is 
placed in a room of the college chapel, 3,000 : making a total of books 
accessible to the student of 37, GOO volumes. Large additions have 
also been made to the chemical and physical apparatus. 

The public buildings of the college are at present : — 

Massachusetts Hall, containing the Cleaveland Cabinet, lecture- 
room, and treasurer's office. 

WiNTHKOP Hall, containing, on the lower floor, the engineering- 
rooms and recitation-rooms, the upper floors being used as dormitories. 

Maine Hall, having on the lower floors the Athena;an and Pen- 



518 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

ciniaii vSocieties' libraries and recitation-rooms ; and on the upper 
floor, dormitories. 

Appi>eton Hall, containing dormitories. 

King Chapel, containing the picture galler}-, library-rooms, and 
Historical Society's rooms. ) 

Adams Hall, containing the lecture-rooms of chemistry and phys- 
ics, and the rooms of the Medical School. 

Analytical Laboratory and Memorial Hall, containing gymna- 
sium. These buildings, with the exception of Adams Hall and the 
Analytical Laboratory, will, when the original plan is completed, form 
a quadrangle, the side towards the public road being open. 

The present total estimated value of the college property, real 
estate and permanent material, is $375,000 ; the productive funds are 
$244,000 ; the total annual income is $30,000. 

Besides the three literary societies of the college, already men- 
tioned, it is proper to add that there have been, from time to time, 
several secret associations formed, which are presumably for literar}' 
purposes. The principal ones, if not all, are designated as the Alpha 
Delta Phi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Chi* Psi, Psi Upsilon, and Theta 
Delta Chi. The histor}- of these societies is, of course, known onl}' 
to the initiated. 

THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF MAINE. 

In 1820 an Act was passed by the legislature, establishing a 
Medical School, to be connected with Bowdoin College, and also 
making an annual grant of $1,000, duiing the pleasure of the legisla- 
ture, for the promotion of the objects designed in its establishment. 
Doctor Nathan Smith, a member of several societies, both in this 
country and in Europe, founder of the Medical School of New 
Hampshire, and an eminent physician and surgeon, was appointed 
Professor of the Theory and l^ractice of Medicine. He also assumed 
the duties of instructor in anatomy and surger}'. He was assisted in 
the latter branches by Doctor John D. Wells, who had just taken his 
medical degree at Cambridge. At the close of the first course of lec- 
tures. Doctor Wells was chosen to fill the Chair of Anatomy, and 
immediately sailed for Europe, where he spent nearly two years, pre- 
paring himself for the discharge of the duties of his office. After a 
short but brilliant career as a lecturer at this college, at the Berkshire 
Medical Institution, and at Baltimore, he died, and was succeeded in 
1831 by Doctor Reuben D. Mussey. 

In 1825 the Chair of Obstetrics was founded, and Doctor James 



BOWDOIN COLLEGE AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF MAINE. 519 

McKeen was appoiuted professor. Doctor McKeen prepared him- 
self for the duties of his office by a preliminary study in the lying- 
in hospitals of Europe, and served acceptably until 1839, when he 
resigned, and was succeeded \)y Ebenezer AYells, M. D., as lecturer. 

In 1846 the Chair of Materia Medica and Therapeutics was founded, 
and Doctor Charles A. Lee was chosen as lecturer, and in 1854 as 
professor. He resigned in 1859, and was succeeded b}' Doctor Israel 
T. Dana as lecturer and afterwards as professor in full. Doctor 
Thorndike resigned in 18G1, and was succeeded by Doctor William C. 
Robinson. 

In 1849 the Chair of Medical Jurisprudence was founded, and Hon- 
orable John S. Tenney was chosen as lecturer. 

In 1857 the Chair of Anatomy was separated from that of Surgery 
and joined to that of Ph^'siology, and Doctor David S. Conant was 
elected, at first as lecturer, and afterwards as professor. He was 
succeeded in 1863 by Doctor Corydon L. Ford. Edmund R. Peaslee, 
M. D., who had been chosen as Lecturer on Anatomy and Surgery in 
1843, and as a professor in these branches in 1845, was in 1857 
appointed Professor of Surger}'. 

From 1820 until his death in 1858, Professor Parker Cleaveland 
gave an annual course of lectures on chemistrj- to the medical 
students. 

Under the influence and by the exertions of these gentlemen and 
their successors, this Medical School has enjoyed a good degree of 
prosperity. At first, and for man}- ^ears, the lectures were given in 
the upper room of Massachusetts Hall, but in 1861 the Adams Hall 
was built expressly for the accommodation of this school. 

The present accommodations are ample, and the school has a valu- 
able cabin3t and an excellent library of choice works and expensive 
plates. Clinical instruction is given several times a week, and students 
can have the privilege of occasional visits to the hospitals of Portland 
at but slight expense. 

This school, during the fift3--seven years of its existence, has grad- 
uated one thousand one hundred and seventj'-four pupils, of whom 
seventy have been alumni of Bowdoin College. The last class num- 
bered ninety members, and the present number of instructors is ten. 
The following is a list of the professors and lecturers not already 
mentioned : — 

Of Chemistry, Professors Paul A. Chadbourne, Cyrus F. Brackett, 
and Henry Carmichael ; of Theory and Practice, Henry II. Childs, 
Daniel Oliver, Professor John De La Mater, Professor William 



520 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

Sweetzer, AVilliam Peny, James McKeen, Israel T, Dana, Fro- 
fessor Aloiizo B. Palmer, and Alfred Mitchell, Adjunct Professor ; 
of Anatomy and Surgery, Jedediah Cobb, and Joseph Rob}' ; of 
Anatomy and Ph3'siology, Professors Thomas T. Sabine and Thomas 
Dwight ; of Anatom}', Professors Thomas Dwight and Stephen H. 
Weeks ; of Ph^-siology, Professors Robert Amory and Bmt G. Wilder ; 
of Surgery, Professors Timothy Childs, David S. Conant. and William 
W. Green ; Lecturers, Alphens B. Crosby and Thomas T. Sabine ; of 
Obstetrics, Benjamin F. Barker, Professor Amos Nourse, Theodore 
H. Jewett, Professors William C. Robinson, Edward W. Jenks, and 
Alfred Mitchell ; of Materia Medica and Therapeutics, Professors 
Dana, AVilliam C. Uobinson, George L. Goodale, and Frederic H. 
Gerrish ; of Medical Jurisprudence, C^rns F. Brackett, John Apple- 
ton, and Professor Charles W. Goddard. 

This school has exerted a very marked influence on the interests of 
medical science, and also upon the general interests of education in 
the State, and has annually sent forth a corps of ph3sieians qualified 
not onl}' to cope vigorousl}' with the unseen, though certain foe of 
the human race, but who have also shown themselves, hitherto, alive 
to the material welfare and best interests of the State, and have thus 
far more than repaid the amount expended upon the school by the 
State. 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 521 



CHAPTER XIX. 

PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 

PUBLIC LANDS, 

In addition to the ministerial lot, lot for the first settled minister, 
and the school lot which were gi-auted to Brunswick and Topsham, 
there was another tract of land given to the town of Brunswick to be 
owned in common b}' the inhabitants, and sundr}' pieces of marsh 
land, which did not come into the lots as laid out b}' the proprietors 
in the several towns, were allowed to be used in common b}' the set- 
tlers upon whose lands they bordered. 

Brunswick Town Commons. — ■' The Town Commons of Brunswick 
originated in a vote of the proprietors. May 8, 1719, " That one 
Thousand Acres of Land with in the Township of Brunswick be Laid 
out ; To L^ in General & perpetual comonage to y* s*^ Town of 
Brunswick Forever. "^ 

Nothing further was done until Februarj' 3, 1742, when the pro- 
prietors passed a vote that " the one thousand Acres as laid down in 
the Plan of the Township of Brunswick which was granted by the 
Proprietors of Brunswick the eighth day of Ma}' 1719 be reserved for 
a General and perpetual Commonage to the Town of Brunswick for- 
ever." 2 

No further action was taken until June 10, 1771, when, at a meet- 
ing of the proprietors, it was voted that their agent be authorized to 
execute a deed of the 1 ,000 acres given for a Town Commons to an^'^ 
committee appointed b}' the town to receive it.^ 

The next year the town at its annual meeting voted to choose a 
committee " to lay out that 1,000 acres of land that was granted to 
this town by the Proprietors for a town commonage." It will be 
noticed that this committee was not chosen to receive a deed of the 
land. 

In 1773 the town voted to accept the gift of the Commons and of 

^Brunswick Records in Pejepscot Collection. ^Ibid. ^Pcjepscot Records. 



522 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

the roads, granted the town b}' the proprietors, with the proviso that 
the town should not be obliged to clear an}' roads which were not 
needed. 

In 1774 the selectmen were instructed to la}' out the 1,000 acres 
of Commons and have it marked and a plan made in order that the 
town might get a deed of it. 

At a town meeting, held May 12, 1778, it was voted to have the 
Commons laid out, but the clause in the warrant relative to applying 
to the proprietors for a deed was laid on the table till the next meet- 
ing. At a meeting, held on the tenth of June, of this 3'ear, it was 
voted "to layout the Commons agreeable to the minutes that were 
read, viz: — Said Commons to be bounded on the head of Middle 
Ba}' lots and to extend northerly between and adjoyning upon the lots 
that fronts upon the twelve rod road and the lots that fronts upon 
Merioonege Marshes and upon the lots that fronts upon New Mead- 
ows River until 1000 acres be completed." Captain James Thomp- 
son protested against this vote. Captain "William Stanwood, Jr., Mr. 
Andrew Dunning, and Captain John Simmons were chosen a commit- 
tee to superintend the laying out of the Commons, and Stephen Getchell 
was chosen as the surve^-or. At a meeting, held December 25, it 
was voted to accept the survc}' of the Commons as laid out b}' the 
above-named committee. It was also voted "■ ncjt to accept of a 
deed of said Commons from Doctor No3es by Esquire Hinklej^'s 
survey " ; and Thomas Skolfield, Deacon Samuel Stanwood, and 
Andrew Dunning were chosen a committee to correspond with Doctor 
Belcher No\'es, proprietors' clerk, concerning the Commons. 

At the annual meeting in 1779 the selectmen were directed to pro- 
cure a deed of the Commons as soon as possible, and the committee 
that was chosen to la}' out the Commons were directed to complete 
their work as soon as possible. The selectmen were also instructed 
to take the most effectual way to secure for the benefit of the town the 
lumber growth on the Commons. In response to the notification of 
the selectmen. Belcher Noyes, the proprietors' agent, executed the 
following deed : — 

"To ALL Persons to whom these Presents shall come Belcher Noyes 
OF Boston in the county of Suffolk & Commonwealth of the 
Massachusetts Esq 

"Sends Greeting. 

" Whereas in the first Settlement of the Town of Bi*unswick there 
was allowed & granted by the Original Proprietors of said Township 
One thousand Acres of Land within the said Township to be laid out, 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, B JUDGES, ETC. 523 

to laj' in general and perpetual Commonage : And whereas the said 
Proprietors at their meeting d\x\y warned according to law held b}' 
Adjournment at Boston June 10* 1771 Voted, That Belcher Noyes 
Esq be and hereb}' is impowered to execute a Deed of said one 
thousand acres as laid down in the plan of said Township to the 
Selectmen of said Town of Brunswick in trust for that purpose. 

"Now know 3-ee, That I the said Belcher Noyes, in pursuance of 
said vote impowering me hereunto, and to the intent that the Town of 
Brunswick may hold & enjoy the Benefitt of said Grant of one thou- 
sand acres of Land for the purpose above mentioned, for & in consid- 
eration of Twenty shillings hy me received of Nathaniel Larrabee, 
Andrew Duning, & WiUiam Standwood, the present Selectmen of the 
Town of Brunswick in the County of Cumberland & said Common- 
wealth Do by these presents Grant convey & confirm unto the said 
Nathaniel Larrabee, Andrew Duning, & William Standwood, the 
Selectmen of said Town of Brunswick in Tnist to and for the use & 
improvement of the Inhabitants of said Town forever One thousand 
acres of Land within the said Town of Brunswick as described & laid 
down in the Plan of said Township taken hj James Scales Surveyor, 
as follows viz' : 

" Extending from the rear Line of the Lotts at Maquoit «& Middle 
Bay, on a course northeast till you come to the County road, leading 
to New Meadows, including all the Land bounding Northwest on the 
rear of the Lotts on Maquoit road & Southeast on the rear of the 
Lotts at New Meadows up to said county road, to bound northeast on 
said county road according to the course thereof & southwest on the 
rear line of the Lotts at Maquoit &, Middle Ba^'. And in (;ase there 
should be more than one thousand acres of Land contained in said 
Bounds above described, the overplus be it more or less is hereby 
appropriated & granted for the support of the Gospel in the said 
Town of Brunswick forever : that is to sa}'. To the use & improve- 
ment of the Reverend Mr. John Miller the present Pastor of the 
Church in said Town of Brunswick & his successors in said office 
forever. 

" To Have and to Hold the said one thousand acres of Land & no 
more as above described, unto them the said Nathaniel Larrabee, 
Andrew Duning, & WilHam Standwood, the present Selectmen of the 
Town of Brunswick & their Successors in said office forever to and 
for the use and improvement of the Inhabitants of said Town of 
Brunswick forever and no otherwise. And the overplus Quantity 
contained in said Bounds more than said one thousand acres to be 



524 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

and remain for the support of the gospel ministry in said town as 
above mentioned forever : And it is the true intent and meaning of 
these presents : That the said Inhabitants of said Town of Brunswick 
shall hold the said one thousand acres of Land above mentioned free 
and clear of and from any claim or Demand of the said Pi-oprietors 
of said Town of Brunswick their respective Heirs and assigns forever 
in as fall and ample a manner as the same is derived to them by any 
ways or means whatsoever. And in Testimon}' that this Deed shall 
be held good & valid b^^ them the said Proprietors of said Town of 
Brunswick at all times hereafter, I the said Belcher Noyes by virtue 
of the said vote impowering me hereunto do sett my hand & seal to 
this Instrument as their Act and Deed this fourth da}' of July, in the 
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred eighty one. 

" Belcher Noyes 

and a seal 
" Signed Sealed & Delivered 
iu presence of us, 
Jamks Chack 
Thomas Pennell 

" Suffolk ss Xov 20 1783 
"Then the above named Belcher Noyes Esq. acknowledged this 
Instrument Executed by him to be his Act & Deed 

" Before me, 

" Joseph Greenleaf 

Justice Peace.'''' 

After receiving this deed, the town appears to have taken no further 
measures in regard to the land until 1808. At the animal meeting of 
that year, however, a committee was appointed " to apph' to tlie Grant- 
ors of the Town Commons, Ministry and School lots, and INIarsh," for 
permission to sell and dispose of tliem, the interest arising from the 
fund thus obtained to be appropriated for the use of the schools or in 
such other way as the town might think proper. A Committee was 
also chosen to ascertain the limits of the Commons, in order to ascer- 
tain if there was an}' surplus land for the First Parish. No repl}' of 
the proprietors to the request for permission to sell the lands referred 
to above has been found, but it is evident that no permission was given 
so far as the sale of the Town Commons was concerned. 

In 1811, Isaac Gates, Esquire, and Peter O. Alden, Esquire, were 
chosen agents of the town to petition the legislature for authoritj' to 
divide, set off, and convey to the president and trustees of Bowdoin 
College the two hundred acres of the Commons, which by vote of the 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 525 

town, May 2, 1791, afterwards confirmed by a vote of the proprietors, 
was granted to the before mentioned oflicers of the college. 

On July 4, 1834. the committee chosen by the town at the annual 
meeting in Ma}', to examine into the bounds of the Town Commons, 
reported substantially as follows, after recapitulating the foregoing 
votes of the town and of the proprietors. 

They state that the land was not measured until February, 1741, 
when Scales's plan of the town was made, at which time the Commons 
were located. They say that this plan had governed the proprietors 
in making all their deeds and grants, and that a copy of this plan was 
the only one ever recognized by the town. At or soon after the time 
the town received the deed of the land, several surveys were made of 
the Commons, one of which was made by Stephen Getchell for the 
town. The proprietors employed Aaron Ilinkley and John Merrill to 
surve}' the Commons. These two survey's were made from the same 
description, but differed from each other b}- the amount of four hun- 
dred and ninety-uine acres. As the town and proprietors could not 
agree as to the contents of what w\as included within the given boun- 
daries of the Commons, and as the proprietors were unwilling, in con- 
sequence of a disagreement with the town in regard to the taxation of 
their lands, to deed any more than the 1,000 acres which they had pre- 
viously granted, they agreed, in order to settle the controversy, upon 
the boundaries as settled in the deed, but with tlie reservation that any 
surplus that there might be should " go to the support of the gospel in 
said town of Brunswick forever." 

The Commons remained without an}' authorized survc}' on the part 
of the town until 1811, when the legislature of Massachusetts empow- 
ered Jacob Abbot and John Perr}', Jr., to set off to Bowdoin College 
its two hundred acres. The}' performed their duty, and monuments 
were placed around the two hundred acres. In 1816 a committee of 
the First Parish applied to the town to join them in setting off' the 
overplus of the Town Commons. This was done October 28 of that 
year. The object of the parish was effected, and they sold the over- 
plus to Mr. John Given, and their boundaries were still kept up, 
though at that time the Commons w^ere without permanent boundaries. 
The committee proceed to state that they had followed the courses of 
the previous committees, and had measured their distances, but found 
them leading far from the truth, no two reputed monuments or marks 
of trees agreeing with each other. They decided not to make a new 
survey on account of the expense and owing to the fact that the old 
First Parish would have reaped the benefits at the town's expense. 



526 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

They recommended that l^efore having the Commons snrveyed, the 
town should procure a quitclaim deed from the First Parish of any 
further right than the\' had already received. Also, that when a sur- 
vej' was made, permanent monuments should be placed at all the cor- 
ners, and a plan of the survey be reported to the town. This report 
of the committee was accepted b}' the town. 

A committee was chosen hy the town this year to examine the Com- 
mons in regard to the practicability' and advisability of having the 
town farm there. This committee reported in August of that year, 
and the town ordered the report to be printed, and instructed the 
selectmen to have the Commons surveyed. The selectmen were also 
directed to petition the legislature for permission to use the Commons 
for agricultural purposes, or to dispose of it, should the town ever so 
direct. The prayer of this petition was not granted. They were 
directed, moreover, to " procure a release of the Town Commons, to 
sell if the town think best at a future time, from the Pejepscot Propri- 
etors." The town also instructed the selectmen to demand a rent 
from all persons who had improved an}' part of the Commons, and to 
cause the removal of all who did not pay the rent. 

At the annual meeting of the town in 1857, Abner B. Thompson, 
John C. Humphreys, William G. Barrows, Samuel R. Jackson, 
Richard Greenleaf, and John McKeen were appointed a committee to 
investigate all matters relating to the Town Commons, ascertain what 
title the town had to the same, and the boundaries thereof, what 
encroachments had been made thereon, and all other facts relating to 
the subject, and were instructed to make a report at some future meet- 
ing of the town. 

It was also voted at this meeting to petition the legislature to give 
the town a more full and absolute control of the use and disposal of 
the Commons, and enable them to receive more benefit from this grant 
from the proprietors than they could do with the land as it had been. 
This petition met with the same fate as the earlier one of similar 
tenor. 

The committee to examine into the condition of the Commons 
reported in 1S58. In their report they say that the Commons had 
been for more than a hundred years a fruitful source of perplexity, 
trouble, and expense to the town. Though designed for the benefit 
of the whole, a few had taken the lion's part, stripped it of its wood 
and timber, and used it otherwise as would best subserve their pur- 
poses. The expenses of looking after it had probably been thousands 
of dollars, and all that had been done resulted in nothing. Depre- 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 121 

dations had continued from j-ear to year, and continual complaints would 
be made until some disposition was made which would more effectually 
secure to the town the enjoyment of it. Until this was done it would 
continue to be a source of expense, instead of income, to the town. 

The committee say that in their preliminar}^ examination for the 
boundaries of the Commons, it was found difficult to find man}' of its 
monuments ; many of them had been removed, and the purported 
boundaries, as given by those living in the proximit}- of the Commons, 
failed to give the proper number by nearlv or more than one hundred 
acres. It was found necessary to search for such surveys as had been 
formerly made. After much trouble and investigation they had 
accepted the surve}' of Daniel Given, as settled and agreed to by the 
First Parish and town, in 1816, and the}' therefore presented the sur- 
vey of Charles J. Noyes, which they had unanimously agreed to adopt 
as part of their report, and the}' recommended that the town should 
accept the Given survey as the correct survey of the Commons. 

The committee give an account of all the transactions of the town 
in regard to the Commons, and in relation to the deed they remark, 
"A conveyance in terms so ample would seem impossible to be con- 
strued, except as giving the town the fullest scope and authority in 
determining the manner in which the * use and improvements ' for the 
common benefit should be made." They state that the surplus for the 
" support of the gospel ministry" amounted to about one hundred and 
ninety-seven acres. They submitted their report without any further 
recommendation than what has been given. The town accepted the 
report, and voted also that their agent be empowered and directed 
to enter into references with the parties whose lots abutted on the Com- 
mons, and in case any of these parties declined to refer the matter, 
the agent was instructed to institute legal proceedings to maintain and 
protect the rights of the town. It was also voted that when the lines 
were authoritatively ascertained, the selectmen should cause perma- 
nent stone monuments to be erected, to mark clearly the boundaries 
of the Commons. In accordance with this vote a few monuments were 
erected, but the Commons remain now, as they always have been, 
unmarked by any clearly defined bounds. Whether encroachments 
and depredations upon them have been stayed is not known. If 
proper measures are taken to prevent further encroachments upon it, 
the time is certain to come when the whole tract will be of great value 
and utility as a public park. ^ 

'Persons interested in this matter of the Town Commons will find the Surveyor's 
Report on pages 39 and 40 of Volume 5 of Town Records. 



528 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



EOADS. 

It is difficult, if not impossible, to locate with certaintj' mai\y of 
the roads which were constructed in the last century. With a few 
exceptions tlie records are extremel}' indefinite upon this point. The 
line of a road was generally indicated by notched trees, piles of stones, 
stakes driven into the ground, and similar landmarks, which have 
long since passed away. 

With the assistance of Mr. Charles J. Noj-es, C, E., — than whom 
there is no better authoritv, — we are enabled to give the following 
account of the more important roads and streets, and we believe that 
this account is as correct as it is possible at this late day to make it. 

The first regular road was constructed in 1717, b}' order of the pro- 
prietors, who voted, June 3, to have a twelve-rod road laid out from 
the " southerly- basfion of Fort George in a straight line to Maquoit," 
and to have a fence erected from the southerly' bastion of the fort over 
to a small house occupied by WN'mond Bradbury, which stood where 
the cottage now is, at the top of the hill leading to the bridge. This 
was determined to be tlie end of the Twelve-Rod road, now Maine 
Street. 1 

At the same time a road was laid out from the Fort to the Landing- 
Place, and from the Fort to the Indian Carrying-Place. This road 
corresponded Avith what are now Mill, Mason, and Water Streets. 
The road was originally laid out in a straight line, east and west, and 
crossed the cove opposite to the end of Mill Street,- but it could not 
have been travelled so on account of the steep declivity on the eastern 
side of the cove, and the travelled road was, doubtless, from the ver}' 
first, substantiall}- the same as at present. 

A four-rod road was also, in 1717, laid out to run east and west on 
the south side of the tenth lot, to extend the length of the lot.^ This 
was what is now known as McKeen Street, on the west side of Maine 
Street, and it tlien continued directl}' across what is now the college 
grounds in a straight line to the river. Traces of that portion of the 
road are still to be found. At some time, date unkuown, the road 
across the college grouuds was closed up, and what is kuown as Pine 
Street, from the Village Cemetery to Varney's Cemetery, was opened 
in its place. 

In 1717 the proprietors made an agreement with Lieutenant Joseph 



' Pcjepscot Records, and Drimsioick Rtcords in Pejepscot Collection. 
^Map No, 19 in P^epscot Collection. 8 p^epscot Records. 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 52iJ 

Heath for him " to cut a Road or AA^ay through the Woods at least 
Ten feet broad, clear it, bridge it, & make it passable for Men & Cat- 
tle from Fort George the Upperwa}' to R jails River being judged 
about Twent}' miles in Length [provided the Men at Ryalls River will 
engage at their charge to cut & clear a Road from thence to Presump- 
scot River] for which when finished we Avill allow a^ Heath Fourty 
pounds." ^ According to McKeen,^ this road began at the twelve-rod 
road, about where General Joshua L. Chamberlain now resides, passed 
along the high land, westerly, to avoid the swamp, then turned a little 
towards the river and folloAved nearly the line of the present Freeport 
road, but more circuitous!}-, passing over the hill where is now the 
" deep cut " of the railroad, thence by Oak Hill to Freeport. 

SubsequentU-, probably- not far from 1770, the portion of the road 
from General Chamberlain's towards' the river was discontinued, and 
the travel came in by what is now Mill Street. In Given's map of 
Brunswick (1795), tliis was the onl}- road to Yarmouth. The route 
was about as follows, using present localities as a guide. It went 
along Mill Street to a short distance above the upper railroad bridge, 
thence along the shore and back of Jackson's burying-ground (where 
the road is still to be seen), thence westerly, passing along in front of 
Samuel Blaisdell's house, and so on to the deep cut and thence in 
nearly a straight course to Walter Merryman's, then easterly over the 
hill, coming out by James Littlefield's, and then about as now trav- 
elled to Lewis Morse's just in front of his house, and then about as 
now travelled to Freeport. 

In 1739, at the first meeting of the town in its corporate capacity, 
it was "' voted that the roads should lay as they w^ere laid out by John 
Gatchell, James Thompson, and Benjamin Parker." ^ When th( 
roads were laid out by them is not stated, but it could not have been 
man}' years previously. The roads enumerated were : — 

First. — A road from New Meadows to the twelve-rod road. This 
road began at what is now known as Howard's Point (south of the 
present residence of Bartlett Adams), passed around the head of 
Clutf's Ba}', and then ran a north-northwest course to Cook's Corner, 
from whence it ran across the plains in an indirect line to the Twelve- 
Rod road, which it entered near the present meeting-house of the First 
Parish. "* From this road were two branches, one leading to the Twelve- 
Rod road a short distance south of the colleges, opposite the Samuel 



Pejepscot Records. 2 Pejepscot Papers ; also Map No. 21, Pejepscot Collection. 

8 Town Records, 1, p. 6. *Map No. 24, Pejepscot Collection. 
34 



530 mbTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Berry estate, aucl the other entering the Twelve-Rod road near the old 
First Parish Meeting-House. Both these branches are in existence, 
but untravelled. 

Second. — A road from Stevens's Carrying-Place to Coombs's (now 
Howard's) Point. Tliis was substantialh* the same as the road which 
now runs from Bartlett Adams's, up the river, })assing Chapin Wes- 
ton's, and so on to the head of New Meadows Piver. 

Third. — A road leading from the Gurnet northerly-, in about a 
straight line, till it intercepted the road leading from New Meadows 
to the Twelve-Rod road. 

Foitrth. — A road leading from the old west meeting-house to Mid- 
dle Bay. It ran about the same courses as the present road, but 
entered the Twelve-Rod road nearer the meeting-house. 

Fifth. — What is now known as the old Harpswell road, from the 
Twelve-Rod road below the old west meeting-house to Harpswell Neck. 

These roads were not formall}' accepted by the town and their 
courses recorded until several years later. 

The town was occasionally "presented" for bad roads. At the 
January- session of the Court of General Sessions in 1739, " Benjamin 
Larrabee, Esquire, one of the selectmen of the toAvn of Brunswick, 
appeared to answer the presentment exhibited against the said town 
for deficienc}' in the highwa}' in said town, leading to North Yarmouth, 
and the said selectmen having promised to see the s*^ way mended ; 
ordered that they be acquitted paying fees of Court, two pounds 
eleven shillings." 

At the town meeting in, 1744, an order having been issued b}- the 
Court of General Sessions, for a highwa}- between Brunswick and 
Georgetown, Deacon Samuel Whitney and Captain William Woodside 
were appointed a committee to la}' out the same. There is no record 
of the action taken by this committee, but it is probable that they 
simpl}- made passable the road previousl}' laid out, as that was the 
only road to Georgetown, now Bath, for many years subsequently. 

Not far from this time, though possibh' a little later, there was a 
road from the New Meadows River straight over to the Androscoggin, 
at a point nearly opposite James Mustard's in Topsham.^ Here was 
a ferry. It is probable that the line struck the New Meadows River a 
short distance above Mr. Bartlett Adams's house, Avhich was only a 
short distance above Brown's Ferry, across the New Meadows River. 

In 1753 the inhabitants of Mair Point consented to give a free road, 



Map No. 11, Pejepscot Collection. 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 



531 




Roads in 1764. 



532 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

one rod wide, to the lower end of the Point, and to maintain sufficient 
gates on any fences which crossed the road, and the town voted to be 
at the charge of keeping the road in repair. In 17G7 this road was 
made two rods wide. 

In 1751) the road was laid out which leads from Nathan Woodward's 
hy GatchelFs Pond and Washington Woodward's estate to the New 
Meadows Kiver road. 

In 1760 the road from Maquoit Landing to Bunganock was laid out 
sul)stantially as it now is, but at that time tliere was a branch road 
from a short distance below N. Blake's over to the Twelve-Rod road 
near the Maquoit school-house. This branch was subsequently' dis- 
continued, but at what time is not known.. The location of the roads 
described in the preceding pages can be readily understood by refer- 
ence to the map of roads which is given on the preceding page. 

What is now known as the Pennell road, from the old llarpswell 
road to Pennellville, was laid out in 1770. 

In the year 1773, on the petition of Jonathan Bagley and of others 
who were interested in the lands on the river, the town voted to accept 
the road to Durham, which had been constructed by the petitioners. 
This was the river road to Durham, which then ran close to the river 
on the intervales, and was very crooked. Changes in the courses were 
subsequent!}' made. 

The lower road to Freeport, starting a short distance above the old 
west meeting-house, and passing b}' Albion P. Woodside's and so on 
to Freeport, was laid out about the 3'ear 1794. Mrs. J. D. Lamb dis- 
tinctly remembers walking through it when it was first laid out. She 
was then a child, nine or ten years old. Tlie road was cut through a 
dense forest for nearly its whole length. It was not made passable 
for carriages for a number of years later. Mr. Lewis Simpson says 
the road was not completed until 1806. He remembers that the 
laborers upon the road ceased work during the great solar eclipse 
which occurred that year. 

In the year 1789 a second county road was laid out from Cook's 
Corner to Bath, but it was not made passable until 1795, ^ The town 
in 1790 opposed the building of this road. The road is not shown in 
Given's plan of Brunswick, which was made in Ma}', 1795, so that it 
was not probably a travelled road until some months subsequently. 
This road ran up by Martin Storer's, and then in a very circuitous line 

' Maine Hintrirical Collection, Vol. 2, p. 219. Lemont's Historical Dates of Bath, 
p. 41. 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 533 

to a short distance north of Ham's Hill, where it entered the old 
county road which passed around the head of New Meadows River. 
Portions of this road are still in existence and travelled. 

In 1794 the road from Oak Hill to Bunganock was laid out, and in 
1796 the road from Bunganock to Growstown was laid out. 

In the 3'ear 1800 the road from L. D. Alexander's to E. C. Ray- 
mond's was laid out, and in 1802 what is called the Otis road was laid 
out. The " Friends' road," from the Durham River road to Freeport, 
was laid out in 1805. 

The turnpike to Bath, sometimes called Governor King's turnpike, 
was built in 18051 or 1806. Mr. Lewis Simpson distinctly recollects 
that at the first Commencement at Bowdoin College, in 1806, two men 
who were engaged in building this road came up to spend the alter- 
noon. This turnpike was well made, and the road-bed was hard and 
smooth. It went through the woods nearly all the way east of Cook's 
Corner. The road now travelled from Brunswick to Cook's Corner 
and straight on to New Meadows River is a part of the old turnpike 
The turnpike bridge was a few rods south of the railroad bridge. The 
gate and toll-house were at the west end of the bridge. 

According to Lemont,- a second turnpike was built in 1806 from 
Bath to Brunswick, crossing the New Meadows River at Brown's 
Ferr}'. It is not probable that there was, at that time, a second turn- 
pike in Bath, and there is no evidence that another turnpike was built 
in Brunswick. The bridge at Brown's Ferr}?- was built previous .to 
that of Governor King, and only the abutments and piers remained in 
1808-9. It is more probable that what Lemont calls the second turn- 
pike was a shunpike^ as it is well known that, to avoid pa3-ing toll, 
travellers from Brunswick left the turnpike at Cook's Corner and 
crossed the river at Brown's Ferry. It was owing to this fact that 
General King established a gate on the turnpike west of Cook's Cor- 
ner. That expedient proved of no avail, however, as travellers there- 
after drove across the plains to Cook's Corner, and then down to 
Brown's Ferr}', thus avoiding both toll-gates. 

In 1810 an alteration was made in the upper count}' road to Bath, 
so that it crossed the New Meadows River a short distance above 
Ham's Hill, over a bridge called Hay den's Bridge, and in 1831 the 
road was straightened and laid out over Ham's Hill, as it is now. 
The Bull Rock Bridge road was laid out in 1836.3 

In 1837 the New Wharf road was laid out. 

^ Lemont, Historical Dates of Bath, p. Al. ^Ihid. ^Ibid. 



534 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

In 1843 a petition was granted b}' the Court of General Sessions 
for Lincoln County", for a road from High Street in Bath, over the 
Bull Bridge, through Brunswick to Freeport. 

At what time guide-boards were first used is not known, but in 
1814 the town instructed the selectmen to repair and erect guide- 
boards wherever necessary, showing that some, at least, had been 
erected previously to that date. 

Twelve-Rod Road. — Maine Street, or the Twelve-Rod road, owing 
to its location and the fact that nearly all the measurements and esti- 
mates of distances are based upon it, is entitled to a more extended 
consideration than the other roads of the town. All the lots at the 
laying out of the town were connected with lot number one, which 
commenced at a point twentj'-seven rods south from the flag-staff upon 
Fort George. Therefore both the lots and the roads take their start 
from one and the same point, — a bastion of the old fort. In order 
to a complete understanding of the matter, it will be well to enumerate 
the various votes in regard to this road that have been passed by the 
town, or b}' the proprietors, since it was originally laid out in 1717. 
The first pul^lic action in regard to this road was taken at a legal 
meeting of the inhabitants of the township, held Ma}- 8, 1719. At 
this meeting it was voted : — 

"That whereas y" Proprietors have allowed a road 12 Rod wide 
from Fort George to Maquoit as also sundry other private ways : 
he'nceforth no incumbrance shall be Erected or Continued in an}- of 
the said "Wayes." 

At the town meeting in 1740 it was voted that the main road from 
Fort George to Maquoit should be twelve rods wide. This vote was 
evidently intended to be mereh' confirmatory of the original action of 
the proprietors in laying it out of that width. At a meeting of the 
Pejepscot proprietors on November 14 of this 3'ear, it was voted by 
them that "Whereas a Road of 12 Rods wide was granted by the 
Proprietors June 3, 1717, from Fort George over to Maquoit and said 
road has not been improved as was originallv laid out Therefore voted. 
That said Road run from the Southerly Bastion of said Fort George 
on a Streight Line over to Maquoit and that the Surve3'our be directed 
to enter it upon the Piatt according!}'." 

This vote of the proprietors was not Uteralhj carried out. There is 
no evidence that the road was actually laid out in one straight line, 
and it is certain that it was never so travelled. All of the early plans 
locate the road as starting, on its western line, at the southwest bas- 
tion of Fort George, and running due south across the present depot 



PUBLIC LANDS, BO ADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 535 

grounds, to a point a short distance soutli of the residence of Professor 
A. S. Packard, and from thence a southwest course to Maquoit. At 
that time, and until the _year 1826, there was a swamp extending from 
the present eastern hue of the mall to the foot of Powder-House Hill, 
and to avoid this swamp the travel went out to one side, and passed 
along what is now called Park Row, on the eastern side of the mall, 
and thus the eastern line of this portion of the road was established 
much farther east than it was originally laid out. 

Although the road had been laid out by the proprietors and had 
been built and used by the town, it was not formally accepted as a 
public highway until 1709. This road being of an unusual width, and 
much wider than was at all necessary for mere purposes of travel, the 
town in 1791 was induced to do what would be considered b}' many 
as a ver}' unwise thing. It chose a committee and instructed them to 
lease six rods in width of this road, "■ where the}' think it best, leaving 
the road six rods wide at such places." 

In April, 1792, the town appointed a cr)mmittee to lay out the road 
again, from Fort George to Maquoit, eight rods in width, thus redu- 
cing the width four rods. This committee reported at the subsequent 
meeting in May, and the town voted to accept the road as laid out by 
them, with an amendment to the effect that two rods should be added 
to the road on the west side, between Mr. Stone's and Mr. Lunt's, 
and with some minor changes near the Maquoit shore. 

The land between Mr. Stone's and Mr. Lunt's was that betw^een 
Mill Street and the Pejepscot National Bank. On the other side of 
the street, in front of Da3''s Block, was a deep gully which increased 
in depth till it entered the cove in front of what is now Maynard's 
oyster saloon, opposite INIill Street. Encroachments had been made 
on the opposite side of the street so that the narrowness of the road 
and its sideling nature rendered travelling dangerous. It is known 
that accidents had at various times occurred there. In 1806 the town 
voted to pay fift,y-nine dollars and fift^'-three cents to Zephaniah Spurr, 
of Boston, for damages to his carriage, it having been driven off the 
bank and injured, owing to the bad condition of the road. It is prob- 
able that Mr. Stone and Mr. Lunt had leased a portion of the road, 
and that the town regretted its action and annulled the lease 

In 1793 the town voted to accept this eight-rod road, as laid out 
with the amendments, and the surve3'ors of highways were directed to 
open the road agreeably to the plan, which was " eight rods wide from 
end to end except at the landing-place at Maquoit which is twelve rods 
wide." A committee was also chosen to lease or quitclaim the remain- 



536 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

ing four rods of the old Twelve-Rod road. It is not known how much 
of the road was thus leased or quitclaimed. The only deed which we 
have seen was one to Lemuel Swift of" four rods of the twelve rod 
road, lying in front of Mr. Benjamin Stone's land, and situated 
between the land of John Carr and Captain John Dunlap's land, being 
twenty square rods at seventeen dollars per acre." ^ This was the 
front of what is now the Rodne}' Forsaith estate, between Dr. Lincoln's 
and Benjamin Green's. 

In 1794, Benjamin ( hase, one of the survej'ors of highways, was 
directed to open the Twelve-Rod road the full icidth wherever people 
had not purchased the four rods, and where the}' had, to open it eight 
rods wide. It was also voted that all persons desiring to purchase the 
four rods in width that had not been sold could do so by applying for 
the same within fomteen days. 

In 1804 tlie west line of Maine Street, as it now is, between Noble 
and Pleasant Streets, was accepted by the town. 

In 1810, to put on record the locality from whence the measure- 
ments of the road and town lots started, tlie following paper was 
entered on the town records : — 

" Whereas the Record of the West line of the twelve Rod Road from 
Brunswick Falls to Maquoit Ba}', as laid out 1)V the Proprietors of 
Brunswick, mention the Flag staff standing in the south West Bastion 
in Fort George as the point at which the}' began their surve}^ ; and 
whereas the bounds and Lines of man}' Lotts and parcels of Land are 
ascei'tained b}' admeasurement from that point before mentioned ; and 
whereas Fort George and the Flag staff are demolished, and it may be 
of Great importance to render the precise point where the Flag staff 
in said Fort George stood permanent, therefore, be it remembered 
that we John Abbot, John Perry Jr. and Jacob Abbot, all of said 
Brunswick in the County of Cumberland and Commonwealth of Mas- 
sachusetts, have this da}' applied to John Dunlap Esq of said Bruns- 
wick who was a soldier in said Fort George, when a young man, and 
lives nigh the plat of Ground where said Fort stood, and hath been 
frequently on the premises ; and to Cutting Noyes, who li\es nigh the 
premises and assisted in removing the piece of Timl)er the said flagg 
staff was framed into : — and the said John Dunlap Esq and Cutting 
Noyes have designated, according to the best of their judgement and 
they say they think the spot where the foot of said flagg staff stood, 
and to render it permanent, we the said Jolni Abbot, John Perry Jun"" 

1 Original deed in the possession of John L. Swift, Esq. 



PUBLIC LANDS, BOADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 537 

and Jacob Abbot have drilled a hole in the ledge or Eock and drove 
an Iron bolt of about one Inch and one Quarter Diameter and about 
Eighteen Inches in length, half the length into said Ledge or Rock, 
the other half above the surface in the Identical spot shewn to us as 
the place under which said Flagg Staff stood. 

"John Pkkry Jux^ 
John Abdot 
Jacob Abbot 
"Brunswick Nov 23'^ 1810 

' ' A Tiiie Copy 

" Dan'l Giveen, Town Clerk. 

"William Duning ^ 
John Giveen > Selectmen." 

Joseph Hacker j 

This bolt will be found ' ' opposite to the space between two of the 
factory boarding-houses at the north end of Maine Street and distant 
southerl}' from the southwest corner of the easterly house twentj'-eight 
and one third feet, where a line from the southeast corner of the 
westerly house will intersect the first line in twentj'-six feet, thence to 
the house on the corner of Maine and Bow Streets, sixtj-six feet ; or by 
measuring easterly from and in line of the south face of Cabot Mill 
sevent3'-six and two tenths feet, and from one to two feet beneath the 
surface of the ground." ^ 

In 1819, Abner Bourne, Robert D. Dunning, David Dunlap. Robert 
Eastman, and Samuel Chase were chosen a committee to ascertain the 
boundaries of the Twelve-Rod road and to recommend measures for the 
prevention of further encroachments on the road, and were instructed 
to report at the next annual meeting. No record is made of their 
report. 

In 1822 the selectmen were authorized to direct a survc}^ of this 
road between Jacob Abbot's ^ and Robert D. Dunning's, and to 
receive a quitclaim deed, provided it could be done without any 
expense to the town except for the writing of the deed and the 
survey. 

In 1845 the Twelve-Rod road, or that part of it called Maine Street, 
was again survej'ed, this time by Elijah P. Pike, under the direction 
of the selectmen, and ihe survey was accepted by the town. 

In 1858 two rows of trees were set out on this street from the Con- 
gregational Church to the end of the college grounds. This was done 
bj' private subscription. 

1 From Field Book of Charles J. Noyes, C. E. 

2 J\'ow' the residence of Captain A- H. Merryman. 



538 ■ HISTORY OF BBUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

The foregoing comprises all important facts in relation to this 
Twelve-Rod road with the exception of the origin of 

THE MALL. 

In 1802 there was a board fence from the northeast corner of 
Eobert D. Dunning's house, on the hill, to the head of the present Mall. 
It continued, much as the fence now runs on the easterly* side of the 
Mall, to Schwartkin's store, where the store of George B. Tenney now 
is. The Mall was at that time an alder-swamp which extended as far 
west as the foot of Powder-IIouse Hill, and nearly as far north as 
Pleasant Street. Cows often had to be pi'ied out of the mud where 
the Mall is. Mr. C. J, Noj'es informs us that, in 184(5, when survey- 
ing the line of the railroad between Maine and Union Streets, he sank 
into the mud and water over the tops of his rubber boots. It is said 
that in this swamp the old settlers used to take beaver. 

On the Fourth of Jul}-, 1826, the citizens united in a general assault 
upon this deformitj' of the village, and assembling at an early hour, 
with shovels, hoes, oxen, ploughs, and carts, they worked diligently 
until noon. Then the company- listened to a speech from Robert Orr, 
Esquire, after which they partook of a lunch and dispersed. A sec- 
ond gathering of the kind was held on the next Fourth of Jul}^, and 
after half a day's hard work the compan}' marched to the meeting- 
house, stacked their arms (shovels, hoes, picks, etc.) in militar}- style 
before entering, and listened to an oration from Mr. Edward Kent, 
then a student in the law-office of Honorable Benjamin Orr, The 
work thus begun was completed b}' private enterprise. The project 
of enclosing the open area and of planting trees was started at a 
strawberry party in 1838, and the fence was erected and the trees set 
out in the spring of 1839.^ The work was assigned to a committee of 
three, — Doctor Isaac Lincoln, Joseph Griffin, and John S. Gushing. 
It cost about four hundred dollars to fence and grade it and to plant 
the trees. Nearly- all the trees then set out are in a flourishing condi- 
tion now. The committee devoted their whole time for three weeks 
to superintending the work, and then were obliged to make up a small 
deficit in the funds. The row of trees on the western side of the 
Mall was set out by Mr. Gushing. While the work was progressing, 
Mr. Gushing was married, and Doctor Adams, the officiating clergy- 
man, at the conclusion of the ceremou}-, remarked that he himself 
desired to work for the Mall, and therefore presented his fee towards 
that object. 

1 Brunswick Telegraph, June 25, 1853. 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 539 

Nothing further was done to the Mall until 1867, when the fence 
around it was rebuilt. 

In ISTo the selectmen, in their annual report, nse the following lan- 
guage in regard to the Mall, to which report sutHcient attention lias 
not been paid. They say : — 

" The. Mall ought to be put under the care of some person of judg- 
ment and taste, and attention given to its condition. If the grounds 
were kept clean and smooth, the walks trimmed, and seats erected in 
different parts, what is now unsightl}- and of no particular interest to 
any one, will be made an ornament and become a point to which our 
peojDle will gravitate for rest and recreation during the heat of summer, 
and in which we shall all feel a just pride." 

STREETS. 

Some of the streets in Brunswick were laid out as private waj's at 
an early dale, and although named by the town and repaired from 
time to time by the road surveyors of the town, have never yet been 
formally accepted by it. This fact will account for the omission, in 
some cases, of the date of laying out or of acceptance of some of these 
streets. It has been found impossible to obtain the date of construc- 
tion of these 2:>rivate streets. As to the legal liability of the town in 
regard to most of them, we presume there can now be little doubt. 

For convenience the streets in Brunswick will be treated in alpha- 
betical order. 

Bath Street is a part of Governor King's turnpike, which was laid 
out in 1806. The name is applied to that portion of the road between 
the First Parish Meeting-House and Pine Grove Cemetery. 

Bank Street was laid out b}- the late David Dunlap, Esquire, over 
his own land. It has never been accepted by the town, and in 1867 
the town refused to accept it as a highwaj'. 

Bow^ Street was laid out in 1819, and accepted by the town under 
its present name in 1821. Slight changes in the courses of this street 
were made in 1824 and in 1830. 

BooDY Street was accepted hy the town in 1853. It was named 
in honor of Mr. Henry H. Bood}', who was then a professor in Bow- 
doin College, and resided on the corner of Maine and this new street. 

Cleaveland Street was laid out early in this centur}^ but pre- 
cisely when we cannot ascertain. It was in 1821 named Cross Street. 
Its present name was given to it in 1869 in honor of Professor Parker 
Cleaveland, who lived on Federal Street opposite the end of this 
street. 



540 inSTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

Centre Street was laid out as a private road in 1810, In 1821 it 
was named bj the town Centre Street, and in 183U it was accepted by 
the town. 

Gushing Street was laid out and accepted b}' the town in 1847. 
It was named in honor of Mr. John S. Gushing. 

Gedar Street was laid out and accepted in 1845. 

GoLLEGE Street was laid out in 1831. 

DuNLAP Street was originallj' laid out by General Richard T. 
Dunlap as a private way, and its name was given to it by the town as 
a mark of respect. 

Dunning Street was laid out in 1844. It was named for Mr. 
Robert D, Dunning. 

Elm Street was laid out in 1843. 

Everett Street, named in honor of Ebenezer Everett, Esquire, 
was laid out and accepted b}' the town in 1865. 

Elliot Street was laid out in 1858. It was named in honor of 
Golonel Daniel Elliot. 

Franklin Street was laid out and accepted in 184G. 

Federal Street was laid out and accepted in 1803. The propri- 
etors of the land gave the land and made the road. The street 
received its name in 1821. Referring to this street, a writer in 1820 
says, " I understand the original proprietors of the land made it a 
condition in their grants that all houses on this street should be at 
least two stories high and on a line twenty feet from the road. With 
this requisition there seems to have been a punctilious compliance. 
About twenty houses are already erected with great exactness and 
sj'mmetr^', and the remaining lots of land are correctly proportioned." 
Although no proof of any agreement of the kind referred to above 
has been found, it would seem not improbable, judging from the actual 
appearance of the street, that some agreement was made between the 
earlier owners of the lots. Such entire uniformity could scarcely 
result as a matter of chance. 

Green Street was laid out in 1828. It was named for James 
Green, a resident on the street. 

GiLMAN Avenue, named in honor of Honorable Gharles J. Gilman, 
was laid out as a private wa}', but was named b}' the town as a mark 
of respect to the owner of the land. 

Harpswell Street is a portion of the old road to Ilarpswell 
Island, which was laid out in the last centur}-, but at precisely what 
date is not known. 

High Street was laid out in 1850. It was first called Grove Street, 
and the name was changed to High in 1872. 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 541 

Island Street, from Bow Street to the river opposite Shad Island, 
was accepted by the town in 1828. 

Lincoln Street, named in honor of Doctor Isaac Lincohi, has 
never been accepted by the town. 

Maine Street has been already described under the head of the 
" Twelve-Rod Road." The name Maine Street is applied to that 
portion of the road between the bridge and Mair Brook, as decided 
by the town in 1<S21. The name was given in honor of the then 
newly made State of Maine. It is often incorrectly spelled Main. 

Mill Street was laid out in 1717 by vote of the Pejepscot propri- 
etors. It originally extended only to the upper falls, or a short dis- 
tance beyond. In 1817 it was extended to Pleasant Street. It 
received its name in 1821. 

Mason Street was also laid out by the Pejepscot proprietors in 1717. 
In 1821 it was called Water Street, The name Mason Street was 
subsequently applied to it. 

McKeen Street, named in honor of Messrs. Joseph and John 
McKeen, was laid out by the Pejepscot proprietors in 1717. In l.s21 
it was named Cumberland Street. Its present name was given to it 
about 1840. 

Middle Street was laid out and accepted in 18oG. 

Noble Street was laid out in 1833 as a part of Union Street. In 
1849 it was called Noble Street, as a mark of respect to Mr. John 
Noble, who resided upon the street. 

O'Brien Street was laid out and accepted in 1841. It was named 
in honor of Captain John O'Brien. 

Pleasant Street is a part of the count}- road to Freeport, which 
was laid out in 1811. The name applies to that portion of the road 
between Maine Street and the gully, a short distance west of Powder- 
House Hill. 

Potter Street was laid out and accepted in 184.5, as far as Cap- 
tain William Potter's, for whom it was named. In 1858 it was con- 
tinued to Union Street. 

Pearl Street, from Federal to Stetson Street, was laid out and 
accepted in 1845, and subsequently extended to a short distance east 
of the railroad. 

Page Street, so named in honor of Doctor Jonathan Page, was 
laid out as a private road. 

School Street was laid out early in this centur}'. It received its 
name in 1828. The name was given to it because of the school which 
was for man}- ^-ears kept in the " old red school-house " on this street. 



542 HIS TOBY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

lu 1850, School Street was •widened, by adding to the northern side 
tliirteen feet and nine inches on Federal Street, and six feet on Maine 
Street. 

Spring Street was laid out and accepted in 1850, as far as the 
railroad. 

Stetson Street was laid out and accepted in 1850. 

Thompson Street was laid _ out and accepted in 1850. It was 
named for General A. B. Thompson. 

Union Street, from O'Brien to Pleasant Streets, was laid out in 
1828. In 1833 it was laid out from Mill Street as far as what is now 
Noble Street, the latter street then being a portion of Union Street. 
In 1849 the location of Union Sti'eet, between Pleasant and Noble 
Streets, was slightl}' altered. In 1858 it was continued south to Page 
Street, and subsequently to McKeen Street. 

Water Street is the easterly portion of the Four-Rod road, laid out 
in 1717, from the fort to the landing. In 1828 the name was applied 
to the whole street, from Maine Street to the landing. Subsequently 
that portion of the street between Maine and Federal Streets was 
named Mason Street. 

KOADS IN TOPSHAM. 

Although the numl)er of roads which have been laid out in Topsham 
is not so large as that of Bi'unswick it has been found nearly as diffi- 
cult to locate manj- of the earl}' roads in the former place as it was in 
the latter. As an illustration of the indefinite manner in which many 
of the roads are recorded, the following is copied : " The Road begin- 
ing at Issabella's Barn Running to William Alexander's house was 
laid out I)}' the Selectmen in October 1774." It is, perhaps, needless 
to sa}' that we have found no allusions to Isabella's barn elsewhere. 

The first road laid out in Topsham was unquestionably one which 
was laid out hy the Pejepscot proprietors, from the Narrows to the 
Cathance River. There is no record in the Pejepscot company's 
books of the lading oui of this road, but the Topsham town records 
allude to it in 1 764 as having been previously granted hy the propri- 
etors, and it is shown on the plan of the town, which was made for 
the proprietors in 1768, b}' John Merrill. This road started from the 
Androscoggin River, a few rods below the present residence of Mr. 
James Mustard, crossed the "Foreside" road, following the line of 
the Mustard and Hunter lots to the Cathance River. It was origi- 
nally laid out four rods wide, but in 1764 the town voted to reduce it 
to two rods in width and to sell the remaining two rods. This road is 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 543 

Still in existence. The portion between the " Foreside " road and the 
county road to Bowdoinham is still travelled, and is known as " Lover's 
Lane." From the county road to the Cathance and from the " Fore- 
side " road to the river the road is unused, but is fenced on each side, 
and is plainly distinguishable from the adjoining lots. 

The second road was the count}' road to Bowdoinham, which was 
laid out before the incorpoi'ation of the town, about 17G1 or 1762. ^ 
From allusions to this road in the town records, it appears to have 
begun a short distance east of the village cemetery, where there was a 
feny across the river to the landing on the Brunswick side.^ From 
this point the road ran substantially as it now runs, passing the tan- 
yard and straight on to the old gi-ave^'ard, thence turning to the left, 
passing the estate of the late George A. Eogers to the Cathance 
River, where there was a ferr}', and from thence in about its present 
course to Bowdoinham. 

These two roads were all the public roads that were in existence at 
the time of the incorporation of the town. There were doubtless a 
number of haj' and wood roads in existence, but their location is not 
now known. 

At the first meeting of the town in its corporate capacity, Thomas 
Wilson. Adam Hunter, John Reed, John Fulton, and John Merrill 
were chosen a committee to lay out the highwa3-s and roads through 
the town. 

The first road mentioned in the records is what is now known as the 
" Foreside" road, beginning at Muddy River and following along the 
baj-, and up the river to the county road at the top of the hill near 
the residence of Mr. Cyrus Purington. The county road, as previ- 
ousl}' stated, ended a short distance east of the village burying-ground. 
At this point a town highway began, which ran westerly, as Elm Street 
now runs, up by the Free-Will Baptist Meeting House, and so on " to 
the first brook be3-ond John Whitten's house," which was a short dis- 
tance beyond the Merrill homestead. In 1767 the road was continued 
to Little River. Various slight changes in the courses of this road 
were subsequently made. 

The next road which was laid out by the town in 1764 was " from 
the count}' road near the meeting-house to the house of Gowen Ful- 
ton." This was what is now called the " lower road to Bowdoinham," 
in distinction from that which passes over the Cathance River. At 



^Records of Court of General Sessions for Lincoln County. 

2 The ferry from " Ferry Point " to the landing was of a later date. 



544 HISTORY OF BRUNHWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

the same time a road was laid out from the meeting-house to the 
" Foreside " road, which was substantially the same as that which is 
now travelled from the Bowdoinham road to Ba}' Bridge. 

In 1781, Samuel Thompson, John Merrill, Nathan Thwing, James 
Hunter, and David Reed were appointed b}" the Court of General 
Sessions, for Lincoln Count}', to lav out a road from the county road 
at Gideon Walker's, to the Bowdoin Line. It was doubtless soon 
afterwards laid out. 

In 1790 what is now Main Street was laid out from the Granny-Hole 
Mill-right to the count}- road at Gideon Walker's Corner. This road 
was accepted in 1792 as a public highway. 

In 1791 a road was accepted leading from the Bowdoin line over to 
the county road to Bowdoinham, which it entered " not far from Mr. 
Joseph Graves's house." 

In 1792 a road was laid out from Main Street, at a point about 
opposite Summer Street, running across the grounds of the estate of 
the late Charles Thompson, to the river. 

The road leading from the Little River road at " Whitehouse's 
Corner" to the count}' I'oad to Bowdoin, near the residence of Mr. 
Benjamin Thompson, was laid out in 1792. 

In 179") the road across the island to the toll-bridge was laid out, 
two rods wide. 

In 1797 a road was laid out from what is now Elm Street, between 
the Walker homestead and the Baptist Church, or very near there, 
running down the hill across the grounds of the late Doctor James 
McKeen to the town landing. Mr. James Wilson remembers this 
road, and says it was fenced on either side for its whole length. Mr. 
Wilson's father owned the land, and as the town would not vote to 
pay him for it, he closed it up. 

'ihe next year, 1798, a road corresponding to what is now Thomp- 
son Street was laid out from Main Street to the landing. The same 
year two county roads were laid out. One was from Littleborough, 
through Green, Lewiston, Bowdoin, Little River, and Topsham, to 
the Androscoggin Bridge. The other was from the same bridge to 
the south line of Litchfield. The course of both these roads through 
Topsham was over the town roads previously established. 

In 1799 what is known as the Meadow road was laid out. What 
is now known as Green Street, from the Congregational Church to 
the Granny-Hole Bridge, was accepted by the town in 1799. A 
portion of this road from the church to Thompson Street had been 
made previously by Mr. James Wilson, Senior, as a private road, for 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 545 

his own use, he makuig a log-bridge or causewa}- across what was 
Iheu a gulh', and which has since been filled up, the depression 
l)etween the church and the Bowman House. 

In 1803 the town Avas indicted b}' the grand jury for having bad 
roads. What is now known as Summer Street was laid out in 1826, 
and accepted bj' the town the following j'ear. Pleasant Street, as far 
as Union Street, was laid out and accepted in 1828. 

In 1851 the selectmen, by order of the town, assigned names to 
the streets and caused signs to be put up at the corners. 

Orr Street was laid out in 1856. 

At a meeting held in September, 1859,- a committee was chosen to 
meet the county commissioners of the count}' of Cumberland, in 
Brunswick, for the purpose of opposing the lading out of a road from 
Cushing Street in Brunswick, so as to cross the Androscoggin River 
over Goose Rock, so called, and to continue through Topsham to the 
Lisbon road. 

In 1862 the town voted to accept the road as laid out by the 
county commissioners from near Rufus Rogers's mill to the Andros- 
coggin railroad bridge. 

On October 10, 1863, a road or street was accepted leading from 
Main Street, on the Island, across the sand-bed to Water Street, 
opposite the residence of Mr. Eben Colb}-. 

At a meeting, held September 12, 1864, the town voted to build the 
bridge across the drain and to discontinue the rest of the street, which 
was laid out in October, 1863, from Main Street (on the Island) to 
Water Street. 

ROADS IN HARPSWELL. 

It is not known precisely when the main roads on Ilarpswell Neck 
and on the Island were laid out. The earliest mention of them that 
we have found is in the records of the town for 1760, when it was 
voted " that the road through the Neck should stand as last laid out 
by Mr. Jonathan Flint, survej'or." The courses of the road, as laid 
out, were very nearly the same as those of the present one, but the 
road did not then go the end of Potts's Point. ^ 

In 1761 it was voted that " the road on the Island laid out b}- the 
Proprietors should be a Town Road." No description of it is given 
at this date, but in 1786 Stephen Gatchell made a survey of "-the 
main road " and other roads on the Island. It appears that this sur- 

1 See map, page 531. 
35 



546 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

\Qy was simply to put on record the courses of the roads as formerly 
laid out. 

The road from the ferr}' around the head of Long Reach was laid 
out in 1764. 

In 1821 the road on Orr's Island was accepted as a town road, and 
a road on Great Island, from the Orr's Island bridge to the main road, 
was also accepted. 

Various private roads and public roads of minor importance have 
also been laid out, from time to time, as the convenience of the inhab- 
itants required. 

FERRIES AND BRIDGES. 

Before bridges were built, all the streams in this vicinity that were 
not sufficiently shoal to be safely fordable were crossed b}' means of 
ferries. 

The earliest ferry of which there is an}* record was across the New 
Meadows Eiver at the point of land a short distance below the pres- 
ent residence of Mr. Bartlett Adams. This was " Brown's Ferry." 
Precisely when it was established is not known. The earliest mention 
of it in the Brunswick town records is in 1765, and it is probable that 
it was estabhshed a short time previously to that date, by Benjamin 
Brown, who lived on the Georgetown (now Bath) side of the river. 
Brown kept this ferry until 1792. 

At the annual meeting of the town of Brunswick in 1792, the town 
expressed its desire "• that John Peterson, Esquire, would keep a ferry 
across New Meadows River where Benjamin Brown has kept for some 
years past." Peterson complied with this request, and maintained a 
ferry at this point until a bridge was built, which was somewhere 
about the year 1796, the precise date not being known. 

A ferry across the Androscoggin, from ]\Ir. James Mustard's in 
Topsham to a point a short distance below the present residence of 
Iklr. Martin Storer in Brunswick, was established as early, probabl}', as 
1768, at which time there was a road from the Cathance to the 
Androscoggin at Mustard's, and from the New Meadows River to a 
point nearly opposite Mustard's. It is known that there was for 
many years a ferry at this point called " Mustard's Ferry," but the 
date of its establishment is not known. James Mustard, of Topsham, 
was licensed by the Court of General Sessions for Lincoln County, 
to keep this ferr}' in 1784, but there must have been one kept at this 
spot long before. The ferry landing is still plainlv discernible. 

In 1781, Ezra Randall, of Topsham, was licensed to keep a ferry 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 547 

from his landing to that of Stephen Andrews. This ferry was a short 
distance below the present Bay bridge. 

There was also a ferr}', at an early period in the last ceutur}', from 
the landing in Brunswick to the Topsham shore. On September 8, 
1761, Samuel Wilson was licensed to keep a feny over the Andros- 
coggin River, about one hundred rods below the falls, and gave bonds 
in the sum of £20 for the faithful discharge of his trust. He was per- 
mitted to demand and receive of CA'crj' passenger three " coppers," 
and three "coppers" for each horse ferried across. The Topsham 
landing-place was at first, probably, a short distance east of the present 
village burying-ground. Later, about 1783 to 1796, it was near the 
point at the end of the iron railroad bridge, which then went by the 
name of Ferr3' Point. During this later period, the ferry was kept b}- 
Brigadier Samuel Thompson. 

It is stated in North's '' Historj' of Augusta" ^ that in 1790, Henry 
Sewall and General Dearborn, who had been appointed marshal of 
the District, in going to Portland on horseback, to attend the District 
Court, went by the way of " Cobbosee " and Fort Richmond, and 
" swam the river at Abagadussett, and crossed Cathance and Bruns- 
ivick Rivers m femj-hoats.'''' Where the ferr\' across the Cathance was 
situated, we do not know, but it was probably at Bowdoinham village, 
as a bridge had been constructed long previously at the Cathance mill- 
right in Topsham, where the count}' road crossed that river. The ferry 
across the Androscoggin was doubtless that kept hy Brigadier 
Thompson. 

The first ferr}' in Harpswell of which we have an}' knowledge was 
established in 1 764 , as shown b}' the following extract from the town 
records : — 

" Voted, to have a ferry started near the Narrows, a good ferry boat 
built and a convenient road for man and horse cleared to the head of 
Long Reach and over the head of Long Reach so called, at or before 
the first day of October next, and a ferry man to tend s'' ferry on 
Sabbath days till half after nine of the clock in the morning and after 
meeting to ferr}' the people back again and to tend on Town Meetin 
days." Paul Ra^-mond, Benjamin Jaques, and Nathaniel Puriuto 
were chosen a committee to carry the vote into effect. 

In 1772 one was established from Indian Point on Sebascodigau 
Island to Trotter's Point in Georgetown, by order of the Court of 
General Sessions. The fare was fixed at three " coppers " for a man, 

» Opus cit., p. 222. 



548 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

six for a horse, eight for an ox, twelve for a yoke of oxen, five for a 
cow, and one each for swine or sheep. ^ 

In 1795, Daniel Blajsdell, Jr., was licensed by the Conrt of General 
Sessions for Lincoln County to keep a ferrj' over New Meadows 
River from the landing near his house in Georgetown to the oi)positc 
landing in Ilarpswell, and gave bonds in the sum of one hundred and 
forty dollars for the faithful discharge of his dut}'. lie was al- 
lowed to charge twenty-five cents as the fare for a man and horse. 
Temporary ferries also have been established across the Androscoggin 
at various times during the present century, when the toll-bridge was, 
for any cause, impassable. Of this character, probably, wns the ferry 
in existence between Topsham and Brunswick in 1827. tliough it is 
possible the old ferry may have been continued to this date. P'rom 
the records of the Court of General Sessions for Lincoln County, it 
appears that at this time James Wilson was discharged as a ferry-man, 
and Nathaniel Quint was appointed in his jjlace. At the same time the 
ferriage toll was increased as follows : For a horse and chaise, twenty- 
five cents ; for a horse and coach, fifty cents ; for a horse and rider, ' 
twelve and a half cents ; for a horse and wagon, sixteen cents ; for cart, 
oxen, and driver, thirty cents ; for neat cattle, per head, six cents ; for 
sheep and swine, per head, four cents ; for foot passengers, three cents. 

The first bridge over any considerable stream which was built in 
this vicinity was one over the Cathance River in Topsham, at the 
'' mill-right," which was built in 1768. It cost forty dollars, or at 
least that was the amount appropriated by the town for the purpose. 

The next bridge in point of date was what is now known as the 
Gurnet Biidge, connecting Brunswick and Great Island, llar[)swell, 
which was built in 1789. It was rebuilt in 1839. 

In 1795 an attempt was made to have a bridge built across the 
Androscoggin River by the towns of Brunswick and Topsham, and 
the town of Brnnswick '' voted very generally to build the one half of 
a bridge across Androscoggin River, to begin near Doctor Nye's 
Mill." A committee was chosen to '' see the matter carried on," and 
the town also voted to raise £300 for building the bridge, but not to 
assess the money until leave to build it had been granted by the (general 
Court. Nothing came of this attempt to construct a free bridge, but 
the next year certain persons were empowered by the legislature \o 
build atoll-bridge from Nye's mill, in Brunswick, to the Middle Rock, 
and from thence to the rock below the " Great INIill " in Topsham. 



' Records of Court of General Sessions in County Commi^ioners' Office, Portland, 1772. 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 



549 



The Act incorporating '' The Proprietors of Androscoggin Bridge" 
was passed and approved February 26, 179G. The incorporators 
were William King. Benj. Jones Porter, John Dunlap, Wm. Stan- 
wood, 3d, Cutting Noyes, Amos Lunt, James Stone, John Merrill, 
Jr., James Wilson, Daniel Clark, Joseph Langdon, Ebenezer Emer- 
son, Isaac Johnson, John Blanchard, John Merrill, Pelatiah Haley, 
Actor Patten, Benj. Ilasey, Wm. Owen, and Theo. Symmes. A 
schedule of rates of toll was prescribed by the Act, which should be in 
force for thirt}' years ; after that, subject to legislation. 

In March an additional Act was passed, fixing the number of shares 
at five hundred, at eight dollars each, and providing that no one per- 
son should purchase more than six shares within six days from the 
opening of the books, thus enabling persons of limited means to 
become shareholders and preventing the control of the bridge being 
monopolized by a few individuals. The bridge was built during the 
summer of 1790, and a toll-house was built in the fall. In the spring 
of 1811 the bridge was carried away by a freshet, and was rebuilt the 
same year at a cost of $5,591.42. 

June 22, 1814, the toll-house and greater part of the bridge were 
carried away b}' a freshet. They were at once rebuilt at an exi)ense of 
$3,500. In the spring of 1827 the bridge was again carried away, 
and the directors voted to rebuild and to make the abutments of 
stone. Previously they had been made of wood. The expense, in- 
cluding a toll-house, was about $6,000. Since 1827 the bridge has 
not been disturbed bv freshets. 




Androscoggin Bkidge in 1828. 



550 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Ill 1842 the bridge was destroyed by fire and rebuilt the same 3'ear. 
Yov some 3'ears previous to 1842 the bridge was a covered one. 
After that it was open. This bridge was repaired and made free 
April 10, 1871. The value set by the appraisers was $2,575. It is 
now owned b}' the towns of Brunswick and Topsham. 

In 1795 the first bridge across the " Granny-Hole Stream," in 
Topsham, was erected, connecting the Island with the main laud. 

In 1796, according to Leinont, a bridge was built across the head 
of New Meadows Kiver.^ This statement is probably erroneous, and 
the bridge built at that time was doubtless at Brown's Feriy, where in 
1808 were the ruins of an old bridge.^ 

In 180.5 the first turnpike bridge was built across New Meadows 
River. ^ 

In 1806 a second bridge was built across the New Meadows River. ^ 
This was probably the one at the head of the river alluded to by 
Lemont as having been built in 1796. This is the more probable, as 
in 1810 the town voted to build a road to Ilayden's Bridge, and a Mr. 
Harden lived near the head of the river at that time. 

In 1829 a bridge was built from the Brunswick shore to Shad 
Island. " Father" Stetson wrote in his diary, under date of Novem- 
ber '20), 1829, that he " walked to the new bridge to the Island amidst 
the falls." Previous to this time access to the Island was only had by 
means of boats. 

The bridge connecting Great Island and Orr's Island was built at 
some time between 1833 and 1845, by Samuel Orr, Ralph Johnson, 
Jr., David Wyer, Thomas S. Jack, Michael Sinnett, John Conley, 
William Orr, Charles Black, Richard Orr, Jr., and William D. Orr, 
inhabitants of Orr's Island. In 1852 they gave the bridge to the 
town, and the town voted to accept it and to keep it in repair. The 
bridge was wantonly destroj'ed in 1857, and the town soon after 
rebuilt it. 

Ball Rock Bridge was built in 1S35. One half of it was paid for 
and owned by the town of Brunswick. 

Bay Bridge was completed in Jul}', 1836. It was built hy the town 
of Bath at an expense of $12,000.-'' Lemont'' states the cost to have 
been $20,000. It was and is a toll-bv'xdgc. 

In 1849 the railroad bridsre across the New Meadows River was 



1 Historical Dates of Bath, etc. , p. 39. * Lemont, Historical Dates of Bath. 

2 Reminiscences of several aijed citizens. ^ The Regulator, July 23, 1830. 
^Massachusetts Special Acts. ^Historical Dates of Bath, etc., p. 39. 



PUBLIC LANDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. 551 

built, and in 1850 the raili-oad bridge across the Androscoggin, below 
the falls, was built. 

In 1859 considerable interest ^'as excited in regard to a free bridge 
between Brunswick and Topsham. Public meetings were occasionall}' 
held for several years to consider the subject. 

In 18G0 the town of Brunswick voted to unite with the Andros- 
coggin Uailroad Compan}' in building a biidge across the river, pro- 
vided the cost to the town did not exceed $2,500, and provided the 
company would agree to keep the bridge in repair, except the floor- 
ing of the public travelled way. 

Topsham opposed the building of a bridge at Goose Rock, but 
favored building one at Shad Island. The bridge was, however, built 
and opened to the public on March 27, 1861. 

Besides those wliich have been enumerated, there were many small 
bridges across brooks and gullies which were not of sutticient impor- 
tance to merit an}' extended notice in these pages. The following 
bridges of this description are mentioned simph' to show the changes 
which have been made in the roads and streets at the places where 
they were formerl}' located. 

In Topsham there was, in 17G4 and later, a bridge across " Gravel 
Island Gull_y," near the tan-yard of Mr. C3'rus Purrington. There 
was also one at the same time over the brook and gliUy near the 
village burying-ground. In 1802, and probably earlier, there was a 
bridge across the deep gull}' on what is now Winter Street, just back 
of Goud's store. The bridge was fifteen or twenty feet above the 
brook which flowed under it. About this time a horse belonging to 
Thomas Wilson fell off" the bridge and was killed by the fall, and the 
chaise to which the animal was attached was considerablj- injured. 
There was no railing to the bridge, and the town was therefore liable 
for damages. In 1804 the town voted Mr. Wilson three hundred 
dollars, and therel)y probabl}' saved a lawsuit. 

In Brunswick there was a bridge across the ravine on Bow Street. 
It was first built by private parties, but in 1833 the selectmen were 
Instructed to rebuild it. It was a trestle-work bridge, about ten feet 
high. 

There was a similar bridge at Stone's Brook, on Pleasant Street, 
west of Powder-House Ilill. 

In 1825 there was a small bridge on Federal Street, at the foot of 
the hill. 



552 HISTORY OF Brunswick, top sham, and harp swell. 



CHAPTER XX. 

COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 

In the sncceeding chapters upon the commercial history of the towns 
of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, it is intended to inchide not 
only matters pertaining to the business of these towns, but also the 
cost, at different periods, of the necessaries of life, and matters con- 
nected with municipal taxation. All facts, however, concerning the 
rise and progress of navigation and the construction of railroad and 
telegraph lines have been placed, for convenience, in" another chapter. 

The earliest business carried on here, in addition to farming and 
trading in furs, was salmon and sturgeon fishing. Thomas Purchase, 
soon after his settlement here in 1628, caught, cured, and packed 
salmon and sturgeon for a foreign market, and it is stated that there 
were at one time, " saved in about three weeks, thirt3'-niue ban-els of 
salmon, besides what Avas spoiled for lack of salt, and about ninety 
kegs and as many barrels of sturgeon, and that if they had been fitted 
out with salt, and apt and skilful men, tliey might have taken abun- 
dance more." ^ 

It is also stated in Douglas's History that there was a company 
formed in London for the purpose of importing cured or dried stur- 
geon, and that they had an agent at the foot of Pejepscot Falls, and a 
building erected there. This was no doubt, as McKeen observes, 
a very considerable business, and was carried on upon quite a large 
scale, from time to time, until into the last century, and until the 
commencement of King Philip's war, in 1675, it was, doubtless, a 
great business with Mr. Purchase. The business has not been carried 
on to any extent within the present centur^'^ the salmon having 
entirely disappeared from the river, and there being fewer sturgeon 
than formerly and a lessened demand for the latter. Present indica- 
tions betoken, however, a return of the salmon fishery before very 
many jears. 

1 Rediny's Deposition, Pejepscot Papers. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 553 



DAMS. 

Before water-power could be made available for propelling the 
machinery of mills, it was necessary that dams should be erected. 

The first one erected across the Androscoggin River was the upper 
dam. It was built about the year 1753. It was, without doubt, 
carried awa}' b}^ freshets in the last century, and rebuilt at different 
times. It is known to have been carried awa}' in 1814, and to have 
been rebuilt soon after. In 1839 it was carried awa}' and was rebuilt 
the following jear, at a cost of $G,134.G6. The owners at that 
time were Alfred J. Stone, Rufus Rogers, David Dunlap, Gardner 
Green, R. T. Dunlap, Thomas Pennell, William Curtis, Daniel 
Stone's heirs, and Hugh Patten. A portion of this dam was carried 
off in 18.59, and was never rebuilt. Later freshets have carried away 
the remaining portions. 

The long dam was probabl}" built about the 3'ear 17.5G. In 1828, 
John Dunning, of Brunswick, ninety years of age, testified that " the 
long dam, so called, was built b}^ some person or persons to me 
unknown, when I was about eighteen or nineteen years of age. It 
extended from the Topsham shore, near where the great mills, so 
called, were built, to the island now called the Shad Island. A year 
or two after the long dam was built, the same proprietors or persons 
that built the long dam, built the gulf dam from the south side of 
said island to the Brunswick shore. I recollect that Hugh Wilson 
and Samuel Wilson, of Topsham, with one Douglass, were concerned 
in the aforesaid dam and mills at the time, or soon after, the same 
were erected, as I have before stated. I think that soon after this 
dam and mills were built, Brigadier Thompson, of Topsham, became 
a proprietor of the same, with others. My father, David Dunning, 
and Jeremiah Moulton were the owners of the Fort right, so called, 
and conceiving that the persons who built the long dam, so called, had 
committed a trespass, b}' building the same, sued the trespassers, 
and recovered damages." Mr. Dunning also testified that the main 
channel of the river, before the dams were erected, was between Shad 
Island and the Brunswick shore. It is not altogether improbable that 
the long dam was built to divert the water into the drain which led to 
the Hodge Mill in Topsham. Indeed, as there were no other mills on 
the Topsham side at that time, and as this dam of itself would be of 
no use to any mill on the Brunswick side, it is difficult to conceive for 
what other purpose it could have been built. 

The gulf dam, according to the statement given above, was first 



554 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

built about 1760. If this were so it was probably earned awaj- by a 
freshet, as there was one built there about 1772 b}' Joshua Nye and 
the Dunnings. This dam was built straight across from Shad Island 
to the mainland, and the water was brought to the mills below 
through a Hume. This dam was carried off by nearly every freshet, 
and, finally, about 1815. it was built in its present shape b}' AVilliam 
E. Weld, who obtained one half the privilege as his compensation. 
A small portion of this dam has been carried away b}' a freshet, and a 
portion was rebuilt in 1871, but the larger pai't of it is the original 
dam. 

The middle, or factory, dam was built about the year 1772. It 
was carried away by a freshet in 1785, It was rebuilt, and a portion 
of it Avas again carried away in August, 1833. 

In 1835, Colonel Loammi Baldwin, of Boston, made a surve}' of 
the water-power of the Androscoggin River, at Brunswick. In his 
report, dated November 12, of that year, he states it as a demonstra- 
ble fact that this river discharges more water than any other river in 
the State, being equal, at the lowest stage of the water, to more than 
4,000 cubic feet in a second. According to this report the whole fall 
of water is 40.83 feet, divided at that time b}' three dams. At the 
upper dam there was a fall of 11.30 feet ; at the middle dam, of 14.04 
feet ; and at the lower dam, of 15.49 feet. From the upper to the 
middle dam, on the Brunswick side, the distance was 1,280 feet. 
I'rom the middle to the lower falls the distance is seven hundred 
feet. 

" The lay of land about these falls," says the author of the " Water- 
Power of Maine," " is favorable to the growth of a great manufactur- 
ing city. On the Brunswick side, below the village, the ground lies in 
three extensive levels of such height and form as to admit of improve- 
ment without grading. A natural ' run ' leads from the required site 
of the upper dam to those levels, and could be converted into a grand 
canal at a very small expense. The fall could be increased to fifty- 
five feet by raising the upper dam, and the damage for flowage would 
be inconsiderable, the laud on both sides of the river to Lisbon Falls, 
eight miles above, being mostly high." There is now no dam at this 
fall, and but a small portion of the water-power of this river is now 
made available here. There are a few other powers in town at present 
unimproved. One, about three miles above the falls, is known as the 
" Quaker Mill Pond." It is capable of furnishing power for a num- 
ber of saws. The Bunganock and New Meadows Rivers can also be 
made available for manufacturing purposes. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. bbb 



CANALS. 
In 1797 or 1798 ^ a corporation was formed for the purpose of cou- 
structing a canal to unite the waters of Merrymeeting Bay with those 
of New Meadows River. It was intended for the transportation of 
lumljer, and not as a passage for vessels. John Peterson was one 
of the proprietors and was the leading spirit of the enterprise. The 
canal was built, but probably it did not answer the pui*pose for which 
it was intended, on account of there not being a sufficient difterence of 
level between the two ends, and the experiment was soon abandoned. 
Traces of this canal are still to be seen. 

In 1.SU7 a petition was sent to the General Court for authority to 
establish a canal for a similar purpose, from the Androscoggin River, 
above the falls, to Maquoit. A surve}' was made in December of the 
same jTar by Benjamin Franklin Baldwin. 
The following is a s3'nopsis of the surve}' : — 

General course, south- southwest and irregularly south. Com- 
mences about half a mile above the falls. It crossed Mair Brook, 
Widow Hunt's swamp, bridge at the county road a short distance east 
of Starbird's tannery, through Captain Skolfield's land, and by the 
head of Maquoit Marsh. The distance was about three miles and 
eighty rods. 

Greatest elevation of land . . . 46 ft. 5 in. 7 

" depression " . . . 37 ft. 8 in. 

Average elevation " . . . 29 ft. 8 in. 9 

" depression " ... 24 ft. 1 in. 

" elevation of whole . . . 5 ft. 7 in. 9 

We have been unable to ascertain if any company Avas formed, 

but the canal was never built and probabl}' never begun. 

MILLS. 

Grist-Mills. — Providing for the sustenance of the body is the first 
thing to occupy attention in a newly settled region, and though proba- 
bly the very earliest settlers pounded their maize, after the mode of 
the Indians, in mortars of stone or iron, 3'et without doubt the first 
mills erected were grist-mills. 

There is no evidence of the existence of any mill hereabouts until 
after the formation of the Pejepscot Company, and from the small num- 
ber of settlers antecedent to that time, it is almost certain that there 

' LononVs Historical Datex of Bath, pp. 8 tmd 7G. » 



556 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

were none. The earliest reference to an}' project of the kind is con- 
tained in the records of that compan}'. At a meeting of the proprie- 
tors, held September 14, 1715, one of their nnmber, Mr. Watts, was 
desired to take the advice of a millwright in regard to the best place 
for a mill and the estimated cost, and he was requested to make a 
report on his return, " in order to our agreeing for a Mill against the 
Spring." His report is not in the records, but on September 5, 1716, 
the proprietors voted " that the Small Stream in a Gnlley lying about 
Twenty Rodds W. N. AV. from Fort George at Brunswick be granted 
to Captain John Gyles and Mr. AV" Goodwin and their Associates, 
provided they erect a Saw Mill or a Grist Mill thereon within a twelve 
month, & keep it going." ^ 

It api)3ars from the record of a subsequent meeting of the proprie- 
tors, held on February 3, 1741, that this proposed mill was never 
erected, and as Gyles and Goodwin failed to fulfil the conditions of 
the grant, the right to the stream reverted to the proprietors. Inas- 
much, however, as a gi'ist-mill in this new township would be, in the 
opinion of the proprietors, " of great advantage for the Inhabitants to 
grind their Corn and tend to promote good Husbandr}'," they at this 
meeting passed a vote that the stream and gull}' already mentioned, 
together with about an acre of land, exclusive of rocks, and the exclu- 
sive privilege of building mills upon it, should be granted to their part- 
ner, Mr. Henry Gibbs and his heirs and assigns, with the proviso that 
he or the}' should '' build a Grist Mill thereon, within two years from 
the first day of May, 1742, if no war with the Indians and French " ; 
and in case of the occurrence of war within that time, two years was to 
be allowed after the termination of it, and with the further })roviso that 
the mill should be kept in good repair as a grist-mill for five years, 
or in default thereof the privilege was to revert to the proprietors. 

Tills privilege was bounded as follows : — 

"Beginning at the west bastion of Fort George, thence west two 
Rods across the two Rod Road thence west and by north twenty-four 
Rods to Androscoggin River, thence down said River to a Stake 
standing by said River, thence South to the Northerly Corner of Fort 
George, thence by Fort George to the AVesternmost Corner of the Bas- 
tion first-mentioned according to a Plan of the same under the hand 
of James Scales, Surveyor, bearing date Nov. IG, 1741." This was 
the origin of what was subsequently known as the " Fort Right." 



1 Pejepscot Records. This stream floioed across tohat is noic Bow .Street, ivhere the 
Cabot Company's cotton house is, and entered the river. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 557 

On June 1-J, 1751, James Thompson and Anthony Cooml.s of 
Brunswick convened '• to Aaron Ilinklev, Nathaniel Larrabee, Gentle- 
men of Brunswick, Humphrey Purinton, Cordwainer, Georgetown, 
and Isaac Snow and Cornelius Thompson, of Brunswick, yeomen, 
six eigiith parts of a Cove at New Meadows, between the land of 
Anthony Coombs and James Thompson, for the privilege of erecting 
a mill or mills. "^ 

In 1753 a grist-mill was erected at New Meadows, doubtless on this 
cove, and another at Maquoit.- 

In 17G'J there was a grist-mill on Mair Brook,-* w'here Getchell's mill 
now stands. There has been a mill at that place nearlj' all the time 
since, though of late years it has been not a grist, but a carding mill. 

In 17*J4 John Peterson had a mill at New Meadows. In 1795 there 
was, according to a plan of Brunswick made at that time by John 
Given, a corn-mill on the upper dam on the Brunswick side. Refer- 
ence is also made in the margin of this plan to two other corn-mills, 
but the map is so defaced that it is impossible to determine their local- 
ity, though there is little doubt that one of them was the one at New 
Meadows and the other upon the lower dam. The first grist-mill with 
apparatus for bolting the meal was erected in the latter part of the 
last centur3- by Mr. Benjamin Stone."* 

In 1819 a Mr. Quinby had a grist-mill on the bank of the river 
west of the cotton factor}- which was run by a windmill. In 182U 
there was a grist-mill in operation at the upper dam, under the man- 
agement of Henry Putnam, Esquire, which was spoken of at the 
time as being " remarkable for its perfect and ingenious S3-stem of 
machincr}'." At the same time there was a grist-mill at the end of 
the bridge where the pulp-mill now stands. In 1836 there were two 
corn and flour mills within the limits of the village, one of which was 
on the " Nye" privilege near the bridge, and the other was probably 
at the upper dam and managed by Charles B, Mitchell. In 1839, Mr. 
Samuel S. AVing bought a part of the N3'e grist-mill. This mill 
was a two-stor}' building with two runs of stones, one for wheat and 
one for corn. In 1842 the mill, with all the adjoining property-, 
including the Androscoggin Bridge, was burned. It was rebuilt the 
next year, and one run of stones added for grinding barley-. In 1850 
the mill was again destroj'ed by fire. It Tfas rebuilt the same 3'ear, 

' York County Records, Vol. 36, p. 147. 

2 Brunswick Records in Pejepscot Collection. Memorandum on cover. 

3 Town records. 

* James Curtis' s Journal, in the library of the Maine Historical Society. 



558 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

with three inns of stones, and in 1871 it was again bnined, since 
when there has been no grist-mill on that privilege. 

In 18oi), 1). and C. E. Seribner bought the privilege, now occupied 
by them at the Brunswick end of the old toll-bridge, and put in 
machinery for the manufacture of Hour, wheat meal, crushed wheat, 
corn-meal, etc. The cai)acity of the mill is about two barrels of flour 
per hour and about fifteen Inishels of meal per hour. The mill is kept 
running almost constantly on Hour, but corn and grist work is insuf- 
ficient to keep that department running all the time. The JNIessrs. 
Seribner were the first in these towns to make flour from wheat brought 
from the West. 

Saw-Mills. — At a meeting, held September 5, 1710, the proprietors 
voted to employ persons to look out a proper place for erecting one 
or two saw-mills within the limits of their purchase, and " that the 
running Gear therefor be provided Seasonably." Also that the small 
stream in the gully west of Fort Georges hould be granted to Gyles 
and Goodwin, as has alread}' been mentioned, provided a saw-mill or 
grist-mill should be built thereon within one year.^ 

At another meeting of the proprietors, held in the following October, 
it was proposed, unless more convenient places could be found, that 
two saw-mills should be built at '•'• Bungamunganock" Falls. On No- 
vember 28, Mr. Samuel Came, of York, oflered to build the running 
gear for a mill with two saws for £27 and the mill itself for £30. His 
otter was accepted, and he was desired to prepare running gear for 
two mills, and to set one up, early in the spring, at "Bungamunga- 
nock " Falls, and the other at the most convenient place he could find 
for timber, stream, etc., and to suit the settlements. To this Mr. 
Came agreed. 

On October 14, 1717, it was agreed that Captain Gyles should be 
written to "to put our saw mill at Bungamunganock under Improve- 
ment till we shall take further order about it." ~ From this it would 
appear probable that one mill had already been erected, and it is not 
at all unlikely that the other was built soon afterwards, though prob- 
ably on the Cathance, for on April 28, 1718, it was voted that those 
of the proprietors who were going to Pejepscot should as soon as 
posible get the " ti^^ mills put into good order and under good 
improvement." ^ 

From a memorandum made upon the cover of the Brunswick 
Records, in the Pejepscot Collection, it seems that in 1753 there were 

1 Pejepscot Records. 2 /^j^. 3 jj^id. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 559 

no less than six saw-mills in Brunswick. Three of these were at New 
Meadows, one was at Maquoit, one at Bunganock, and one at the 
Brunswick Falls. This latter was the first mill ever built on the 
Androscoggin River, and according to McKeen,^ was on the upper 
dam. It was probabl}' built by Jeremiah Moulton, of York, and 
David Dunning, though the date of erection may have been as late as 
ITfJl.- The authorit}- for McKeen's statement we have been unable 
to find, but presume it was a traditional account. 

On November 14, 1761, Belcher Noj'es, the proprietors' agent, 
deeded to David Dunning and Jeremiah Moulton the mill privilege 
that has since been known as the Fort Right. Its bounds, as 
described in the original deed, were as follows : — 

" South on a road laid out to the Indian Carrying Place above the 
Falls, on said Androscoggin River, which is on the west side of said 
road to ]\Iaquoit, adjoining to lot number one, Northerl}- on the road 
laid out on the east side of said road to Maquoit to the landing Place 
on said Androscoggin River (exclusively^ of what land belongs to lot 
number one), and on said Androscoggin River according to the Course 
thereof above the Falls, so as to comprehend the land included within 
the said limits, exclusive of what land belongs to lot number one 
(together with one moiet}^ or half part of any Rocks or Islets adjacent 
thereto) and one half of privilege of Stream." This included all the 
land north of Mill and Mason Streets, between the town landing 
and the upper dam. 

B}' a vote of the proprietors, October 22, 17G2, the right and privi- 
lege granted by this deed was extended so as to embrace the Topsham 
side of the river. This "right" afterwards became divided among: 
the heirs and those to whom a portion of it had previously been sold, 
and the larger part of it is now owned b^^ the Cabot Manufacturing 
C'ompany, although Scribner's flour-mill and the mills in the Cove 
are located npon it. 

In 17G7, Esquire Woodside was the owner of a saw-mill, ^ which was 
probably at Bunganock. 

About the y^ax 1772 two saw-mills were erected about where the 
pulp-mill now is, by Joshua Nj-e and Andrew Dunning. In 1792, 
Samuel Stanwood had a mill at Maquoit. 

In 1795 there were, according to Given's plan of Brunswick, two 
saw-mills on the upper falls and one on the lower, besides four other 

^Manuscript Lecture. 

'^ Record of Court of General Sessions in County Commissioners' Office, Portland. 

3 Town Records of Brunswick, 1, p. 68. 



560 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

saw-mills, the exact location of which cannot be determined in conse- 
quence of the defaced state of the map. One of them was probably 
the so-called "■ F0II3'" mill, which stood about where the Factory Gas- 
House uow stands. This mill received its name in consequence of 
what was deemed, at the time, an act of folly. The brook which was 
to supply the water came from the swamp, which then existed where 
the depot now is, and ran down what is now Union Street and under 
Mill Street. On or near the mouth of this stream, Mr. Samuel Page 
built a mill, which of course failed to be of much practical benefit on 
account of the small and intermittent suppl}' of water. 

In the latter part of the last centur}- Captain John Peterson had a 
saw-mill at New Meadows. 

On July 8, 1808, Johnson Wilson received a deed of Shad Island, 
then called Fishing Rock Island, and not long afterwards he erected 
a double mill upon it. 

On June 10, 181G, Ephraim Jones entered into an agreement with 
William Frost and Nathaniel Greene, of Topsham, and perhaps with 
others, to build a saw-mill on this island, sixty-five b}' forty feet in 
size, and to have it finished b}' August 10. The mill was built that j'ear. 

There were at the falls, in 1820, including those in Topsham, twenty- 
five saws. It has not been found practicable to obtain reliable infor- 
mation as to the exact date of erection of many of these mills. Their 
number at this time shows conclusive!}' the importance of the lumber 
Ijusiuess then carried on, and consequently the thriving condition of 
these places. It was estimated at this time that not less than 500,000 
feet of boards were cut annually by each saw. This would amount to 
12,500,000 feet in a year, which, at seven dollars per thousand, would 
amount to $175,000. The greater part of this lumber was shipped by 
the way of Bath, and the rivers and bays on the south of the town. 
The revenue to the government from the duties assessed on the lum - 
ber in the two toAvns is said to have been not less than $75,000. A 
force of about three hundred men was emploved in and about the saw- 
mills. 1 

There was also at this time a clapboard manufactory',' the machinery 
for which was invented by Mr. Robert Eastman, of Brunswick. The 
machinery, though simple, was so constructed that it would cut two 
clapboards in a minute, regulate itself, and cut one hundred and 
twenty clapboards in an hour, from a block two feet in diameter. 
About 600,000 could be cut in a season. ^ 

^Putnam. ^Ibid. 



f COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 561 

In 1825 a number of these mills were destroyed by what is known 
as the " Great Fire." 

A double saw-mill, which was erected by Jonathan Page near the 
ruins of the Great Fire, probably this year, was carried away b}' a 
freshet in 1827. 

In 1831, Mr. Samuel S. Wing, who had for a year and a half pre- 
viously manufactured sugar-box shooks for a Boston firm, in a mill 
owned by Benjamin Weld, Esquire, where the pulp-mill now stands, 
bought out their interest, and commenced the business on his own 
account. He continued in the business for twentj'-five years, a part 
of the time having three box-machines in operation at the same time. 
One of these machines was on the lower falls, one on Shad Island, and 
the other on the upper falls. These three machines manufactured 
annually upwards of 3,000,000 feet of pine boards. 

In 1836 there were twenty saws in Brunswick Village, besides mills 
of other kinds. The same year Eliphalet P. Pike &. Co. built a large 
saw-mill containing four saws, and a clapboard-mill, on Goat Island. 
The water was brought from the upper dam by means of a flume, and 
a bridge connected the island with the Brunswick shore. There was 
additional space sufficient for four to six more saws. This mill was 
carried off in 1839. A saw-mill was also erected in 1836 near the 
toll-bridge. 

In 1848, J. C. Humphreys & Co. erected two steam-mills on a 
point extending into the river about two miles below the village. 
The machiner}- of these mills was propelled by two seventeen-inch 
cylinder engines, which drove one gang-saw, two upright single 
saws, two shingle, one clapboard, and one lath machine, one machine 
for making heads for molasses hogsheads, and two machines for 
making shooks, besides edging, cutting off, and other saws. About 
500,000 feet of lumber was manufactured at that time. This com- 
pan}- had a ship-j'ard adjoining their mills. One of these mills was 
burned in 1864. 

In 1857 what was known as the Bourne Mill, in the Cove, was 
burned. It was built by Abner Bourne earl}' in the present century. 
In 1856 this mill' belonged to R. T. Dunlap, C. J. Oilman, A. B. 
Thompson, and Ward Coburn. 

In 1845, Mr. Abizer Jordan had in operation a machine for planing 
boards. It is supposed to have been the first one in operation in 
Brunswick. 

In 1859, Messrs. Samson and Eben Colby, of Topsham, bought the 
Samuel S. Wing Propert}' in Brunswick, at the end of the bridge,- 
36 



562 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

known as the Perry Privilege, where they carried on the manufacture 
of sashes, doors, blinds, shingles, clapboards, and lathes, until 1<S71, 
when the mill was destro^-ed by tire. Mr. f^ben Colby then built the 
mill on the same privilege, now the pulp-mill, and with J. F. Chancy 
continued the business under the style of Colb}- & Chancy for a year 
and a half, when thej' sold the mill to the Androscoggin Pulp Com- 
pany, and then built a large two-story mill in the Cove. In this 
building Colby, Chane}' & Smith manufactured long and short lum- 
ber, sashes, doors, and blinds until 1875, when the mill passed into 
the hands of Charles H. Colb}', who occupies the lower storj', and the 
second story was leased to the Bangs Brothers. 

The most flourishing time in this vicinity', so far as relates to the 
lumbering business, was undoubtedly between 18;35 and 1845. In 
18;39 there were thirtj' saws in Brunswick alone. It has been found 
impracticable to give all the changes of ownership in mill property 
which have taken place within this ceniury. Among those who have 
been prominentl}' connected with the lumber business in Brunswick, 
who have not already been named, may Ijc mentioned Pau'l Hall and 
Colonel William Stan wood, who owned the Nye mill in 1800 and sub- 
sequently ; Captain John Dunlap, who was part owner in a niill on 
the upper dam in 1800, as well as before and after that date : A. B. 
Thompson and J. C. Humphreys, who formed a copartnership and 
carried on the lumber business in a mill at the Cove, about 1825, and 
did an extensive business until they dissolved, in 1850. 

About 1820, Abner Bourne, Richard and David Dunlap, "William 
E. Weld, and Charles Weld were engaged in this business. David 
Dunlap was, doubtless, the largest mill-owner for man}- years. In 

1829 he owned one saw and a half on the upper dam and two saws in 
the Cove. In 1831 he sold one half his whole interest to Kodney 
Forsaith, and the}- continued in partnership until 1836, when Forsaith 
bought his remaining interest and kept it until 1845, when the co- 
partnership of Lemont (Adam), Forsaith (Rodney), & Hall (AVil- 
liam H.) was made, and continued until about 1858. From al)out 

1830 to 1850, Alfred J. Stone and William H. Morse carried on an 
extensive business. From 1837 to 185G, Joseph Lunt, 2d, was engagetl 
in this business;, Burt Townsend, from about 1818 to a])Out 1838; 
Phineas Taylor, about 1820 ; and Ward Coburn and Artemas Coburn, 
somewhat later, were engaged also in this business. 

There are now but two saw-mills in operation in Brunswick. They 
are iu the Cove and are owned, one by C. H. Colby and the other by 
Hiram Toothaker and Trueworthy Brown. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 563 



BOOMS. 

I he stringing together of logs across the river, in oixler to catch the 
lo< se logs that might escape from rafts, or be floated from the shores, 
\vf)S doubtless done in the very earliest period of the lumber business, 
1)1 it the erection of regular booms and the incorporation of a company 
for the express purpose of collecting straj' logs did not occur until 
towards the latter part of the last centur}'. These booms were made 
of wooden piers filled with stone and connected by timbers fastened 
with irons. Some of the " King's Masts " were put into a boom 
below the bridge, by Brigadier Thompson. They were afterwaixls 
taken out and put into a boom above the bridge, and were some of 
tliem still in use as late as March 22, 1856, having stood this service 
for about seventy' years. 

The first boom known to have been erected on the river was the 
Androscoggin Boom, which extended from Ferr}' Point to Mason's 
Rock. The proprietors were Samuel Thompson, Esquire, Ezekiel 
Thompson, Benjamin Thompson, Stejahen Purrington, Thomas Thomp- 
son, James Purrington, James Wilson, Humphre}' Thompson, and 
James Thompson. They were incorporated P'ebruar}- 14, 178'J.i 

Another company was formed March 15, 1805, at which time the 
General Court of Massachusetts enacted "that Thomas Tliompson, 
William Stanwood, Elijah Hall, Paul Hall, Humphrey Purinton, Cor- 
nelius Thompson, Trueworthy Kilgore, Francis Tucker, and Johnson 
Wilson, and their associates, successors, and assigns be, and tliey are 
hereby constituted a corporation for making, lajing, and maintaining 
side-booms in suitable and convenient places in Androscoggin River, 
from Androscoggin Bridge to the Narrows of said river, in Brunswick 
and Topsham, so long as they shall continue proprietors of the fund 
raised, or which may be hereafter raised for that purpose, and shall 
be a bod}' politic by the name of The Proprietors of Side-Booms in 
Androscoggin River, and by that name may sue," etc. 

The company was entitled to receive compensation of the owners of 
logs and other lumber by them rafted and properly- secured for the 
owner, the fees being regulated by the charter. 

On February 29, 1812, an additional Act authorized the proprietors 
of side-booms in the Androscoggin River to extend side-booms above 
the lower falls. 

In 1820 there were six booms above and five below the falls. 



1 Massachusetts Special Laws, 1, p. 230. 



564 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND EARPSWELL. 

On February 27, 1829, it was provided by tlie legislature that the 
selectmen of Brunswick and Topsham should annuall}' appoint two 
surveyors of logs at the several side-booms in the river at Topsham 
and Brunswick, in order that the logs caught in the booms should be 
fairl}' surveyed and disputes be prevented between the proprietors and 
the owners of logs. 

In October, 1855, three of these booms, said to have cost about 
$40,000, were carried awa}' by a freshet. There are now no traces of 
these booms to be seen below the falls. Above the falls can be seen, 
at low water, the ruins of several stone piers to which the boom-sticks 
were formerly- attached. 

COTTON^ AND WOOLLEX FACTORIES. 

Coming under the general term of mills are several which are 
usuallv designated as factories. Of these some were for the manu- 
facture of cotton and some of woollen goods. In early times the 
manufacture of clothing was quite laborious, as there were then no 
carding-maehines. After the sheep were shorn in the spring the 
neighbors used to collect for " wool-breaking," as the preparing the 
wool for the spinning-wheel was called, and after the labor was over 
the time was spent in amusement and social intercourse. ^ 

The first factoiy was established b}' the BnuNSwacK Cotton Manu- 
factory CojiPANY, which was incorporated IMarch 4, 1809. Ezra 
Smith, William King, and Doctor Porter were among the propri- 
etors. The company was formed for the manufacture of cotton 3'arn, 
which was shipped to other mills to be made into cloth. The mill did 
not prove a success, and it is said that the stockholders lost all their 
capital. No cloth was made in this mill.^ The mill was a three-stor}', 
gambrel- roofed, wooden building, and stood close to the river, on the 
left-hand side of the lane which passes the east end of the present 
mill.-' The machinerj^ was put in by Robert Eastman and James 
Jones. 

The second mill was that of the ]Maine Cotton and AYoolt.en Fac- 
tory Company, which was incorporated in October, 1812. This com- 
pau}' erected a wooden mill about where the blacksmith shop of the 
Cabot Company now stands. The}' also bought the building of the 
Brunswick Company-, which they used for a storehouse. Deacon John 
Perry was the first agent. 

^ James Curtis's Journal, in library of Maine Historical Society. 

2 Reminiscences of Dean Sioift. 

3 Reminiscences of Dean Swift and Miss Narcissa Stone. : 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 565 

In 1^20 there wei'e 1.248 cotton spindles in full operation, and two 
hundred and Ibrtj' woollen spindles ; nine w'oollen looms, and carding 
and fulling machines in proportion. 100,000 3'ards of cotton cloth 
were turned oft' in a season, ''and the broadcloths, from full-blooded 
merinos, do not follow haucl j^asfsibus cequis. those of Manchester." 
About one hundred operatives were employed at that time.' 

Both these mills were destro3-ed in the fire of 182'), the old building 
being used at the time as a storehouse. Soon after the fire, a mill 
for carding wool and dressing cloth was established by John Dyer. 
It was called the Eagle Factory. It stood on the west side of the 
Shad Island road, near the end of the present mill. It was removed 
in 1834 across the road, and is now occupied as a tenement. 

The Brunswick Company was incorporated in 1834. The corpora- 
tors w'ere Isaac Lincoln, Joseph McKeen, Richard T. Dunlap, Abner 
B. Thompson, Ebenezer Everett, Nathaniel Davis, John C. Hum- 
phrey's, David Duulap, Noah Hinldej', Elijah P. Pike, Narcissa Stone, 
Robert P. Dunlap, Thomas Pennell, John Dunning, and James 
McKeen. They were empowered to manufacture cotton, avooI, iron, 
and steel, and other raw material necessarilv connected therewith ; 
and to erect mills, dams, works, machines, and buildings on their own 
land. They were afterwards, by an additional Act, authorized to 
carry on the manufacturing business in the town of Topsham, as 
well as in Brunswick. 

According to the bj'-laws, the stock of the compau}' was divided into 
shares of one hundred dollars each. 

The following was the property belonging to the companj- in 1836 : — 

"1. A new mill of undressed granite, five stories high, 146 feet 
long, 45 wide, capable of containing 5,120 spindles of cotton spinning. 

"2. Four additional mill-sites of equal extent with the last, two 
dwelling-houses three stories high, one store, a counting-room, stone 
picker-house, cotton store, and forging-shop. all completel}^ finished, 
with convenient land for their use, all situated in Brunswick, and 
four mill-sites in Topsham. 

"3. The whole breadth of the river with the islands and dams, 
thirteen and a half acres of land in Brunswick and Topsham, and 
water-power sufficient to carry as many saws and spindles of cotton 
machinery as there is space to erect the mills." 

At a meeting of this compan}', August 10, 1836, tlie following 
oflJcers were chosen : — 

1 Henry Putnam, L'sqnire. printed letters 



D6i] HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

William AVillis, R. T. Dunlap, H. Goddard, M. Greenwood, and 
N. F. Deeriug, directors ; N. F. Deeriug, treasurer ; Thomas L. 
Willis, clerk ; I, A. Beard, agent. ^ 

The Brunswick Company ran this factory until 1840, when they 
leased it to Mr. Allen Colby, who managed it until March, 1843, 
when it was sold at auction in Boston, to Whitwell, SeaA^er, & Co., 
for S34,400. The original cost was about 8190,000. This latter 
company' intrusted the management of it to Messrs. A. P. Kimball 
and John Dunning Coburn, of Boston, who soon afterwards pur- 
chased it.- 

This firm, after carr3'ing on the business for a few A^ears, failed, and 
the mill went into other hands. 

On Jul\- 3, 1847, the Warumbo Manufacturing Company was 
incorporated. The stock of this company " consisted of inortgages 
and other claims on the late firm of Kimball & Coburn, which fell into 
their hands for debts against the said firm, of which the}* expected 
to realize nothing except through the earnings of the factory, and of 
other mortgaged property in Brunswick, subject to an amount of prior 
encumbrances exceeding $40,000." 

The company was organized in the summer of 1848. Who were 
the directors at that time is not known, but in 1849 they were Abner 
B. Thompson, John Coburn, Nathaniel Davis, James K. Mills, 
Thomas Gra}', Hollis. Tha3-er, and William Perkins. This company 
carried on business but a few 3'ears before it also failed, probably on 
account of the encumbrances upon its propert}' and the heavy liabili- 
ties it had to meet. The regulations of this compan}' in regard to its 
operatives were quite strict. Amongst others was one refusing to 
emplo}- any one " who is habituall}' absent from public worship on the 
Sabbath, or who uses profane or indecent language in the mill or else- 
where, or who uses ardent spirits as a beverage." 

The Warumbo Company was succeeded by the Cabot Company. 
This company bought the factory- in 1853, but on account of debt and 
a number of the stockholders failing to pay their assessments, it was 
sold at auction in 18r)7. A number of the former members bought up 
the stock, and organized a company under the name of The Cabot 
Manufacturing Company, with a capital of $400,000. In 18.')7 the 
companj' had two hundred and thirty-five looms in operation and had 
expended $40,000. There were 9,000 spindles at work ; the mill gave 
employment to one hundred and sevent3-tive persons, at a total 

1 From the Rer/ulator. 2 Reminiscences of Allen Colby. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 507 

monthl}- pay of $3,000, and it turned out 50,000 yards of plain and 
drill cotton per week. In 18G5 or 18C6 an addition of seventy feet 
was made on the east side and one of fift3^ feet on the west side, with 
two wings on the ends. In 1867 the mill had 26,000 spindles. The 
company- owned thirty acres of land on the two sides of the river and 
seventy-five tenements, and made its own gas, which it also supplied 
to the town. At the present time (1877) the oflficers of this com- 
pany are as follows : president, C. W. Freeland ; treasurer, Francis 
Cabot ; agent and clerk, Benjamin Greene ; directors, C. W. Free- 
land, B. W. Gleason, Peter Butler, William Amory, Q. A. Shaw, B. 
H. Silsbee, John T. Anderson. The capital stock is $600,000 ; the 
number of spindles, 35,000 ; the number of operatives employed is 
five hundred and fifty. The buildings of the companj' are a fiictory, 
office, storehouse, store, and one hundred tenements. 

The Brunswick AVoollex Factory was established by AVhitten & 
Meder in 1841. It was situated a short distance below the upper 
dam, and the water was brought to it through a flume. This mill was 
not onl}' a fulling and carding mill, but cloth was manufactured in it. 
The business was carried on b}' this fii-m until the mill was burned in 
1849. Since then it has been carried on in various localities b}' the 
late Mr. William Whitten alone, whose business, however, was con- 
fined exclusively to wool carding. 

A Warp Yarn Manufactory was carried on by Mr. Allen Colby, 
from 1844 to the latter part of 1846, on the spot where Scribner's 
flour-mill now stands. 

A partially successful attempt has been made to utilize the water- 
power of the Androscoggin away from the vicinit}^ of the river by 
using it for the purpose of compressing air which could be sent 
through pipes to the places where needed. For this purpose the 
CoMPRESSED-AiR CoMPANY was formed, and in 1872 pipes were laid 
and the air-power was used in Dennison's box factory, at Parent & 
Dufrend's blacksmith shop, at the depot, in the college laboratory, 
and at the printing-office of the Brunswick Telegraph. After a trial 
of one or two j^ears the project was abandoned, owing principally to 
the action of the railroad compau}-, which decided to use steam in 
preference to the air-power. This deprived the Compressed- Air Com- 
pany of its principal source of revenue, and it was obliged to suspend 
operations. 



568 HISTORY OF BliU^^SWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

OTHER MANUFACTORIES. 

Bandbox Manufactory. — From 1850 to 18G0, Mr. B. G. Denions 
carried on the manufacture of bandboxes quite extensively, emploj^- 
ing eigM or ten persons. The boxes were made in eight sizes and put 
up in " nests." Three of these nests were put up in one bundle. 
They were sold in Boston to wholesale dealers in milliner^' goods. 
At that time the bandbox was an indispensable article with the 
ladies, and the manufacture of them was a profitable business. After 
the modern improvements in trunks came into vogue, the}' were less 
used in travelling, and are now almost unknown. 

Brick-Yards. — At what time, and where, the earliest brick-yards 
were, has not been ascertained. There have probably been one or 
more in operation from an early period of the settlement of the town. 
The earliest yard which has come to our notice was one near Gatch- 
ell's Mills. OAvned by Unite Mariner and Barstow Gatchell. This yard 
was established about the j'ear 1800, and if tradition is correct, it fur- 
nished the brick for the tirst college building, Massachusetts Hall. 

In 1817, and previouslj', John A. Dunning had a brick-yard at the 
upper carrying-place. In 1830 there was a brick-3-ard at Mair Point. 
In 1840, and previously', Forsaith & Williston had a ^-ard on Koble 
Street, near Union Street. In 185;'), and subsequently, Owen & 
McManus carried on the business near the end of the lower railroad 
bridge. In 1857, J. W. Owen and John A. Cleaveland had a yard at 
Oak Hill, and Theodore S. JNIcLellan had one on the new Harpswell 
road, about half a mile below the colleges. The latter yard was kept 
in operation until 1870, when Mr. McLellan established his present 
3'ard on Federal Street. The business appears to have been the most 
extensivel}' carried on in 1857, at whic;h time there were three yards 
in operation. The three together turned out in that jear about 
700,000 bricks. 

Carpet-Making. — In 1829, Mr. Ixobert Pender, "formerly from 
one of the first factories in Scotland, but recently from the Somers- 
worth Factoiy," commenced the manufacture of ingrain carpeting, on 
Bow Street, '• from the most fashionable patterns imported." 

The advertisement from which the above is taken goes on to state 
that " his machinery is on the most approved model, and figures of 
an}- kind can be woven to suit the fancy of his employers. Persons 
wishing to have carpeting woven, b}' sending to the factory the yarn 
well scoured and colored can have the same weight of carpeting 
returned." 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 569 

It is said by those who remember this carpet factory that it proved 
unsuccessful, and that probably not more than one or two carpets were 
made here, and the experiment was soon abandoned. 

Clock, Watch, and Jewelry Establishments. — The first manu- 
facturer of clocks and watches and dealer in jewelry in this vicinity 
was a Mr. Bisbee, who carried on this business about 1798, and for 
quite a number of 3'ears later. He was a ver}- cunning artificer. His 
shop was on Mill Street, a short distance west of Bow Street. His 
sign was a carved figure of a horse with a black bo}' upon it, with a 
whip in his hands. When the hour was to be announced, the boy would 
strike the horse and the latter would kick the bell with his heels. It 
was a curious piece of mechanism. Subsequent to 1802 his shop 
stood where Andrew Campbell's store now stands, on the corner of 
Maine and Lincoln Streets. 

About 1805, Robert Eastman established himself in the clock-making 
business, with James Cary, Junior, as an apprentice. In 1806, ]Mr. 
Eastman took Mr. Cary into the Ijusiness as partner, under the style 
of Eastman & Cary. 

Mi's. J. D. Lamb has in her possession a large standing clock which 
was made by this firm in 1806, the cost of which was eighty dollars. 
It has never had an^' repairs made to it excepting new cords for the 
weights twice, and it is now, as it ever has been, an excellent tune- 
keeper. 

About 1809, Mr. Eastman sold out to Mr. Car}', who carried on the 
business in all its branches for many years. He was an honest, con- 
scientious workman and trader, and was highly esteemed. 

In this connection it will not be improper to speak of one of the 
most important improvements ever made in the manufacture of watches, 
and to give a brief sketch of the inventor. 

Aaron L. Dennison, the inventor of machine-made tvatcheyi, was 
born in Freeport in 1812. His father, Andrew Dennison, moved to 
Topsham in 1818, and to Brunswick in 1824. Aaron, when quite 
3'oung, displayed a mechanical tui-n of mind and nuich ingenuit}' in 
the use of his jack-knife. At an earl}- age he would leave his 3'outh- 
ful playmates and steal awa^' to the shop of James Cary and ask per- 
mission to be allowed to help repair clocks and watches. In 1830 he 
was received into Mr. Cary's shop as an apprentice. After he had 
served his time he went to Boston, where he soon become conspicuous 
among the finished mechanicians of that metropolis. 

It was during the years of his laborious life in Boston that Aaron 
Dennison evolved a plan for making the works of watches b}' machin- 



570 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

ery, and with sucli accurac}" and uniformit}' that any given part of one 
watch should be identical with the same part of every other, or what 
he called the interchangeable plan. As early as 1840, Mr. Dennison 
had so fully matured his plan, and was so confident of its practica- 
bilit}', that he predicted to a friend "that within twenty years the 
manufacture of watches would be reduced to as perfect a system 
as the manufacture of fire-arms at the Springfield Armory." In 1849, 
Mr. Dennison, in conjunction with Messrs. Howard & Davis and 
Samuel Curtis of Boston, established the first watch factory, " The 
Boston Watch Company," at East Roxbury, Massachusetts. In 1854 
the works were moved to Waltham. The Waltham Watch Factory is 
too well known to need any description here, which would indeed be 
out of place. The foregoing account, however, of its founder, is due 
to the master workman of whom he learned his trade and to the town 
in which his parents and. connections have so long lived. 

Foundries. — For four or five years, about 1812, Peter O. Alden, 
Esquire, had an iron foundry in the rear of the lot now occupied by 
the new meeting-house of the Free-Will Baptist society, on O'Brien 
Street. The United States government sent disabled cannon to this 
foundry, and they were cast into shot, most of which were sent to Port- 
land for use in the war of 1812-14. 

In 1827 there was a copper and brass foundry carried on by Paul 
Powers near the present cotton-mill of the Cabot Company. In 1834, 
Mr. Powers moved his business to the head of the cove, where he 
continued for some years. 

In 1836, G. & H. Earle had an iron foundry, which was situated on 
the bank of the river, a short distance east of the Shad Island bridge. 
They were succeeded by Charles J. Noyes. The river-wall of the 
foundation is still to be seen. 

In 1844, J. Colbath had a foundry in the rear of the vacant space 
between Scribner's flour-mill and Puriugton's machine-shop. 

Gas Manufacture. — The Brunswick G as-Light Company was 
incorporated April 4, 1854. The corporators were Adam Lemont, 
J. D. Simmons, Rodne}'- Forsaith, Nathaniel T. Palmer, A. J. Stone, 
A. B. Thompson, William H. Hall, and J. W. Forsaith. The first 
meeting was held October 4, 185G, at the Tontine Hotel, and ad- 
journed from time to time without transacting any business, until the 
year 1859. At that time the Cabot Manufacturing Company were 
building gas-works for their own use, and the Brunswick Gas-Light 
Company made a contract with them to furnish the amount of gas 
needed. Thev have continued to furnish it up to the present time. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 571 

At the annual meeting in 1859, Benjamin Greene, Benjamin Furbish, 
John D. Lincohi, Charles J. Oilman, and Samuel R. Jackson were 
chosen directors. Benjamin Greene was chosen president, and B. G. 
Dennison, secretar}', treasurer, and superintendent. In the fall of 
1859, pipes were laid from the factor}' up Maine Street as far as 
Pleasant Street. In the summer of 1868 they were extended to the 
colleges, passing the east side of the Mall. The citizens began using 
gas January 1, 1860, and the first street-lamp was lighted about 1864. 

LiJiE Quarry. — Robert Jordan built the first lime-kiln at New 
Meadows about 1800. It is the same one now in use. Its capacity 
is about one hundred and sevent3'-five casks. In 1820 there were 
1,500 hogsheads of lime manufactured there. The last burnt was 
used in the construction of Lemont Hall in 1870 or 1871. This kiln 
has sometimes been run the whole season, from April to December, 
b}^ Mr. Isaiah Jordan, the present owner of the quarr}-. 

Maciiine-Siiops. — In 1827, and for some years previous, Robert 

Eastman and Jaquith had a machine-shop next to the bridge, 

where the pulp-mill is now situated. About the same time Nahum 
Houghton established a shop where Scribner's flour-mill now is, and 
continued the business there for some years, as late certainly as 1836. 
Turington's machine-shop was established in 1872. 

Match-Factory. — In about the year 1849 the manufacture of 
matches and match-boxes was begun in a mill on Shad Island, by B. 
E. Parkhurst, who continued the business until 1854, when the mill 
was destroj'cd by fire. The matches were sawed at this mill, and 
were then sent to Boston, where the}' were dipped and prepared for 
market. 

Mustard-Mill.— About the year 1830, J. C. Humphreys established 
what was known as tlie Maine Mustard-Mill, using for the purpose 
the upper part of his saw-mill in the Cove. For ten or twelve years 
he did an extensive business in this branch of industry, and the mus- 
tard from his mill enjoyed an almost national fame. The mill was 
burned in 1842, and General Humphreys then abandoned the business. 

Oil-Mill. — In 1820 a mill was erected near the factory for express- 
ing linseed oil. It probably existed but for a short time, as some of 
the older citizens of the town have no remembrance of it. 

Pail Manufactory. — In 1825, and for three or four years subse- 
quently, Nahum Houghton and William Chase manufactured water- 
pails at the end of the toll-bridge, where Scribner's flour-mill now 
stands. J. C. Humphreys carried on the same business for a year or 
two from 1835. 



572 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

Papf.r-Box Manufactories. — The manufacture of jewelry boxes 
originated in this town by the Dennison family. The originator of 
the enterprise was Aaron L. Dennison, of Boston, and formerly of 
Brunswick. In 1843 he kept a jewelry store on Washington Street, 
Boston. At that time a few paper boxes were used to pack nice jew- 
elry in, but no supply could be had, and the few used were made to 
order. The idea of manufacturing these boxes in considerable quan- 
tities occurred to Mr, Dennison, and w'as soon put in practice. The 
only method then known of making sucii boxes was b}' scoring the 
pasteboard half through with a shari)-pointed knife and a pair of com- 
mon shears. To profitably make such work in large quantities a more 
expeditious method was needed, and Mr. Dennison there foi'e impro- 
vised two machines to take the place of the ordinary knife and shears. 
lie afterwards invented a machine that would do all the work at one 
time. Thismacliine was patented, and is the standard one in use for all 
such work at the present time. The business commenced in 1843 by 
Mr. Dennison sending some rude machiner}' and a small stock of paper, 
with the necessary instructions, to his father. Colonel Andrew Denni- 
son, of Brunswick. The business at first employed from three to five 
persons, but ten years later as man}" as twent3'-five persons. In 1855, 
Colonel Dennison sold out to his youngest son, PI W. Dennison, then 
in the jewelry business in Boston, and the manufacture was then moved 
to Newton, IMassachusetts. In the 3-ear 18G3 a part of the woi'k was 
returned to Brunswick and placed under the superintendence of Mrs, 
M. D. SAvift, a sister of E. W. Dennison. In 18G7, Mr. Dennison 
deemed it expedient to make a finer grade of goods than was ever 
before made, and Brunswick was selected as the best place in which to 
carry on the work. His nephew, B. L. Dennison, was appointed 
superintendent, and the business was commenced and carried on sepa- 
rate from any other. JMany improvements were made by the new 
superintendent, the most important of which was the invention of a 
machine to nuike cushions for ring-boxes. This fine work depart- 
ment employetl, at first, about ten hands, and in five years twenty-five 
hands. In 1872 the Dunlap Block was purchased and enlarged to a 
sufficient cai)acity to accommodate one hundred workmen, and the 
Newton fiictory was moved to it. 

In 1875, B. L. Dennison commenced the manufacture of boxes, 
taking witli him, in the business, Mr. C. J. Perkins, of Portland, 
This firm of Dennison & Perkins gives emploj'ment to twenty-five or 
thirty persons. The amount paid for labor alone, in this industry, in 
Brunswick, may be safeh' estimated as high as $25,000 per year. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 573 

The annual number of boxes manufocturod is said to average over one 
hundred gross per day for three hundred days in the year, or, in round 
numbers, 4,500,000 boxes per 3'ear. 

Paper Staining JMANUFACxouy. — About the year 1820, and for 
several years subsequently, Mr. WiUiam Snowdon carried on the busi- 
ness of staining, or printing, wall papers, in a building which stood a 
short distance south of the college grounds. 

Plough Manufactory. — In 1850, Silas Goddard commenced the 
manufacture of steel and iron ploughs, cultivators, etc., at the God- 
dard homestead, at the extreme western part of Brunswick. The 
manufacture has been continued to the present time, and some excel- 
lent work has been turned out. 

Pulp Manufactory. — The Androscoggin Pulp Company was in- 
corporated in September, 1870, for the manufacture of wood pulp, 
box boards, and card middies. The stockholders then were : Sam- 
uel R. Jackson, of Brunswick ; S. A. Perkins, F. A. Hussey, of 
Topsham ; E. B. Dennison, and C. D. Brown, then of Yarmouth. 
The capital stock was SG,000. The otlicers were S. R. Jackson, 
president, and E. B. Dennison, secretary and treasurer. They com- 
menced the manufacture of wood pulp in' the fall of 1871, in Tops- 
ham, but removed to the Brunswick side of the river in the fall of 
1872. The present capital of the compau}' is $60,000. William 
A. Russell, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, is president, and E. B. 
Dennison, of Portland, is the secretary and treasurer. From forty to 
fifty workmen are emplo3'ed in the manufacture of wood pulp and wood- 
pulp boards, both of wliich are shipped all over the country. There 
are several mills in different parts of the State, which are operated 
under a license from this compan}'. 

Salt Works. — During the war of the Revolution, and down to 
the close of the war of 1812, salt was manufactured at the New Mead- 
ows River. Benjamin Shaw,^ of Roxbury, Massachusetts, and John 
Bakeman,^ of Castine, were engaged in the business at New Meadows 
during the Revolution. 

Soap Factory. — In 1820 there was a manufactoiy of soap in the 
Cove, carried on b}- Dean Swift, at which 12,000 pounds of hard soap 
was annually made, and shipped to the West Indies. In 1874, and 
for a few years previousl3^ Levi F. Andrews had a similar factory in 
East Brunswick, and L. H. Bryant now carries on the business a short 
distance from the village, on the road to Bath. 



1 Ilislory of Gardiner, p. 137. ~ His^tory of CciKtim, etc. , p. 199. 



574 IIISTOFT OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HAIiPSWELL. 

Susrr.NDKR Factory. — In September, 18G7, Edwin IT. Thompson 
and William H. Stanwood commenced the mannfacture of suspenders 
with metallic springs. The business did not prove sufhcientl^' remu- 
nerative to be long continued. 

Tool Manufactories. — For five or six years, about 1844, Mr. E. 
Hazen carried on the business of manufacturing hammers, and pro- 
duced some excellent articles. In 1854, J. P. Storer manufactured 
ship-joiners' and spar-makers' tools, and in 1856 he added to it the 
manufacture of planes. 

Otiikr IxnusTRiEs. — It is not at all probable that all the various 
branches of industry that have from time to time been carried on in 
this town have been specified, or that all the parties have l)een named 
who have been engaged in those pursuits which have been mentioned. 
Enougli has been given, however, to show that the town will compare 
favorably, in respect to its trade and manufactures, with other towns of 
its size in this State. It will, moreover, be seen that, though the loca- 
tion of Bowdoin College in Brunswick has been, in various wavs, a great 
and imdoubted benefit to the town, yet the statement so often made, 
that the college supports the town, is untrue. 

In ante-revolutionary times the principal business here, besides 
fjirming and fishing, was the shipping of wood to Boston. A great 
deal of it Avent from Bnnganock Bay. At one time during that period, 
a vessel took over ninety cords. The price here was from os. 9d. to 
4.S. Gf/. per cord, and it brought in Boston from two dollars to 
two dollars and fift}' cents per cord. At that time bark was worth 
here 9.s\, and at Boston three dollars. 

During old colonial times, especialh- between 1766 and 1776, when 
the Province of Maine was under the control of the crown olficers of 
Massachusetts, all trees suitable for masts for the royal navy Avere, by 
royal decree, held to be the property of the crown, and conmiissioners 
were appointed b}' the king to look after their preservation. This 
intei'fered seriousl}- with the profits of the settlers, as it was the cus- 
tom of the commissioners to put the ro^'al mark on all the good timber, 
leaving only the poorer stuff for those who in reality, perhaps, had the 
most equitable right to the best. Asa natural consequence the set- 
tlers paid comparatively little attention to the royal decree, and cut 
the wood as they pleased. This brought about frequent collisions 
between them and the oflficers of the crown. Such w^as the state of 
affairs in the Province of Maine generally, and it is fairly- presuma- 
ble that the citizens of this town and vicinitj' shared in these troubles, 
though no mention of such fact has been found. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 575 

BANKS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES. 

In Januar}', 1822, Abner Bourne and others petitioned the legisla- 
ture for incorporation as a bank. The Act incorporating them was 
passed, and in 1825 the Union Bank, of Brunswick, went into opera- 
tion. David Dunlap was the first president, and El)enezer Everett 
the cashier. The latter served in the same capacity, with great accept- 
ance, for fourteen years, and Avas then succeeded by Joseph McKeen, 
who served until the affairs of the bank were wound up. Mr. Dunlap 
resigned some time before his decease, in 1S43, and was succeeded by 
Major Williiim Frost, of Topsham. 

The BuuNswiCK Bank went into operation August 15, 183G, and 
the bank building was erected that year. Bichard T. Dunlap was the 
first president, and Moses E. Woodman the cashier. The directors 
were Bichard T. Dunlap, George F. Richardson, Alfred J. Stone, 
John v. IIum[)hreys, and Gardiner Green. Mr. Woodman held the 
office of cashier until 1839, when he resigned in consequence of ill 
health. He was succeeded by Phineas Barnes, who resigned in 1841, 
and was succeeded by Augustus C. Bobbins. The latter served from 
November 1, 1841, until December 31, 1850, and was then succeeded 
by John Rogers, who remained until the closing up of the bank in 
1857. 'I he capital stock of this bank was $75,000, fifty per cent 
being paid at the outset. 

The Second Union Bank received its charter in July, 1850, and 
commenced operations January 1, 1851. Joseph McKeen, Esq., was 
its president to October 14, l-SGS, and was succeeded bj' Adam 
Lemont, who served until the closing of the bank in 1SG5. Augustus 
C. Bobbins was cashier from the opening of the bank to September 
9, 1857. He Avas succeeded by Bartlett Adams, who served until 
July 1, 18G5, at which time the bank was changed to a national bank. 
The capital stock was, up to May 1 , 1858, $100,000. After the latter 
date it was $50,000. 

The Maine Bank was incorporated April 22, 1857, and went into 
operation on the eighteenth of June. Its capital stock was $50,000. 
Samuel R. Jackson served as president from June 18, 1857, to Decem- 
ber 9, 18G2, and again from October 19, 18G3, to December 17, 18G3. 
Nathaniel T. Palmer was president from December 9, 18G2, to October 
19, 18G3. Augustus C. Robbhis was cashier from June 18, 1857, to 
November 1, 1859; and Ai Brooks, Jr. from November 1, 1859, to 
December 17, 18G3, at which time the bank ceased to exist as a State 
bank. 



576 IIISIORY OF BRUX^WICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

The Pe.tepscot Bank went into operation October 2, 1857, with a 
capital stock of $75,000, of which one half was paid in. The officers 
of this l)ank were Joseph Badger, president ; John Rogers, cashier ; 
Joseph Badger, William Barron, Alfred Skolfield, T. S. IMcLellan, 
and H. C. Martin, directors. 

In Jnne, 1865, this bank was changed into a national bank. 'I'he 
capital stock was $50,000. William Barron was the first president of 
the national bank. lie was succeeded in January, 1866, hy William 
S. Skolticld, who served until 1875, when H. C. Martin was elected 
to that office. 

John Rogers, who was cashier of the Pejepscot Bank, continued as 
cashier of the I'ejepscot National Bank until August, 1871, when he 
was found to lie a defaulter to the bank, and was arrested and sent to 
the State prison for the crime. In Novemlier of the same year ]Mr. 
L. H. Stover was elected cashier, winch office he still holds. 

The First National Bank of Brunswick (forinerh' the ^Nlaiue) was 
organized December 17, 1863, with a capital stock of $50,000, which 
was increased in 1864 to 875,000, and in 1865 to $100,000. Samuel 
R. Jackson was president from December 17, 1863, to January 10, 
1871, and -was then succeeded by Nathaniel T. Palmer, who still 
retains the office. Ai Brooks, Jr., was cashier to July 1, 1868, when 
he was succeeded by John P. Winchell, the present incumbent. 

The Union National Bank (formerly the Second Union Bank) was 
organized in July,' 1865, with a capital stock of $100,000. Adam 
Lemont served as president till May 22, 1872, when he was succeeded 
by William Decker, who is the present president of the bank. Bart- 
lett Adams served as cashier from July, 1865, to May, 1868, when he 
was succeeded by H. A. Randall, the present incumbent of that office. 

The Brunswick Savings Institution was incorporated JNlarc^ 20, 
1858. The following is a list of its presidents since then : — 

Amherst Whitmore, elected May 11, 1858; Robert Bowker, elected 
November 1, 1859; John ^Y . Perry, elected May 6, 1862; John L. 
Swift, elected May 5, 1863 ; Benjamin Greene, elected May 7, 1867; 
C. C. Humphreys, elected May 21, 1868; John L. Swift, elected 
March 4, 1875. 

The present Board of Trustees are : Henry Carvill, president ; 
Henry Carvill, Benjamin Greene, A. H. IVIerryman, Alonzo Day, and 
John Bishop, trustees ; J. M. Winchell, treasurer. 

The deposits of the institution in Ma}-, 1877, amounted to some 
over $313,000. 

The TopsiiAM and Brunsavick Twenty-Five Cents Savings Bank 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 577 

was organized March 22, 1875. Wildes P. Walker was the first presi- 
dent, and L. H. Stover, cashier, and both have been continued in 
office until the present time. 

The trustees of the bank in 1875 were Robert Skolfield, O. B. 
Merrill, Daniel H. Stone, J. F. Whitne}-, George Barron, E. D. 
Toothaker, and Wildes P. Walker. The bank is in a prosperous 
condition. 

The Brunswick Mutual Marine Insurance Company was formed 
in 1856. It had a guaranteed fund of $200,000. The officers were : 
Robert McManus, Abner B. Thompson, George F. Mustard, John C. 
Humphreys, Rodney Forsaith, Samuel Dunning, Robert Bowker, 
Adam Lemont, Clement Skolfield, Francis T. Purintou, Nehemiah 
Larrabee, Robert Spear, William S. Skolfield, James Ross, AVilliam 
Decker, directors; Adam Lemont, president; J. W. Forsaith, secre-, 
tary. 

This company' was not successful and was obliged to make three 
assessments upon its stockholders, one of five per cent, one often per 
cent, and one of nine per cent. 

In 18G5 the arfairs of the company were placed in the hands of 
trustees, Nathan Webb of Portland and C. C. Humphreys of Bruns- 
wick, b}- whose order the last assessment was made and the business 
of the compan}' was then wound np. 

TRADES. 

Some account will now be given of the regular occupations of the 
citizens of Brunswick, and of those who were engaged in trade at an 
earl}^ period or who have been particularl}^ prominent in their several 
avocations. It was intended to give as complete a list of all in each 
trade as could be obtained, but the size which this work has already 
attained renders it imperativel}' necessaiy to omit the names of all 
now in business and to speak onl}' of the earlier ones. 

Auctioneers. — The first of whom there is any account was John 
Lee, who was in this business in 1821. After him, in 1829, was John 
Coburn. Charles Weld was soon after this engaged in the business for 
a few years. Longer in the business than an}' one else was J. W. For- 
saith, who followed it from about 1837 until 1876. 

Bakers. — The first baker in town is believed to have been Frederick 
Trench, who came here from Boston about the j'ear 1792. At first he 
lived at Maquoit, but afterwards he occupied a small house near the 
colleges, where he baked gingerbread and brewed spruce beer, which 
he sold to the students and allowed them to keep the accounts. He 
37 



578 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

is said to have been a most excellent baker, but his qualifications for 
other business were limited. In some of the earlier lithographs of the 
college, Trench is shown with his wheelbarrow. 

In 1802, and for a few 3'ears subsequently. Colonel Thomas Esta- 
brook carried on the business in a building which stood on what is 
now the road between the meeting-house of the First Parish and the 
college grounds. 

About the year 1812, Ezra Drew had a bakery near the top of the 
hill which leads to the Androscoggin Bridge. He carried on the busi- 
ness there and elsewhere for ten or a dozen 3-ears, the latter portion 
of the time being in the ganibrel-roofed building, still standing on 
Centre Street. 

Francis Card had a bakery in 1819, and carried on the business 
until 1827, when he sold out to William Harmon, who continued the 
business until about 1845. 

Barbers. — " Billy" Morrison was, according to tradition, the first 
barljcr and hair-cutter in Brunswick. He carried on the business early 
in this century, but precisely when is not known. Nicholas Juitt was 
in the business as earlj' as 1827. Among his successors were J. H. 
Rogers in 1836 ; John Hill, 1836 ; Farrow & Chavrous, 1845 ; Henry 
Eobinson, 1848 ; and J. H. Tebbetts, 1849, and to the present time. 

BLACKSMrrHS. — Mr. Andrew Dunning, who settled at Maquoit in 
1717, was a blacksmith b}' trade, and undoubtedly pursued that avoca- 
tion for many 3'ears. 

The next person engaged in this business of whom we ha^e any 
account was Colonel William Stanwood, whose shop stood on what is 
now the northwesterl}' corner of Centre Street, about on the site of 
the building now (1877) occupied b}' Larkin Snow, grocer, and J. H. 
Brackett, tailor. Colonel Stanwood carried on the business for some 
years previous to 1790. James McFarland, who learned his trade of 
Colonel Stanwood, took the shop about 1790 and continued tbe busi- 
ness until 1797, when he moved away and the shop was torn down. 
About the same time that McFarland carried on the business Calvin 
Barstow had a shop, and in 1795 Theodore Stone worked at this 
trade. Since then the business has been carried on b}' a large number 
of persons, among whom may be mentioned Nathan Woodard, about 
1809; James Jones, about 1810; Jones & Hunt, in 1825; Daniel 
Coombs, on Mason Street, for many years previous to 1825 ; Joseph 
Dustin, about 1820 ; Barker & Stinchfield on Maine Street, about 
1825, said to have been superior workmen ; John Noble, Mill Street, 
1825 to 1838; Benjamin French, 1838 and subsequenth* ; Knovvlton 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 570 

& Menyraan, 1845 ; Gross & Owen, 1845 ; William Gross, for many 
years previous to 1872. 

In addition to the above, there was, early in the present century, 
though the exact date is not known, a blacksmith shop on the corner 
of Federal and Water Streets, where the Nehemiah Larrabee house 
now stands. Trueworth}' Murray occupied it at one time, and before 
him was William Hunt. 

Boat-Builders. — The only person in Brunswick who is known to 
have made the building of boats a regular occupation was AVyman 
Bradbury, He was engaged in this business about the year 1740. 

Bookbinders. — The earliest bookbinder in Brunswick of whom 
there is anj' record was Benjamin B. Hazeltine, who carried on the 
business in 1820. He was also a manufacturer of pocket-books, mili- 
tary belts, and blank books. He was succeeded by Henr}' K. Adams, 
who carried on the business until 1828, when he was followed bj' 
Edward Town, who worked at the trade for about one year. Ben- 
jamin G. Deunison had a bookbindeiy from about 1833 until 1855, 
when he sold out to H. J. L. Stan wood. 

Boot and Shoe Makers. — Anthony ^ and William ^ Vincent, one 
or both, are said to have been engaged in this business prior to 1760. 
The former is said to have been engaged in it about 1735. No date 
is given in regard to the business of the latter, but he is said to have 
pursued it at the fort. Tobias Ham, according to a famil}' tradition, 
was a shoemaker, as well as tanner, and carried on the business, with 
his farming and tanning, about the middle of the last centuiy. 
Joseph Jack worked at the trade about 1802, and Jesse P. Mitchell 
some 3-ears later than that. Ebenezer Nichols had a shop about the 
year 1800. The number of shoemakers since that time is too great 
to admit of enumeration. 

Butchers. — There were, probabl}', persons engaged in this occupa- 
tion very earl}- in the settlement of the place, but the first person 
known to have made it an exclusive business was Samuel Beal, who 
carried on quite an extensive business a few years subsequent to 1802. 
Somewhere about 1820, Jonathan Pollard carried on the business. 
Ebenezer Swett, who in his advertisements styled himself " Knight of 
the Cleaver and Professor of Grease," was engaged in the business in 
1840, and for man}' years subsequently. 

Cabinet-Makers. — The onl}' persons known to have been engaged 
in this business were Shimuel and William Owen, in 1802 ; John Owen, 

1 McKeen, MS. Lecture. 2 Pejepscot Papers. 



580 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

1804; Henry G. H. Swanton, 1828; J. Nelson, 1830; and Philip 
Owen, J, F. Titcomb, and J. F. Tappan. 

Chair-Makers. — In 1825, Andrew Dewey carried on the manufac- 
ture of chairs in a building a few rods soutli of Elm Street, about 
■where the Brunswick House now stands. In 1845 the same busi- 
ness was carried on by Samuel Owen and son, on Maine Street, a few 
rods north of Ehn Street. 

Carriage-Makers and Wheelwrights. — In 1802 and for a num- 
ber of years previoush' and subsequently, Timothy Woymouth carried 
on the business of making cart-wheels in a building which stood on the 
site of the present meeting-house of the First Parish. He is believed 
to have been the first in the business here. 

Spollett & Johnson were the first in Brunswick to make wagons 
and carriages, commencing the business about 1820 and continuing 
for some years together. In 1830, James S[)ollett had a shop alone, 
and was engaged in the business for some years, and w^as succeeded by 
his son, Augustus F. Spollett. Others have worked at this trade at 
ditierent times, but none so continuously as the Spolletts. 

Carpenters anl> Joiners. — There must have been those among the 
very early settlers who understood this trade and worked at it as oc- 
casion required. The earliest reference which has been found to any 
one who worked exclusivel}' at the trade is to Robert Pearse, who 
worked on the first meeting-house in 1735. Thomas Neal worked at 
his trade about the same time, and Robert Smart in 1752. ' It would 
be impossible to enumerate all who have worked at this trade since 
then, but there are two persons, who were particularly prominent in 
the business in the early part of this century , to whom allusion should 
be made. Samuel Melcher, 3d, was a sui)enor workman, and built 
man}' of the better class of buildings during tliat period, among which 
may be mentioned the second meeting-house of the First Parish, 
which was erected in 1806 on the site of the present edifice ; Massa- 
chusetts Hall, the old college chapel, Winthrop Hall and Appleton 
Hall, the houses of Professor Cleaveland, Professor U])hnm, Professor 
Newman, and that now' occupied by Professor Packard. His last 
work was the present college chapel, which he superintended in the 
eightieth year of his age, doing the iricer work himself. He also built, 
in Topsham, the Baptist and Congregationalist meeting-houses, the 
Doctor Porter house, now Mrs. Susan T. Purinton's, and the Veazie 
house, now the residence of Mr. Woodbur}' B. Pnrinton. 

Mr. Anthony C. Raymond was engaged in this lousiness between 
the 3'ears 181G and 1839, during which time he built a large number 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 581 

^; 

of public and private buildings, among which were the Tontine Hotel, 
the Town House, the main building of the Cotton Factory, Maine 
Hall, of Bowdoin College, and four churches, nameh", the old Univer- 
salist Meeting-House on Federal Street, the meeting-house on Federal 
Street now occupied by the Catholics, the Union Meeting-House at 
Growstowu, and the Free- Will Baptist Church in Topsham. 

CoRDWAiNERS. — The onl}' person engaged in this business whose 
name has been met with was Joseph Morse. He carried on his busi- 
ness either just before or during the Revolution. 

Daguerrean Artists and Photographers. — The first daguerrean 
artist is believed to have been Charles E. Blake, in 184;"). He was 
succeeded by a Mr. Upton, who carried on the business for several 
years about 1852. Others in the daguerreotype or photographic busi- 
ness were H. S. Cook, about 1854 ; J. O Durgin, 1854 ; G. S. Smiley-, 
1854; Mansfield & Hall, 1856; and William Pierce, from 1853 to 
1875. 

Dentists. — The first professional dentist to make his appearance in 
town is thought to have been D. S. Grandin, in 1844. Of course the 
mere extracting of teeth had been done before that time by individuals 
who, from sufficient experience, had acquired knowledge and skill 
enough to warrant them in making it somewhat a specialty. Since 
then there have been, J. Matthews, about 1845, J. W. Cook, about 
1854, and others since. 

Gunsmiths. — James Cary, Senior, was the first to work at this trade, 
which he did for some years previous to 1800, and for a short time 
subsequently. His shop was on the site of Day's Block, about where 
E. F. Brown's jewelry store is now. P. Powers, about the 3'ear 1828, 
worked at this business. 

Hat and Cap Makers. — This business was first established here 
in 1791, by Lemuel Swift. His shop was in a small building, just 
north of the Rodne}^ Forsaith house, on Maine Street. Major Swift 
continued the business until about 1820, when he died, and Joshua 
Lufkin, who had learned the trade of him, returned from Bath, and 
carried on the business for his widow for a time. He afterwards 
carried it on for himself in the same building. He next occupied the 
wooden building which stood on the site of the brick store now occu- 
pied by Barton Jordan. Here he manufactured and sold hats, caps, 
furs for ladies, sleigh-robes, and skins of various animals. Many of 
the older inhabitants can remember the stand of hats, wrapped in 
tissue paper of different colors, which stood at the side of the door to 
attract the notice of passers-b}'. Mr. Lufkin made several different 



582 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

styles of hats for men and bo3's, and sometimes for ladies' wear, 
militar}' hats for trainers, fanc}- caps for students, and tarpaulins for 
sailors. William P. Fowler was in partnership with Mr. Lufkin, 
about 1844, for a short time; and with David Dexter and Richard 
Holland at other times. IMr. Lufkin continued in the business until 
about 1848. Mr. Richard Holland also carried on the hat-making 
business from about 1833 to about 1840. 

Masons. — The first mason to have a permanent residence in Bruns- 
wick is said to have been Thomas Pool, who came here from Portland 
in 1802 to build the first college building (Massachusetts Hall). He 
remained in town and worked at his trade for many 3'ears thereafter. 
A short time after Pool came here another mason, named Chase Wig- 
gin, established himself in the business. The number of those who 
have worked at the trade since then is quite large. 

Marble Workers. — In 1844, Richard Adams carried on the busi- 
ness of making gravestones and doing other work in marble. He 
was succeeded by his son Francis, now a well-known lawyer in Bath. 
Edward Melcher, now of Bath, and others have worked at this trade 
since then. 

Nail-Maker. — About the j'ear 179.5 a man named Richardson had 
a shop on the site of the store now occupied by Barton Jordan, a few 
doors south of Centre Street, where he made shingle and clapboard 
nails from iron hoops taken from rum-barrels ; and as rum-barrels were 
then ver}' plenty, he had no difficulty in obtaining hoops sufficient for 
his purpose: He continued the business for about a j'ear, when he 
was obliged to abandon it in consequence of the bursting of a cannon, 
which he fired at a muster in 1796, by which he lost an arm. It is 
worthy of note that the gun which exploded was one which had for- 
merly been used in Fort George. ^ 

Painters. — Until after the Revolution there were no }):iinted houses 
in Brunswick, and consequently there were none who made painting 
an occupation until after that time. Jack Robertson, an Englishman, 
established himself here about the year 1800. and is said to have been 
the first painter in town. The number of those in the business since 
then is quite large. 

Mr. Dean Swift was undoubtedly in the business for a longer period 
than an}' one else, having begun in 1818. Sign-painting was his 
specialty, and in that branch of the business he excelled. He painted 
for Jackson & May, in 1818, the first gilt sign ever painted in Bruns- 

1 Reminiscences of Dean Swift. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 583 

wick ; the lettering was clone in German text. Mr. Swift did his last 
job of sign- painting in 1872.^ 

Potters. — J. Barker, 2d, is the only person known to have had a 
pottery in Brunswick. He was in the business about 1823 and sub- 
sequentl}'. 

Saddlers and Harness-Makers. — The first person known to have 
carried on this business in Brunswick was a Mr. Brooks, who came 
here from Vermont, and who was engaged in it in 1802, and probably 
for some years previous and subsequent to that time. After him 
were Stephen Lee, about 1808, and John Lee, his son, who succeeded 
his father; Edward Ryonson, 1827 to 1858; Prince Dinsmore, in 
1829 ; and others. 

Stable -Keepers. — From a very early date innkeepers were accus- 
tomed to putting up the horses of their guests, but no one is known 
to have made it a business to keep horses to let until about the year 
1808, when a man, whose name is forgotten by our informant, opened 
a livery stable on Maine Street, a few rods south of Mill Street. 
After a few years Stephen Lee bought the stable and continued the 
business for some time. In 1820, John Beals opened a livery stable 
on the hill opposite the tavern. After him were Nathaniel Springer 
in 1824, and subsequently ; Wyatt & Mitchell in 1836 ; Robert Bowker 
and others at a later date. 

Tailors. — The only tailors living here in the last century, whose 
names have come down to us, were Mr. John Miller, who Avorked at 
the houses of his customers about 1765, a Mr. Robinson, and a Mr. 
Hammond. Where the shops of the latter were and when they were 
in business has not been ascertained. From about 1792 to about 
1800 a man named Manning worked at this trade in a building on 
Mason Street. Mr. Caleb Gushing was engaged in this business from 
about 1796 to 1830, at which time he sold out his tailoring business to 
his son, Louis T. Gushing, who had for five years previous been in 
partnership with his father, and who continued it until his death in 
1838. In 1825, and for some years after, Lawrence Joyce carried on 
the business. Benjamin Mason had a tailoring establishment here 
from before 1820 to 1830 or later. John L. Swift, John W Perry, 
Joseph Hinkley, J. H. Nichols, and others were in the business at a 
later period. 

Tanners. — The earliest tanner of whom we have any account was 
Tobias Ham, who had a tan-yard at New Meadows, near " Ham's 
Hill," in 1747 and subsequently. His tan-pits were in the low lands 

1 His death occurred while this chapter was passing through the press. 



584 HISTORY OF brvnswick, topsham, and harpswell. 

of the field east of the present residence of Mr. C3-rus Peterson. 
Jeremiah INIoulton had a tanner}' in 1802, and at the same time a Mr. 
Heath had one in what is now the garden of Mr. Robert Bowker. 
About 1810 the late AdamLeraont cai-ried on the tannery at the latter 
place. He was succeeded by James Green, who was in turn succeeded 
by Samuel Moulton. In 1820. Charles Pollard bought Moulton out, 
and continued the business for some years. 

Tobacco Manufactory. — About the .year 1800, Doctor Charles 
Coffin carried on the business of making tobacco into " figs" and 
" pigtails," in a building which stood on the lot now occupied by the 
residence of Mr. Benjamin Greene, on the corner of O'Brien Street. 
He carried on the business for about three years. He did not him- 
self work at the business, but employed men to work for him.^ 

Weighers of Hay, etc. — Previous to the 3'ear 1816, hay had not 
been weighed in Brunswick. It was the custom to guess at the weight 
by the size of the load, and when the seller and the buyer could not 
agree upon the quantity, they called upon their neighbors to act as 
referees. 

In 1816, Russell Stoddard erected the first scales in Brunswick at a 
point about opposite Green Street, in what is now the Mall. These 
scales were similar in construction and appearance to those described 
further on as in use at Topsham. Of late years there have been quite 
a number of scales in different parts of the village. 

Store-Keepers. — In the following account of the traders of Bruns- 
wick, mention is made of those only who were in business at an early 
.period, or who were particularly prominent as traders at a later date. 

All of the early stores were what were termed variety stores, con- 
taining a general assortment of dry and fancy goods, boots and shoes, 
groceries, liquors, china, glass, earthen, and hard ware, stationery, 
etc. 

In 1715 there was a storehouse connected with Fort George, for 
depositing goods, and it is probable that the settlers were supplied 
from it with such articles as their immediate necessities required. 

Mr. Woodside likewise had a building, a few years later, at Maquoit 
in which he traded.^ 

Samuel Standwood and Samuel Moody were licensed retailers prior 
to 1758. Those early stores were not kept open constantly, but were 
onl}' opened when customers came to purchase anj-thing. 

As early as 1780 old Esquire John Dunlap sold West India goods 

1 Reminiscences of Dean Swift. ^ McKeen, MS. Lecture. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 585 

in a building which stood in what is now the yard in front of the office 
of the late Dr. Lincoln. It is related that there was an unfinished 
attic over the store, into which a small scuttle-hole opened from the 
store below. Esquire Dunlap had no mone^'-drawer, and was accus- 
tomed to throw pieces of coin received from customers up through the 
hole into the attic. That was all the safe the times demanded. 

Previous to 1800, Benjamin Stone kept store in a building near the 
northerh" corner of Maine and Mill Streets. 

In 1798, Veazie & Stone kept store on what is now the northerly 
corner of Maine and Dunlap Streets, in a building which was owned 
by Captain John Dunlap. The building was burned that year, but 
was soon rebuilt and is now standing. The chimney is the original 
chimney. In 1802, Robert D. Dunning and Josiah Noyes traded 
in the same store after it was rebuilt. 

John Schwartkins, a native of Holland, kept a store in an old 
building which stood on the site of the present McLellan Block, 
between the years 179G and 1822. John Peterson kept a store at 
New Meadows previous to the year 1800. The building is still 
standing, but in a dilapitated condition. Doctor Charles Coffin had 
a store on Maine Street in 1800, and for some seven or eight years 
later. It was on the corner of O'Brien Street, on the site of the resi- 
dence of Benjamin Greene. He was a ph^'sician, but did not practise, 
but kept a small stock of medicines. 

In 1802, Colonel William Stanwood, Richard Tappan, John Perry, 
Charles Ryan, and a few others had stores. Mr. Perry continued in 
trade until about 1830. Daniel and Jotham Stone each had a store as 
early as 1802. Daniel's first store was in a building which stood 
about where the foot of the Mall is now. Subsequently he erected the 
building still standing on Maine Street, on the edge of the cove, about 
opposite the factory store, and which is now painted green. There he 
traded for many years. Jotham Stone's store was on Maine Street, 
on the southerly corner of Mill Street. Here he kept until 1820, or 
later, doing a large amount of business. His store was considered 
the best in town. 

In 1803, Henry and Frederick Quimby erected a large building 
where the Tontine now stands, and they kept a store there until about 
the year 1818. 

Nathaniel Poor began trading here about 1808, and continued for 
many 3'ears, a part of the time being in partnership with John Coburn. 
David Dunlap, on the corner of Maine and Dunlap Streets, and 
his brother, Richard !'. Dunlap, on the corner of Bank Street, where 



586 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Smith's billiard-room now is, were prominent traders for many years 
subsequent to 1812. 

Joseph and John McKeen began about the same time, and were in 
trade for a long series of years. Joseph was on the corner of Maine 
and Cleaveland Streets, where is now the store of Charles Townsend ; 
and John was on the corner of Maine and Noble Streets, where is now 
the residence of Doctor Asher Ellis. 

Nathaniel Badger was in trade in 1813, and for many years subse- 
quently. At first his store was in a building ^hich stood on the site 
of the present store of Mr. Barton Jordan ; later he occupied a build- 
ing on the southern corner of Centre Street, where the store of Mr. 
A. G. Poland now is, and at one time in a building on Pleasant 
Street, a1)0ut where the Methodist Church is. He had a good trade. 

From 18 IG to 1820, and perhaps a little later, L. T. Jackson and 
Charles JMay, under the stj'le of Jackson & Ma}-, kept a store in the 
building on IMaine Street which is now the residence of Mr. B. G. 
Dennison. About 1818, Ezra Drew kept a store on Maine Street, in 
a building on the side of the cove, a few rods south of the Daniel 
Stone store. He remained in trade onlj- a few years. In 1818, Eph- 
raim Brovvn and J. C. Humphrej'S formed a copartnership, and kept 
a store for a number of j'ears on the southern corner of ]\lill and 
Maine Streets. 

In 1820 there were at least thirteen stores. Among those in trade that 
3-ear, who have not already been named, were Waterhouse & West, who 
were in trade together and singl}' until about 1828. Jere O'Brien kept 
store in 1820, and for a few years subsequently'. Stone & Morse did a 
good business between 1820 and 1836. James H. Mills had a store 
in the old Stanwood Building on the north corner of Maine and Centre 
Streets, from 1820 to 1830. Koger Merrill was in trnde in 1820 and 
for a few 3'ears subsequentlj' on the corner of Maine and Mill Streets. 
Abner Bourne, in 1820- and subsequently, kept where is now the store 
of Barton Jordan. A. B. Thompson and A. B. Thompson & Co. in 
1820, and for six or eight years, was on the east side of Maine Street 
on the side of the cove. Joseph Demeritt in 1820, and subsequentl}- 
Demeritt & Stone, until about 1830. Ethan Earle, on the north cor- 
ner of Mill Street, in 1820 to 183G, did a large business. Noah 
Hinkley from 1820 to 1829, on the northern corner of Maine and 
Mason Streets, where Day's Block now stands, had a large stock and 
did a good business. Jacob Johnson, from 1820 to 1836, or a few 
years later, was on the northern corner of Centre Street. 

In 1824, John Coburn kept store in Hiukley's Block. In 1825, Jesse 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 587 

Pierce, and Dunning & Parsliley (Nathaniel Dunning and Ebenezer 
Parsliley) were in trade. At a later date these two last-named traders 
were alone or with other partners. They both traded for some years. 

In 1828, Caleb Cushing and his sou, Francis D. Gushing, opened a 
variety store in a building on the corner of Maine and Pleasant Streets. 
where Lemont Block now stands. The building had been erected by 
Mr. Caleb Cushing about four years previously. The firm of Cushing 
& Co. continued the business until 1835, when Francis died, and Mr. 
Caleb Cushing thereafter conducted the business alone until his death 
in 1838, when the store passed into the hands of his youngest son, 
John S. Cushing, who occupied it until it was destroyed by fire in 1849. 
For nine years previous to taking his father's store, the latter had 
been in trade at the lower part of the town. For many years previous 
to the establishment of this store, Mr. Caleb Cushing had carried on 
the tailoring business in a building a few doors north of Pleasant 
Street, about where is now the store of G. B. Tenney. Thus for more 
than fifty years did he or his sons do business at or near the corner, 
and, until within a few years, the locality was known as Cushing's 
Corner. 

Among those in trade subsequent to 1830 should be mentioned 
George Earle, 1830 to about 1844 ; William S. Murray, 183G and sub- 
sequently ; Isaac Center, 1845 to 1859 ; Samuel Webb, 1840 to 1870. 

The foregoing list embraces only a small portion of those who were 
in general trade during the first half of this century. In addition to 
the foregoing, mention should be made of those who have been engaged 
in special branches of trade. 

The first Apothecaky in Brunswick was George W. Holden, 1820 
to 1832. After him was Henry M. Prescott, 1832 to 1840 ; and others. 
Of all who have been in this business in Brunswick, Doctor William 
Baker was engaged in it the longest, from 1836 to his death in 1867, 
a period of thirt3--one 3'ears. 

The first Bookstore in Brunswick was established by the late 
Joseph Griffin in 1822. and he continued in the business until his death 
in 1874 Among others in the business were Nathaniel Davis, from 
1825 to 1866, and William Johnson, from 1845 to about 1860. 

The first person to deal exclusively in Boots and Shoes in Bruns- 
wick was a Mr. Nichols, who kept a shoe store on Mill Street in 1823, 
and for a few years later. Of his successors ISIr. Lorenzo Day was 
doubtless engaged in the business longer than an}- other. 

The first person to deal exclusively in Dry Goods was Mr. Daniel 
Elliot, who has been in the business from 1838 to the present time. 



588 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

The late Alexauder F. Boardmau was in the business from 1840 until 
his death in 1876. Prominent among others in the business since 
1840, and who are not now in trade, were Gould Jewell & Co., Henr^' 
Carville, and James G. Collins. 

The first Furniture Store was established about 1845 b}^ Robert 
L. Dodge, who subsequent!}' sold out to Harvey Stetson. 

The first person who engaged in the Millinery business in Bruns- 
wick is thought to have been a Mrs Mood}^, who had a shop as early 
as 1820, and perhaps earlier. In 1820, IMrs. L. T. Jack.son advertised 
that she carried on the straw manufacturing business in all its varie- 
ties, and that old bonnets could be made over. After her was Miss 
Mary Humphreys and a Mrs. Whitmore. From 1821 to about 1827, 
Miss Eliza Nichols had a milliner}' establishment, andlNIissM. Nichols 
in 1833 or thereabouts. 

About the year 182o, Miss Doroth}- Giddings and her sister, Mrs. 
Boardman, came to Brunswick, and opened a millinery store in a 
wooden building which stood on the north corner of Maine and Green 
Streets. Here the}' remained for at least five years, and then removed 
to a building which stood where the Mason Street Church now stands. 
Subsequently ]Mrs. Boardman moved into Dunlap Block, in the store 
now occupied by B. G. Dennison, where she continued for many years 
in the millinery and dress-making business, adding to her stock a large 
variety of dry goods. At the same time Miss Giddings, '' Dolly" Gid- 
dings as she was called, traded in an old building which stood on the 
corner of Maine and O'Brien Streets, where is now the residence of 
Mr. Benjamin Greene. Here she traded until her death in 1870. Her 
stock was always large and of superior quality, and comprised not 
only millinery goods, but almost every conceivable article of feminine 
apparel. Her counters and shelves were piled promiscuously with all 
sorts of articles and apparently in the greatest disorder, yet she could 
always quickly find any desired article, no matter how deeply it might 
be covered with other things. After her death the goods were sold at 
auction, and many were the articles of ancient costume which were 
brought to light and sold for a small sum, which once would have cost 
much and could have been purchased only by the more wealthy citi- 
zens. Of those at a later date Miss Harriet N. Houghton, about 
1854, and Mrs. B. G. Dennison, 1838 to 18G0, should be specially 
mentioned. 

The first Tin Shop of which there is any record was that kept by 
G. W. Coffin, opposite the colleges, in 1821. After him were William 
Prescott, II. M. Prescott, Horace P. Hubbard, and others. Of all 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 589 

who have been in this bnsiness in Brnnswiek, Mr. Benjamin Furbish 
is justl}' entitled to the first rank, he having been engaged in it from 
1835 to 18G(;, a period of thirty-one jears. His business was, at 
first, that of the manufacture of tinware, to which was afterward 
added the sale of stoves, hardware, agricultural implements, crockery, 
and glassware. He was the inventor and manufacturer of one of the 
first cooking-stoves made in the country'. He was the first person in 
Brunswick to keep a general assortment of hardware. 

PEICES. 

An account of the various trades and occupations of the settlers 
having been given, it will be appropriate here to mention the prices 
which have prevailed, from time to time, of the necessaries of life and 
the wages paid for labor. 

The earliest mention of the price of live stock is in 1635. At this 
time the current price for good oxen, in New England, was £25 each, 
for the best. It is not probable that any were owned here at that 
time. 

The following inventor}^ of the Pejepscot proprietors' stock at 
Brunswick, their list of goods for sale, and the cost of the provision 
made for their cattle in 1715, will serve to show not only the cost, but 
the character of the articles in town at that date. Where more than 
one article of the same kind is given, the reader can make his own 
calculation as to the price of each. 

The lime which stands at the head of the list was sold in hogsheads 
(containing one hundred pounds, and the price was twenty-one shillings 
per hogshead, probabl}' exclusive of the barrel. 

The following is the list of the Stock at Brunswick : — ^ 

40 hhdf of Stone Lime £50 4 4 

2 Yoiie of Oxeu 29 

1 Cart horse 750 

Cart, Collars & tackling 8 12 

2 Cows with Calf 900 

4 Swine 700 

1 Canoe & 2 boat oars 2 5 10 

James Irish our Serv't man 9 16 

Books of Accts & Records 12 6 

1 Plow 20/ Timber chain 28/ 2 8 

Silvanus Davis' Laud of Nelson 40 

15 Axes 416 

2 Iron Crows 150 

1 Pejepscot Records. 



590 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



6 hoes 25/ G Hatchets 21/ 

3 Spades 22/G : 3 Shovels 12/ 

4 mauls 10/ 1 fork &c 10/ 

1 Grindstone 6/ Rope 30 

2 Compasses 

1 peck & i peck 



Cakgo for sale b}' proprietors at Brunswick, 1715 

Smiths tools, as per bill 
Carpenters tools 
1 Tierce Hum 
1 bbl Molasses . 
1 Tierce Sugar . 
4 Jackets & Breeches 
1 Watchcoat 
1 bb : of roU'd Tobacco 
2, 1, 12 of Iron at 40/ 
10 cheeses . 
2 Ijbs of salt 

1 doz yarn hose 
6 mill'd caps 

2 gro. short pipes 
10c hard soap 



Pkovision for Cattle &, Keeping this winter 

3 Bundles screwed hay 

4 load of salt hay 
20 bushells oats . 
Keeping hogs in Town 

1 hh<.' Indian Corn 

1 hhd of Oats 

2 bush. Corn & Bag . 
Getting Cattle on board 
Water hhds . 



(1 



, 


£2 


6 





1 


14 


6 


1 








1 


16 








8 










3 





£178 


13 


2 


. 1 






£9 


13 


6 




8 


6 


6 




10 


12 







3 


16 


7 




10 


6 


4 




4 










1 


5 







3 


18 


9 




4 


14 


10 




2 


18 


6 




1 


16 


6 




1 


6 







1 


1 










8 










6 


8 




£64 


10 


2 


15-16) : — 


2 




. £20 


G 







4 










2 


3 


4 







10 







3 


8 


3 




1 


8 


9 







11 










6 










3 







£14 


16 


4 



On the cover of the Records from which the above is taken is the 
following, "4 Q"" F. C. 12/ ," which probably means " four quires of 
foolscap. i)rice 12/." This entry was probably made at the time of 
the purchase of the book, and shows the value of paper at that time. 

In 1730 the Pejepscot proprietors paid for lumber as follows : — 



Pejepscot Records. 



2 Ibid. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 591 

To 700 boards £2 2 

To 600 feet Merbi" & 500 ft refuse boards 2 11 0' 

During Revolutionar}^ times it cost one man the labor of half a 
month in hajdng-time to buy a pair of shirts. Men made it a condi- 
tion in their contracts, at that time, that, if they hired near the falls, 
they should not have salmon to eat oftener than five da^-s in a week, 
or if they hired near the salt-water bays, that the}' should not have 
wild fowl, clams, or fish more than three fourths of the time."^ 

A similar statement is often made in relation to other towns, and it 
is not at all improbable that such provisions were often, in olden times, 
inserted into the contracts between laborers and their employers quite 
generally throughout New England. 

In 1777 a list of prices for labor, provisions, etc., was fixed by a 
committee chosen by the town in accordance with an Act of the Gen- 
eral Court of Massachusetts, entitled " An Act to prevent Monopol}' 
and Oppression." In order that the present generation luay know 
somewhat of the expenses and mode of life of their forefathers, this 
list is inserted in this connection, just as it appears upon the records : — 

" Common Labour from y^ first of April to the last of Nov 3/ pr 
day and found as usual, and at other seasons of the year in proportion. 

" Mowing and Reaping 3/8 pr day and found as usual. 
Carpenters «fe Joyners 4/ p"' day & found as usual. 

" Meti taylers 3/ pr da}' & found. 

" Oxen 2/8 pr day. 

■' Good Marchantable Wlieet 7/6 per B'. 
Good Rye 5/ pr B'. 
Oates 3/ pr B^ 

" Good Indian Corn or Meal 4/4 pr B'. 

•' Good Slieeps ivool 2/ pr pd. 

'' English Hay S/ pr II"^. 
Salt Hay 2/ pr H^ 

" Good fresh jDork well fatted 6"^ pr pd. 

•' Salt Pork l^\)v\)d. 

" Good Beef Z^ pr pound and Beef of an inferiour kind in proportion. 

" Raw Hides 3*^ pr pd. 

" Calve Skins G*^ pr pound. 

" Sole Leather 1/3 pr pound and upper leather in proportit)n. 

" Good Marchantable Salt 10/ pr BU. 
Salt made from sea water in the State 12/. 

* Pejepscot Papers. 2 McKeen, MS. Lecture, 



592 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

" Good West India Bum 6/8 by the IP including the Cask & 6/10 
hj the Barrel! exclusive of the Barrell. 7/8 by the single gall and 2/ 
by the Qnart & so in proportion for a smaller quantity. 

" New England Bum 3/10 by the H'* or BU exclusive of 13/4 for 
the H** & 4/ for the Bll, 4/6 by the Gall with a reasonable allowance 
for transporting it from where it is Distil** & smaller quantity in 
proportion, 

" West India toddy 1/ pr mug. 

" Neio E. Do 9** pr mug. 

" Oates 3** pr quart. 

" Horse Keeping 1/10 pr night. 

" Good Flax 1/ pr pound. 

" Spa7ii!ih Potatoes 1/2 in the fall 1/6 in the Spring or Sum'. 

" Other Potatoes 1/6 in the fall & 2/ in the Spring or Summer. 

"• Gease 7/. 

" Beans (]/ pr B". 

" Bidter 10** p"' single p** & O** by the firkin. 

" Good Cheese manufactured in this State 6** pr pound. 

.,Good Broini Sugar S^ pr Hundred & 8^ pr the single p**. 

''Molasses 3/4 by the Hog'' inclusive of the H"* & 3/8 by the 
B" exclusive of the B" and 4/ by the gallon. 

" Good Yarn StocJcens 6/8 pr pair. 

" Mens Shoes made of good neat Leather of the Best Common Sort 
8/ pr pair and for others in like proportion according to their size and 
qualit}'. 

" Good Salt Beef:^h'^ pr pound. 

" Cotton Wool 3/8 pr pound. 

" Good Coffy\/\ pr pound. 

" Good yard ivide Cotton & Linen 4/ pr y"* and other widtlis in 
proportion. 

"• Good Mutton, Lamb & Veal 4'* pr pd. 

" Good White Pine Boards 36/ pr thousand. 

" Good Marchantahle White Pine Shingles 8/ pr thousand." 

Men were allowed for work on the highways thirty dollars each per 
day. The use of a plough* was five dollars per da}'. The price of a 
pair of army shoes was set by that of seven pecks of corn, and the 
price of a' blanket by that of four bushels of corn. 

In 1778 provisions were still dearer, and one man said that he had 
to pay three silver dollars for one bushel of corn.^ This excessive 



^McKeen, Manuscript Lecture. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 



593 



price was not, it will be seen, due to the depreciation of the currenc}'. 
It was owing to the fear of a famine, aiid was not lasting. Yet there 
was a very great and rapid depreciation in the value of the currency 
between 1777 and 1781, which caused much financial distress. On 
January 1, 1777, one hundred dollars in silver was worth but one 
hundred and five dollars in currency. In 1778 the worth of the same 
silver had increased to $328 in currency; in 1779, to $742 ; in 1780, 
to $2,934 ; and^ in February, 1781, it was worth $7,500. 

The following bill for repairs, made upon the east meeting-house 
in 1785, is inserted in this place to show the cost of labor and the 
prices of carpenters' materials, etc., immediately after the close of the 
Revolutionary war. Mr. Peterson, who made, or superintended, the 
repairs, probably prepared the boards and other lumber used at his 
mill at New Meadows River. The amount charged for grog is quite 
reasonable, considering that the labor lasted for four if not five days, 
and that the customs of the time allowed an almost unlimited use of 
this beverage. 

" Ma3' ye 25. 1785 the town of Brunswick Dr to John Peterson for 

James Wookflelds Bill 

to 4 m of shingles at 12/ to d m of Claboard Nails 3/ . 

to h ra Uiible tens 7/ 500 board most Clear 30/ 

timber for the porch & scafi'old G/i Day work with team 6/ 

2 m shingle nails at 4/ 300 feet Boards 12/ . 
paid for one & half Days work 10/ Grog for Carpenters 1/6 
350 feet boards for staging 15/ 40 feet pine timber . 
hailing timber & boards 3/ 2 m shingle nails 8/ 

1 m Claboard nails G/ 8^ pound of shingle nails 10/ 

4i m of shingles at 12/ 

Si pomid Dubble tens 7/7 pound Shingle nails 8/ . 

12 pound more of Shingle nails 3 & 4 m . 

5 gU fish oyl at 2/8 

3 Day work of my self & Weston at 3/ . 
14 Day work more my self 

2 mugs Grog for Carpenters 1/G l4 mugs more 1/2 

3G 2 11 

" A true Coppy from my book Drawn oflf this 5 Day of April 1790, by me 

" John Peterson." 

From a daj-^-book of Mr. Jotham Stone, kept in 1806 and 1807, 
the following interesting facts are obtained : — 

A common laborer, in those days, received seventy-five cents for a 



20 


17 


5 


2 


11 


C 


1 


17 








12 





1 











11 


G 


1 


1 








11 








16 





2 


17 








15 








14 








13 


4 





18 








6 








2 


8 



^ History of Concord, Mass., p. 123. 



38 



594 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

da^^'s work, — from sunrise to sunset. Female help received four 
shillings a week. A seamstress or dress-maker received twent3--flve 
cents a day ; a tailoress, two shillings. These avocations, with spin- 
ning and weaving, constituted the whole range of female labor. 

Ver}- few dress goods were sold ; people wore those of their own 
manufacture, of cotton and wool. A calico or a cambric were the go- 
to-meeting dresses for the masses. It was only tlie rich who sported 
silks, and those were heirlooms. 

The largest quantity' of calico sold b}' Mr. Stone to one person, dur- 
ing the year, was to Mr. Samuel INIelcher, twenty-three yards, at a 
cost of ten dollars and fift}* cents. 'J "his made four dresses^ — large 
jKitterns, too ! 

The onl}' readA-made clothing for men was dye-pot bine woollen 
pants (the^' were called trousers then) , just as the cloth came from 
the loom, at one dollar and sevent3'-five cents per pair. 

Among the goods sold b^' Mr. Stone were bonnets at from one dollar 
and twent3-fi\e cents to five dollars and fifty cents, muff's and tippets, 
laces and ribbons, silks, shawls, silk hose, books, hardware, provisions, 
groceries, and Avhat was then considered an indispensable necessary- 
of life and a test of hospitality in every house, rum, brand}', 

gin, and wine. Nearly every customer, from the Rev. Mr. 

to the tenant of the gutter, had it charged to him. Liquors were 
then cheap. Good old Santa Croix was onl}' one dollar and seven- 
teen cents, and brandy and gin one dollar and fifty cents per gallon. 

Next to hquors it is surprising to note the quantit}' of cheese sold 
at eighteen to twenty cents per pound. 

Sugar, tea, coffee, and tobacco were the next most prominent 
articles. 

There was a kind of tobacco done up in a cord and wound into 
balls, like wicking, wliich was called ladies' twist, and a coarser kind 
called pigtail, botli of which were sold by the yard. 

Of flour very little was sold. The people lived on home-grown 
grain. During the 3'ear there were but two whole barrels charged. 
One of these was to Reverend B. Titcomb, ten dollars and fiftj' cents ; 
and the other was to Reverend J. McKeen. Two half barrels were 
sold to two individuals ; two others bought each one dollar's worth, 
being fourteen pounds. Doubtless some flour was paid for on deliv- 
er}', but probably ver}' little, as nearly everj'bod}- had an account in 
those days. 

From the same day-book the following list of prices in 1806-7 is 
made up, which is compared with another list, obtained from the 



COMMERCIAL 'HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 



595 



Brunsimck Telegraph in 1853. The reader can make his own com- 
parison with the prices of the present day. 



Akticles. 
Batter, per pound . 
Corn brooms 
Broadcloth, per 3'ard . 
Bar soap, per lb. 
lieef, per cwt. . 
Pork, round hogs, lb, . 
Pork, clear lb. . 
Bi'own sugar, cwt. . 
Loaf sugar, lb. . 
llj^son tea, lb. . 
Souchong, lb. 

Bohea, lb 

Cheese, lb 

Tobacco, lb 

White lead, lb. . . . 
Linseed oil, gall. 
Spirits turpentine . 
Wrought nails, per 100 
4p. and 6p. nails per lb. 
lOp. nails per lb. 
Cuba coffee, lb. 
India cotton, yd. 
British cotton, 3-d. . 

Eggs, doz 

Glass, per 100 ft. . . 
Glass, 8 by 10, per light 
Lamb and mutton, lb. 

Veal, lb 

Chickens, lb. ... 

Geese, lb 

Turkey, lb 

Salmon, lb 

Molasses, gall. . 
Vinegar, gall. 
Cotton wool, lb. . . 
Cask raisins, lb. 



PRICE CURRENT. 

1806-7. 

20-25 

50 

. . . . $4-8. 

17 

. . . . 4.50 

10-12 

20 

. . . . 14. 

28-30 

. . . . 1.50 

. . . . 1. 

50 

17-20 

25 

25 

. . . . 1.50-1.75 
. . . . 1.50 
. . . . 1.00 

17 

. . . . .10 

40 

30 

58 

15-i7 

. . . . 15.00 

10 

06-07 

08-10 

06-08 

07 

08 

08 

58 

33 

35 

17 



1853. 

.20-25 

.20-25 
^2-4. 

.06-08 
5-7. 

.07-08 

.12 
6-7.50 

.09-10 

.67 

.33-40 

.25 

.10-12 

.25 

.08-09 

.80 

.75-80 

.25 

.05 

.05 

.10 

.05 

.13 

.10-20 
4.50 

.03 

.06-07 

.06-08 

.08-12 

.08 

.10-12 

.20-25' 

.25' 

.17-20 

.07-08 

.12 



596 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



Akticles. 








1806-7. 




1853. 


Box raisins, lb .25 . . .17-20 


Figs, lb 20 




.17 


Cranberries, qt .12j- 




.10 


Corn, bnsh $1.00 






Hay, 100 lbs 2.00 




$1.00 


Table-salt, bush 3.00 






Saleratus, lb .25 




.07 


Nutmegs, per oz .67 




.08 


Lemons, cloz .75 




.37 


Rice, lb 08 




.05 


Starch, lb 50 




.17 


Lard, lb 18 




.16 


Oats, bush .79 




.50 


Dry cod-fish, lb .06 




.05 


Crackers, doz .17 




.08 


Potatoes, bush .50 




.50 


Barn shovels 1.00 




.50-02 


Hoe .75 




.50 


^xe 


2.00 
.75 




1.00 


Hammer 




Cahco ■ . . . .56 




.10 


Black and white cambric .... 1-1.50 




.17-50 


Tallow candles .25 




.17 


Flour, bbl 10.50 




6-8.50 


The following was the price current in September, 1820 : — 


Apples (per bushel) ... 25 to 37 cents. 


Butter .... 






14 " 16 " 


Barley . 










16 " 70 '• 


Beef . 










4 " 6 " 


Corn . 










70 " 80 "• 


Cheese 










6 " 10 •' 


Fo"o"s 










10 


-'-'»»'' 












Oats . 










37 " 42 '' 


Pork, fresh 










5 " 8 - 


Poultry 




. 






6 " 10 '' 


Potatoes 










28 " 33 " 


Lamb . 










4 


Wood, per cord 


. 






$2.00 


Lumber, raer 


chani 


able 






. • $7-.0 


t( 


) 8.00 



COMMERCIAL HISTORT OF BRUNSWICK. 597 

According to tradition, tlie Indians used to come from tlie head- 
waters of the Kennebec, and even from Canada, to gather the bhie- 
berries upon our plains. This crop has always been a source not only 
of pleasure to the housewives of this vicinity, but of real profit to the 
town. How much the sale of this berrj' has aggregated dnring the 
past half-century it is impossible even to approximately judge, but 
the statement of the Brunswick Telegraph in 1872, that Mr. C\ E. 
Townsend alone had bought of one family, during the previous sum- 
mer, berries to the amount of one hundred and twenty-five dollars, 
will show that the value of the crop is by no means to be under- 
valued. 

In the earlier days of all our New England settlements tlie use ot 
ardent spirits as a beverage was a common habit with all classes, and 
the. town now under consideration offered no exception to the rule. 
On the contrary, the sale of liquors in this town was, as the following 
statement shows, immense. 

AMOUNT OF LIQUOKS SOLD AT BRUNSWICK FROM ArEIL, 1812, TO 

APRIL, 1813.1 

Amount. 
Galls. iiigto 

John Swartkin sold iu one j^ear : — 

W. I. Rum 557 

N. E. " 344 

Brandy 126 

Gin 80 

Wine 176 

1,283 = $2,292 00 

D. & R. Duulap sold in one year : — 

W. L Rum 1,692 

Gin 60 

Brandy 30 

1,782 = 2,382 00 

Sold by N. Poor in six months : — 

W. I. Rum 125 

N. E. " 120 

Brandy 38 

Gin 30 

Wine 15 

328 = 528 00 

Capt. Tappan sold in one year : — 

W. I. Rum 215 

N. E. " 105 

Gin 96 

Wine 64 

480 = 651 50 

1 This list is compiled from statements made hy each of tlie dealers named. The 
papers tvere found among those of Doctor Isaac Lincoln. 



598 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

j\nionnt. 
Galls. ing to 

Amounts hrouffht forward, 3,873 $5,853 50 

Sold by Nath. Badger in oue year : — 

W, I. Kuin 440 

N. E " 500 

Brandy 90 

Gin 90 

Wine 50 

Cordials CO 

1,230 = 1,599 00 

Sold by J. Stone in one year : — . . . 432 

432 = 530 00 

Sold l)y D. Stone & Co in one year : — 

W. I. Kuni 819 

N. E. " 585 

Brandy 60 

Wine 60 

Gin 120 

Sold by J. McKeeu in one year : — 

AY. I. Hum 505 

N. E. " 692 

Gin 52 

Wine 92 

Brandy 73 

1,314 = 1,664 60 

Thos. S. Estabrook sold in oue year : — . 100 

100 = 400 00 



-1,644 = 2,292 00 



Total 8,593 = $12,339 10 

In the opinion of the dealers, one third of the liquor sold was carried 
out of town. The foregoing statement was probably prepared at the 
instance of the Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell Society for the 
Prevention of Intemperance. 

In 1819 there were ten stores in the town, at all of which ardent 
spirits were kept for sale. It is said that " even respectable women 
claimed their right to take a social glass around the hogshead, turned 
up for a table, in the retailer's store." It must be remembered that 
this custom of public drinking prevailed at that time throughout the 
whole country'. A few years later, the respectable traders, with but 
one exception, quit the business. Captain Daniel Stone was the first 
one who refused to sell liquor b}' the glass. The first store where 
no liquor was sold was kept in about 1825 b}- Jesse Pierce, from 
Monmouth. 

The traders in Brunswick at this time were the raoue^'ed men. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 699 

Nearly all the money of the place was in their hands, and consequently 

many young men, who came here between 1820 and 1830 to enter 

upon business, failed in consequence of giving their debtors too much 

scope. ^ 

POPULATION. 

Since the amount of business transacted in an}' town bears some 
relation to the population of the place, the number of citizens in Bruns- 
wick at different periods is here given, in order that the reader may be 
able to form a correct judgment as to the comparative prosperity of 
the town at different times. 

Two years before the incorporation of the town, there were between 
thirty and forty persons in town.^ Assuming the rate of increase to 
have been uniform between 1735 and 1790, the population of the town 
in 1740 may be set down at one hundred and sixty. The following 
is the census of the town for every 3'ear since 1740 that we have been 
able to obtain it, down to 1810. From the latter date to the present, 
the census is given for each ten years. 

In 1765 there were 173 families, 139 males under sixteen 3-ears of 
age, 149 above sixteen, 114 females under, and 98 over sixteen, and 
four negroes. The total, exclusive of Indians, was 506. 

In 1771 there were two slaves ; the number of whites is not given. 

In 1776 the population was, white, 867. 

In 1778 there were males above sixteen, 198; Revolutionary sol- 
diers (who enlisted for three 3'ears), 33. ^ 

In 1790 the population was 1,387 ; 1810, 2,682 ; 1820, 2,931 ; 1830, 
3,547 ; 1840, 4,259 ; 1850, 4,976 ; 1860, 4,723 ; 1870, 4,727. 

VALUATION OF itEAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. 

Under this heading is given the valuation of the town at such 
periods as we have been able to ascertain it. 

'In 1758 the valuation of the east end of the town was : Polls, 44 ; 
real estate, £521 12s. 8cL ; personal property, £452 Is. Total, £973 
13s. Scl. 

The richest man in that portion of the town was Aaron Hinkley, 
whose property was assessed at £91 4s. 

The valuation of the west end of the town was : Polls, 48 ; real 
estate, £820 3s. 4cZ. ; personal property, £652 4s. Total, £1,472 
7s. 4d. 

1 Griffin's Press of Maine, p. 72, note. 

2 Williamson, History of Maine, 2, p. 101. note. 

3 The above is from Massadmsctis Archives, Book 185, p. oiU. 



600 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

The richest man in that section of the town, and in the town, was 
Samuel Stanwood, whose property was assessed at £151. !Next to 
him in wealth was John Minot, whose property" was assessed at £146 
10s. Captain James Thompson, Cornelius Thompson, Nathaniel 
Larrabee, and Isaac Snow, at the east end, and John Smart, John 
Orr, the Widow Simpson, Samuel Clark, Thomas Skolfield, the Widow 
Dunning, Captain William Woodside, Robert Spear, and David Dun- 
ning, at the west end, were each possessed of property' valued at over 
£50.1 

The total valuation of the whole town at this time was £2,560 Qs. 
Gd.' 

The following is an inventory of the taxable property in 1762 : — ^ 

East End. West End. 

Polls 71 71 

Cows 60 152 

Oxen 36 62 

Horses 17 31 

Sheep 47 263 

Swine 41 109 

Mar,sh hay ( ?) . . . 102 89 

Mills .... . 4 2 

The valuation of the town in 1765 was : Polls, 149 ; east end, £1,477 
14s. ; west end, £2,292 5s. Total, £3,769 19s. As certified to by 
the assessors, it was £3,732 2s. ; but this difference is probably due 
to an error on their part in summing up their totals. 

Thomas INIinot was the richest man in town at that time, his prop- 
ert}' being valued at £123 6s. ^ 

The number of houses that jear was seventj'-three. 

In 1771 the valuation of the town was : Polls, 172 ; real estate, £422 
2s. ; amount of mone}' at interest more than the parties paid interest 
for, £33 13s. 4(/. ; the value of personal propert}- not given. 

The valuation of the town in 1776 was : East end, £7,990 7s. ; Avest 
end, £11,960 13s. 

Benjamin Stone was the richest man in town at that time, his prop- 
erty being valued at £712 ; John Dunlap's at £700 ; William Stan- 
wood's at £605 ; Vincent Woodside's and Aaron Ilinkley's, each at 
£548 ; David and Andrew Dunning's, Samuel Stanwood's. Thomas 
Skolfield's, Cornelias and James Thompson's, George Coombs's, and 
Nathaniel Larrabee's, each at from £300 to £400. 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 2 McKeen, iJS Lecture. ^ Pejepscot Papers. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. 601 

In 1791 the valuation for the east end was : Polls, 321 ; real and per- 
sonal estate, £0,934 16s. 

The richest person at that time in that part of the town was Captain 
John Peterson, whose property was estimated at £830 Is. Sd. 

The valuation for that year of the west end has not been found, 
but the following is an inventory of the taxable property of that sec- 
tion of the town that 3-ear: Polls, 87 ; houses, 44 ; shops, 3 ; barns, 
43 ; mills (taxed here), 1 -f ; acres of tillage, 1661 ; of EngUsh mow- 
ing, 381 ; of fresh meadow, 5 ; of salt marsh, 53 ; of pasture, 306 ; 
of unimproved land, 4,279 ; tons of vessels, 400 ; horses, 48 ; oxen, 
112 ; neat cattle, 237 ; cows, four years old, 191 ; swine, 77. 

Of the improved land Thomas Skolfield, Senior, Thomas Pennell, 
and Daniel Given each owned twenty acres. Captain Thomas Skol- 
field owned more unimproved land and pasture than any one else, his 
quantity being two hundred and seventeen acres. Of the horses, 
Doctor Goss, Thomas Pennell, Thomas Skolfield, and Benjamin Chase 
each owned two. Of oxen, Robert Spear, Thomas Pennell, Samuel 
Hewe}', John Crips, Benjamin Chase, Lewis Simpson, Joseph Melcher, 
and Vincent Woodside, Senior, each owned four. Robert Spear also 
owned fourteen neat cattle, eight cows, and five swine. Thomas Pen- 
nell also owned eight cows. 

The subsequent valuations of the town were as follows : — 

Year. Valuation. Polls taxed. 

1810 .... $325,280 480 

1820 .... 403,793 510 

1841 .... 815,178 730 

1850 .... 1,107,822 

1860 .... 1,421,091 706 

1870 .... 1,834,039 916 

The most prosperous period in the history of the town, unless the 
present may be called so, was undoubtedly between 1820 and 1850. 

In 1820 there were more than twenty stores, well filled with goods, 
and numerous mechanic shops of different kinds. There were one 
hundred and twent3'-five houses in the village, besides five hotels and 
five places of public worship. ^ 

The eastern part of the town, New Meadows, was at that time 
gaining rapidly in commerce and fisheries. For the three years 
between 1820 and 1824, the number of buildings erected in the village 
was sixt3'-four. Probably this was as large a number, in proportion 

1 Putnam, op. cit. 



602 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

to the population, as has ever been erected here within that space of 
time. Of tliis number, twenty-three were handsome dwellings and 
seven were stores. The remainder were mechanic shops, etc. 

In 1S36, Brunswick Village contained the colleges, the cotton and 
woollen factories, nearly four hundred dwellings, fort}' stores, three 
printing-offices, two banks, two hotels, one iron foundry, two machine- 
shops, two flour-mills, and twentj' saw-mills. Seven stages arrived 
and departed daily, and often three or four extra ones. Union Street 
contained about a dozen houses ; O'Brien Street, three or four ; and 
Pleasant Street was filled nearly to Powder-House Ilill.i 

1 Pioneer and Key, 1836. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 603 



CHAPTER XXI. 

COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 

An account of the dams built across the river between Brunswick 
and Topsham has been given in the preceding chapter, but to that 
account it may be added that there is good reason for believing that 
what is called the long, or lower dam extended originally from Shad 
Island to the small island just west of whei'e it now ends, at the head 
of " the drain " on the Topsham side. The mills were built from the 
small island mentioned to the main island in Topsham, and the water 
came around the island, passing through the gate and under the mill. 

In 1807 a wooden sluice from the mill on the upper dam, across the 
island to the river, below the Granny-Hole Mill, was constructed b}' 
Mr James Rogers, of Phipsburg (father of the late Rufns Rogers), 
and Ezra Smith (father of St. John Smith, of Portland). At the 
Topsham end of what is now the factory dam, the ledge was blasted 
to a depth of about ten feet, through which the sluice passed ; thence 
it went along on the ledge just south of the Rogers house ; thence 
across the little cove at the foot of Rogers's hill ; thence across Jesse 
Wilson's garden and the sand-bed, to the island, where it passed under 
the road about midwa}- between the short bridge and where the black- 
smith's shop now stands, and thence to the river below. J^zra Smith, 
Cornelius Thompson, and others were incorporated on June 20 of 
this year, with all the necessary powers for constructing and using 
this sluice, under the name of " The Proprietors of the Topsham 
Sluiceway. "1 This sluice was destroyed by a freshet in 1814, but 
though it did not long serve for its intended purpose, the building of 
it proved of great value as the means of inciting to the study of an- 
other science the author of the first American work on mineralog}'.^ 

In 1871 a substantial stone fishway was made at the factoiy dam. 
'I'o construct it the ledge on the northwest end of the dam was cut 
through. The fishway is on the Topsham side of the dam, at the 

' Masi^achv setts Special Acts, 1K07. 

2 Vide Maine Historical Collection, Vol. 7, Wood's Eidogy on Cleaveland. 



604 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

lower side of the point. The lieight of the fall at tliis place is eigh- 
teen feet. A year or two later a wooden fishway was put in on the 
lower dam next to Shad Island. These were not, however, the earliest 
fishways, for as earh' as 1789 the fish-wardens were instructed b}' the 
town of Topsham to see that the dams were opened so that fish 
could pass.^ 

SAW-MILLS. 

From an entry made in the records of the Pejepscot proprietors, it 
would appear that the first mill in Topsham was erected as early as 
the year 1716. On September 10 of that 3-ear the proprietors desired 
Captain Peter Nowell to build a small house near their tniU at Cat- 
hance Falls, to clear sufficient ground for depositing logs and boards, 
to get logs cut, and to put the mill in the best condition. He was 
also desired to look out the two most advantageous places for building 
saw-mills, and to prepare " running Gear for one Mill with two Saw^s 
against the Spring." On November 28, Mr. Samuel Came otfered to 
build the running gear for a mill for two saws for £27, the mill itself for 
£30, and the dam, " at such a Fall as Cathance is described to be," 
for £30 ; and his otfer was, in part at least, accepted. 

On October 14, 1717, the proprietors agreed to let the Cathance 
Mill to Lieutenant Heath for three years. He was to run it and keep 
it in repair, and they were to have one-fourth part of the boards, plank, 
joists, and other lumber cut at the mill. It was also a part of the 
contract that no boards should be sold to persons outside of the pro- 
prietors' territory until all the settlers in it were supplied.'^ It would 
seem, however, that Lieutenant Heath either declined the contract or 
forfeited his right, for on November 11, 1719, this mill was sold to 
Messrs. Minot & Winthrop, in equal halves, for £90. The proprie- 
tors also A'oted at this time " that the two branches ^ of the western 
stream of Cathance River be assigned to Messrs. AVentworth & Noyes, 
the}' pi'oposing to build thereon," and that 1,000 acres of land should 
be laid out to each mill."* 

Nothing further is found in regard to the mills upon the Cathance 
until 1750. This j'car Samuel Winchell settled upon that river, and 
erected saw-mills. He acquired, with Jacob Eaton, a joint title to 
this property, b}- virtue of a deed from Isaac Royall, dated November 
15, 1750. This deed conveyed five hundred acres, and all of Ro^-all's 
right in the stream. Winchell seems to have become one fourth pro- 
prietor of the Cathance Mill right, embracing 1,100 acres. ^ 

* Town Records, 1789. '^Pejepscot Records. ^In Bnvuhnnham. 

* Pejepscot Records. ^ Winchell Genealogy. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 605 

On December 28, 1757, Samuel Winchell sold to Adam Hunter one 
hundred and twenty-five acres of land, one eighth of a double saw- 
mill, and a stream called the western branch of Cathance River.i 

James Hunter is a grantee in a deed from Stephen Gatchell, of 
Topsham, dated Jul}' 27, 1759, of one hundred and twenty-five acres 
of upland in the mill-right on the Cathance, and one fourth of the 
uppermost saw-mill. 

On June 15, 1761, Adam Hunter, Samuel Winchell, James Hunter, 
Samuel Staples, Joseph Graves, Samuel Graves, John Fulton, and 
John Patten purchased the Cathance mill-right, containing 1,100 
acres, and the stream called the western branch of the Cathance, and 
a double saw-mill. Of this raill and stream Adam Hunter had one 
eighth ; Samuel Winchell, one fourth ; James Hunter, one eighth ; 
Samuel Staples, one eighth ; Joseph Graves, one eighth ; Samuel 
Graves, one eighth ; John Fulton, one sixteenth ; and John Patten, 
one sixteenth "^ 

On January 24, 17G4, Samuel Winchell gave a deed to William 
Thorne and Robert Clark of one fourth of a saw-mill and stream, 
"being the uppermost mills on Cathance," and also one fourth of a 
mill-right of thirt}- acres. 

On February 13, 17G5, W^inchell sold to James and Robert Fulton 
" one sixteenth of y* double saw and stream on y* lower falls at 
Cathance." 3 Of these two mills one was on the lower falls, where 
the mill is now, and the other upon the upper falls. 

The first mills in Topsham upon the Androscoggin River were 
erected prior to 1772. Merrill's map of Brunswick, of the above date, 
includes the river and shows one mill at the Topsham end of both the 
upper and middle dam, and one on the Granny-Hole Stream. The 
latter was the first one erected. It was built some time between 1751)^ 
and 1765.5 It was built by a Mr. Hodge, and the privilege is called 
the '• Hodge Mill privilege" to this day. The stream is that which 
flowed through the natural drain already mentioned This mill stood 
until it rotted down. It was rebuilt about 17.S9, but was burned in 
1796 and rebuilt the next j'ear. In 1807 it was carried off by a 
freshet. A new one was built in the same place the next 3'ear, but 
was carried away in like manner in 1814. 

The next mill was built on the middle dam about 1770. It was 
called the " Patten Mill," and was owned by Captain Actor Patten, 

1 Winchell Genealogy. ^Lincoln County Register of Deeds, 1, p. 90. 

3 Winchell Genealogy. *PeJepscot Papers, Merrill's Statement. 

^ Ibid., Haley's Statement. 



606 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Pelatiah find John Ilale^', and at one time, in part, by Nathaniel 
Quint. It filled up the space between the mainland where the stone 
fishway now is and the island or rock op|)osite, and the head gate 
was where tlie present dam is. The mill was carried awa}^ in 1814 by 
a freshet, but was rebuilt about 1818, and was in existence as late as 
1829. 

The Rogers INIill on the upper dam was built about 1770 and had at 
first onl}' a wing dam.^ This mill was carried away b\' a freshet in 
1843, unless it had been previously carried away and rebuilt, but was 
rebuilt immediately. The new mill was destroyed b3' fire in 1850. 

The mills near the toll-house were first built in the summer of 
1784,2 ]3y Brigadier Thompson and others. They were finished with 
four saws under one roof. They were carried away by a freshet the 
same 3"ear, but were rebuilt the next 3'ear under two roofs, from which 
thej' acquired the name of "The Double" or "Great" Mills, which 
name the}' alwa3-s retained. 

The changes that have occurred in mill propert}' have been too 
niimerous to be given in full, and therefore onl}- such will be men- 
tioned as have happened to come to hand. 

In 1798, Samuel Thompson sold to Benjamin Jones Porter and 
William King his share, or one-fourth part, of the Great Saw-Mill for 
$666.66.3 

About 1800, Elijah Hall and Cornelius Hall, of Brunswick, owned 
or else leased the Great Mill. 

In 1804, Jairns Fuller sold to Gideon and Nathaniel Walker, for 
three hundred and fifty dollars, one-fourth part of one saw in the 
Great Mills. The owners of the rest of the saw privilege were William 
King and Thomas Thompson.'* 

'I hompson sold his part to Roger Merrill in 1808. 

Besides the mills already' mentioned there was, at a later date, on 
the GranuA'-Hole Stream, about on the site of the present flour- 
mill, one called the new Hodge Mill. Next south of where the flour- 
mill stands was one called the Granny-Hole Mill, and next below 
that was the " P^mbargo " Mill, so called from its being built while the 
Embargo laws were in force. 

In 1791, llumphre}' Purinton came to town, and engaged almost 
exclusively in the lumber business, which he pursued until a few years 
before his death, in 1840. 

In 1817, the Great Mills were owned or occupied by Haskell «fe 

^ Pejepscot Papers, Haley' s Statement, ^ P^epscot Papers. ^ Ihid. *Ibid. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 607 

Bowman, Samuel, Enoch, Jabez, and Nahum Perkins, and John and 
William Barron. Most of these gentlemen continued in the business 
for many years. This same year Hugh Wilson and Major William 
Frost owned the Grann^'-Hole Mill, and James Rogers owned the 
Rogers Mill, on the upper dam. In the fall of this same 3'ear, 
David Scribner engaged in the business and continued in it, in 
Topsham, until 1838. James Haley and John Wentworth were also 
engaged in the business in 1817. 

About 1837, Nathaniel Green and others built and occupied a small 
saw-mill on the Granny-Hole Stream, near his residence. 

About 1845, Charles E. White sawed shingles and did a large busi- 
ness in the mill previously occupied b}' William W^hitten as a carding- 
mill. 

Others who were prominent in the business at different periods 
within this centur}' were Henr}- and Stephen Jewell, Gardiner and 
Nathaniel Green, Alfred and Sanford Perkins, Alfred White, and 
Rufus Rogers. 

The onl}' saw-mill now in operation is that of W. B. Purinton and 

D. A Hall. 

Valentine G. and Eben Colby commenced business near the 
Androscoggin Bridge, in Topsham, in Januar}', 1849, for the manu- 
facture of sash, doors, and blinds, under the firm name of V. G. & 

E. Colby. This firm continued in business until 1850, when the 
senior partner sold out to Sampson Colb}', and the business was con- 
tinued by S. & E. Colby until Maj- 27, 1859, at which time they moved 
to Brunswick. The building in which their business was carried on 
was afterwards moved across the street, and is now used as the machine 
and repair shop of the papex'-mill. 

GRIST AND FLOUR MILLS. 

According to traditionary accounts, there was a grist-mill on the 
Topsham end of the lower dam, previous to the erection of the Great 
Mills. 

There was one on the Granny-Hole Stream between 18021 and 
1808,^ the machinery of which was in the Granny-Hole Mill. It was 
owned by Colonel Abel Merrill, Pelatiah Hale}', and Joseph Hale}'. 
This portion of the mill was used as a grist-mill until about 1854. 
Mr. Daniel Hall was the miller both befoi'e and for many 3'ears subse- 
quent to 1844. 

1 Reminiscences of James Wilson and of Mrs. Nathaniel Greene. 

2 Pejepscot Papers. 



608 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

In 1856, Francis T. Purinton built the Topsliam flour-mill. It was 
afterward owned b}^ Woodbury B. Purinton and Isaac P. Tebbetts, 
and then by Woodbury- B. Purinton alone. Mr. Jason Riple}', of 
Bruuswiek, was the contractor for the work, which cost over $10,000. 
This mill is thirty-eight b^- fort3--five feet, and is equal to three stories 
in height, with an attic and basement. In 1874 this mill passed into 
the hands of Purinton, Beaumont, & Co. Its capacit}' is sufficient for 
the manufacture of from 5,000 to 6,000 barrels of flour and 15,000 
bushels of corn per 3'ear. It is well equipped with the necessar}' 
machiner}', of the best quality, for both merchant and custom grinding. 

WOOLLEN-MILLS. 

In 1802, and probal)l3' earlier, Joseph Haley had a fulling-mill in 
the basement of the Granny-Hole Mill. After a while he removed 
to the Patten Mill, on the middle dam, and the Grannj'-Hole Fulling- 
Mill was then occupied for some years hy John and Isaac Bi'o wn. 
Mr. Hale}' continued in the business at the Patten Mill until 1818, 
when he was succeeded by his son Abner, who carried it on until 1825 
or 1826. Mr. William Whitten estabhshed, in 1828, a wool-carding 
mill on the Granny-Hole Stream, near its outlet, and ver}' near the 
residence of the late Nathaniel Greene, Esquire. Here he continued 
until 18-41, when he removed his.business to Brunswick. 

TOPSHAM PAPER-MILL. 

This mill was erected in the latter part of 1868, on the propert}' 
and under the superintendence of Sanford A. Perkins, for the Tops- 
ham Paper Companj-, a corporation of which Samuel R. Jackson was 
the president. This mill is from two hundred and twenty-five to two 
hundred and fifty feet long, and sixty-five feet wide. The main build- 
ing is three stories high, with an extension two stories high. 

This company failed, and the property was purchased at auction b}- 
W. H. & A. W. Parsons, September 16, 1874, for the sum of $80,000. 

An Act was passed by the legislature of Maine, February 4, 1875, 
incorporating the Bowdoin Paper INIanufacturing Company, with a 
capital not to exceed $150,000. This company' was organized on the 
nineteenth of the same month, aiid on the tenth of March the perma- 
nent officers were chosen. These were Adna T. Denison, treasurer, 
and F. C. Whitehouse, clerk. 

The mill contained at that time one Fourdrinier machine, four roll 
eiigines, one patent Jordan engine, one rotary, and two tub bleachers, 
and other machinerv necessary for a production of two and one half 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 609 

tons of paper per day. There has been added since another fnll set 
of machinery, so that the mill now contains two Fonrdrinier machines 
(eightj'-eight and seventy-four respectively), nine roll engines, two 
patent engines, — one Jordan and one Kingsland, — two rotar}^ and two 
tub bleachers, with other machinery necessary for a production of five 
tons of paper daily, which the mill is now producing. Also the pres- 
ent company have fitted a machine-shop, put in wood and iron working 
machinery necessary for the mill repairs, and for the manufacture of 
an}' new machinery needed in the business. The compau}" at present 
employs fortj'-five males and thirt}' females. The}' manufacture book 
and wood newspaper. The stock of the company is owned by parties 
in New York Cit}- and Mechanic Falls, Maine. 

OTHER MANUFACTORIES. 

In addition to the foregoing mills there have been from time to time, 
or now are, manufactories. of various kinds, which cannot well be clas- 
sified and will, therefore, be mentioned alphabetically, as in the pre- 
ceding chapter. 

Brick-Yards. — The manufacture of bricks was carried on from 
about the year 1798, b}' Mr. David Flagg, on Summer Street, near 
Main Street, until 1847, when he was succeeded b}' his son Cyrus, 
who still continues the business at the same place. In some years 
400,000 bricks have been made at this yard. About 18G5, Thomp- 
son & Blondell started a yard for brick and tile at the northern end of 
Pleasant Street. The business soon gave out, however, owing to 
deficiency and bad qualit}' of the clay. 

Derrick Manufactory. — In 1872 the Rowland Brothers estab- 
lished a shop for the manufacture of the Rowland Patent Car Derrick, 
which has met with good success. 

Feldspar Mill. — In 1869 The Trenton Flint and Spar Company, 
of Trenton, New Jersey, purchased the property where their mill now 
stands, and at the same time leased their quarries, then unopened. 
Work was soon after commenced and the quarries were operated. In 
1872 a mill was built for grinding the feldspar. The ground feldspar 
is used in the manufacture of crockeiy by the various potteries at 
Trenton, New Jersey, to which place it is shipped. About a dozen 
men are employed in operating the quarries and grinding the spar. 
Mr. George D. Willes, of Bath, has been the superintendent from the 
commencement of operations until the present time. 

Marble Works. — For many years, up to as late a period as 1844, 
this business was conducted by Mr. Richard Adams. In 1845 he was 
39 



610 HISTORT OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

succeeded by his son, Francis, who carried it on for a nnmber of 
3'ears. The greater part of their business was the manufacture of 
gravestones. 

Match Manufactory. — Isaac Brown, about 1825, made matches 
and shipped tliem to other parties to be dipped. 

Nail Factory. — About 1815 or 1816 there was a nail factory on 
the upper side of AVinter Street, owned by Gardner Green. The 
brook furnished the water-power. The nails were cut b}^ a machine, 
but the heads were made b}' hand. Two men were emplo^'ed to do 
the work. Their names were Ives and Leach. Thej' are thought to 
have come from New Hampshire. This manufactory was run for a 
short time only. It was very nois}* in its operation. ^ 

Pitchfork Manufactory. — In 1845, James D. Simmons made and 
sold pitchforks in the building formerly occupied by William Whitten's 
fuUing-machines. These pitchforks were considered excellent at 
that time, though the}' would not compare well with those of the 
present day. 

Pottery. — As earl}- as 1796, Eli Cox had a pottery, and David Flagg 
worked at the business with him. It was situated at the foot of the 
hill on the south side of Winter Street. The stone for grinding the 
cla}- was at the brook near the road. A bridge crossed the brook at 
that place. In 1835 or thereabouts, a Mr. Barker had a pottery 
where Mallett's slaughter-house was at a later date. 

Shingle Manufactory. — About 1809 a Mr. Kelse}- invented a 
machine for cutting or shaving {not saiobuj) shingles. His machine 
was in the building at the end of the Granny-IIole Stream, which 
was at a later period occupied b}' William Whitten and Aaron Hink- 
ley. No description of this machine has been obtained, but it is 
remembered that a block of wood put into it was quicklj' cut into 
shingles. The machine was patented, and the mill bore the sign 
" Kelse3''s Patent Shingle Machine." It is said, however, that Kelsey 
failed and the macliine was run only a short time. There have been 
numerous shingle-machines in operation at a later date, but they 
hardly require particular notice in these pages. 

Tanneries. — About the year 1800, perhaps earlier, James Puring- 
ton had a tan-3'ard and a grist-mill on the brook that crosses the road 
just below the lower railroad bridge. In 1820 it was carried on by 
his son James, and the same spot is now occupied as a tanneiy l)y 
his grandson, Cyrus Purington. 

' Reminiscences of Mr. James Wilson. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF TOPSIIAM. 611 

From about 1.S25 till 1830, or later, Nalium Perkins kept a tanner}' 
and had a mill for grinding bark lor tanners' use, at the gully on AVin- 
ter Street. He sold out to Daniel Dennett. It is possible that some 
one preceded Mr. Perkins at that place. 

Tobacco Manufactorv. — Previous to 1815, Samuel Yeazie owned 
a tobacco manufactory on the north side of Winter Street, at the foot 
of the hill. How long the business was carried on is not known, 

TRADES. 

In giving an account of the various trades that have from time to 
time been carried on in Topsham and Harpswell, the same arrange- 
ment is used as in the last chapter. So far as practicable, the list is 
given in an alphabetical order, and first upon the list come 

Bakers. — The only bakery known to have been kept in this town 
was by Card & Gould, about 1800, on the corner of Main and Winter 
Streets, where Goud's store is now situated. 

Blacksmiths. — With the exception of farming, lumbering, and trad- 
ing, blacksmithing was the earliest business carried on in the town. 
Mr. John Patten, who came here about 1750, was a farmer, but had 
the trade of a blacksmith, and had a shop on his farm, where he 
emplo3'ed a portion of his time, and performed the blacksmith work of 
the vicinity. In 1802 there was a smith's shop about where Mr. Lar- 
rabee's house now stands ; also one kept by Francis Tucker, just south 
of what is now known as the Coffin house. 

Some time before 1812, Ezekiel Ilinkle}' began working at this trade 
in Topsham, and continued in it until about 1817, when he was suc- 
ceeded b}' his brother, Aaron Hinkle}', who carried it on till after 1840. 
In 1828 and subsequentl}' he occupied a portion of William Whitten's 
fulling-mill at the outlet of the Granny-Hole Stream, and had a trip- 
hammer, the only one, it is thought, ever used in this vicinitj". 

William Ellis carried on the blacksmithing business from 1822 to 
1836, in a building which stood on the east side of the road on the 
island, not far south of the Grannj'-IIole Bridge. 

In 1836, Messrs. James Maxwell and Samuel Jameson commenced 
the business and carried it on until 1873, when the}' dissolved partner- 
ship, and the business has since been conducted by Mr. Jameson 
alone. 

Butchers. — The earliest persons known to have made it their 
special business to supply the citizens of this town with meat were 
Swett & Jaquis, in 1826. In 1849, Humphrey P. and William Mal- 
lett engaged in this business, and continued in it until 1862. Mr. 



612 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

John Crowley has also been engaged in the business for a long time. 
Since l.Sfi2, Topsham has depended almost exclusivel}' npon the mar- 
kets of Brunswick. 

Cabinet-Makers. — Mr. Hugh Wilson, in 17G6, is the earliest cabi- 
net-maker mentioned.! In 1802 there was a cabinet-maker's shop 
where the Major Perkins house stands. It was kept by Luther Kim- 
ball. About 1825, Charles White and Isaac L. Cook went into the 
business. How long they pursued this occupation is not known. 

Carriage-Makers. — B. T. Bicknell, about 1837, commenced the 
manufacture of carriages. He continued in it here only a few years. 
Hatters. — The manufacture and sale of hats and caps was carried 
on in this toAYu by John Coombs, from about 1812 to 1820. He was 
quite celebrated in his business. He lived in the old red house in the 
Walker lot, and had his shop just below. At the time of the rush of 
emigrants to Ohio, he sold out and went to Cincinnati, where he 
became a rich and influential citizen. Subsequentl}' Jesse Richards 
was engaged in this business. The exact time Richards was here is 
not known, but it was probably between 1820 and 1830. He carried 
on business in the same place that Coombs did. Larrabee & Emery 
also had, at one time, a hatter's store where Robert P. Whitne}^ now 
keeps. 

Harness-Makers and Saddlers. — In 1850, C. A. Beny had a har- 
ness-maker's and saddler's shop in Topsham. 

Joiners. — In 1802, Samuel Towns had a joiner's shop in the yard 
now owned by Captain William S. Skolfield. Noah Tobe}' also had a 
shop in town at this time. Since then the number of carpenters and 
joiners has been too large to admit of their enumeration here. 

Shoemakers. — In 1802, there was a shoemaker's shop a few feet 
north of the residence of Mr Ephraim Griffin, and another about 
where the office of Mr. W. B. Purinton is now. The names of the 
proprietors are not known. 

About 1820, Andrew Dennison, who had made boots and shoes for 
some years previouslj-, was succeeded hy Samuel Knight, who con- 
tinued in the business until about 1838. At a later date Parker Nash 
carried on this business. 

Tailors. — The first tailor in Topsham to whom any reference has 
been found was Thomas Wilson, in 1775 and previousl}'. In 1802 a 
tailor by the name of Carr occupied a small house which stood just in 
front of where Deacon David Scribner now resides. Other tailors 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF TOPSIIAM. 



613 



known to have carried on business in this town were John Chambers, 
1828; John Brown, 1840; Warren Hathorn, 1844; WilUam Heath, 
1845 ; Frank T. Littlefield, 1850. 

Tin Shops and Stove Manufactories. — Mr. H. M. Prescott had a 
tin shop here as early as 1828, in a store which stood about where INFr. 
W. B. Purinton's office is now. In 1836, William H. Winslow had a 
tin shop and manufactured air-tight stoves for his customers. In 1844, 
H. P. Hubbard & Co. carried on the same business for several years. 

Weighers op Hay, etc. — Nathaniel Walker is supposed to have 
owned the first haj'-scales in town. They were of peculiar, though 
simple construction, as the accompanying engraving shows. 




The first patent scales (Fan-banks) were bought about 1839 by 
Gardner Greene, and were placed on the lot where the engine-house 
now stands. Isaac P. Tebbetts pui'chased the next scales, which 
were on Winter Street. 



TEADEES. 

There have never been in Topsham any stores devoted to a special 
branch of trade, unless the two first mentioned should be deemed 
such, but i\x&j have all been of the variety order, keeping a general 
assortment of goods. 

At the May term in 1761, William Wilson and Philip Higgins, both 
of Topsham, were licensed by the Court of General Sessions for 



614: HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Lincoln County to sell tea and coffee. In 1764, William Reed, of 
Topshani, was licensed by the same court to sell tea 

Brigadier Thompson kept store near the site of the present depot, 
as early as 1790. It is probable that there were no regular stores in 
Topsham earlier than that date, but that the settlers relied on Bruns- 
wick for their supplies. 

In 1792, Joseph Hale}* was licensed as a retailer. Benjamin J. 
Porter and AViUiam King, under the name of Porter & King, kept 
near the southwest corner of \Yinter and Main Streets, from 1792 
until 1802, or a few years later. 

Between 1794 and 1799, I^zra Smith, father of St. John Smith, of 
Portland, was in business here as a store-keeper, but not meeting with 
much success, moved awa}- about 1801. Isaac Johnson was also 
licensed as a retailer in 1792. 

About 1798, Kobcrt Labish and John Blanchard were engaged in 
trade here. Blanchard's store was on Green Street, about opposite 
Thompson Street. According to the statements of some of the aged 
people now living, these two were the first stores in town. 

In 1801, Ezekiel Winan, David Ilolden, Ezra Smith, James Cush- 
man, James Stone, John Morse, and Porter & King were all licensed 
as retailers. 

In 1802, James Stone, father of the late Colonel Alfred J. Stone, of 
Brunswick, kept store in a low, one-story building, on the spot where 
Mrs. Joshua Haskell now lives, on the corner of Main and Elm 
Streets. At that time there were woods back of it. Henry Wilson 
kept a store where Charles E. AVhite now does. James Cushman 
kept a store next south of AVhite's, and Thomas G-. & Nathaniel Sand- 
ford kept one where Mountford's shop now is, Thomas G. continuing 
in trade as late as 1829. 

Prior to 1815, Nathaniel Quint was in trade. His store was de- 
stroA'ed hy fire about the date given above. 

In 1819, Bowman & Haskell commenced to trade in the small house 
now occupied b}' Mrs. Berr^', opposite the blacksmith's shop on the 
Island, and continued for ten years or more. 

Between 1819 and 1829, and perhaps both earlier and later, George 
F. Richardson had a store in town. 

About 1820, Samuel and Nahum Perkins opened a general retail 
store. After a time Samuel sold out his interest to Nahum, who con- 
tinued it luitil 182G, when his store and stock were consumed b}' fire. 
He subsequently went into business again Green & Hallett kept 
store in 1820 in a wooden building where the bank is now. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. ' 615 

From 1820 to 1834, Jonathan Baker kept store in a building which 
used to stand directly opposite the bank. The cellar of it still 
remains. 

From 1822 to 1825, perhaps longer, William Frost kept store in a 
building which stood about half-way between where W. B. Purinton's 
office now is and Summer Street. 

In the spring of 1825, John Tebbetts moved to Topsham, from 
Lisbon, and engaged in general trade, and also in the boot and shoe 
business. At first he was in partnership with Jeremiah Clough, under 
the title of Tebbetts & Clough, but the partnership was dissolved 
November 24, 1828, and the business was afterwards continued by 
Mr. Tebbetts alone. Ilis stock of goods is said to have been large 
and choice, and he carried on a ver}' extensive business for the place 
for man}' years therealter. 

In addition to those already mentioned, the following individuals and 
firms were prominent in general trade at or about the dates given : — 

In 1822, Gardner Greene, to 1829 or later ; Nathaniel Greene, to 
1840 ; Ilallett & Brown, Charles Thompson, Samuel Veazie, to 1829 
or later. 

1824. Samuel and George Dennett, Frost, Swett & Co. 

1825. George and William Dennett. 

1826. Calvin B. Robbins & Co , William Dennett, the latter con- 
tinuing in trade for many j'ears. 

1828. Jairus Fuller, Jr., Samuel R. Jackson & Co., Abel Merrill, 
Jr. 

1829. Alfred White, and either alone or with others to 1857. 

1830. Green and Barron. 
1833. J. & B. Barron. 

1836. Obed Frost, to 1849 ; Sandford A. Perkins. 

1844. Frost & AYhitney, Isaac P. Tebbetts ; Tebbetts, Rowland, & 
Co. 

1845. Clough & Thompson. 

1850. A. G. Poland, George S. Holt. 

1853. Lewis P. Work. 

1855, Alexander Ridley. 

Some of the above-named traders were doubtless in business some 
years before the dates given, and man}' of them, after retiring for 
a while from active trade, recommenced either in partnership with 
others or siuglj^ At the present time, however, the greater number 
are residents of other towns or are no longer amongst the living:. 



616 UISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

PRICES. 

The proximit}' to each other of the villages of Topsham and 
Brunswick affords of itself an assurance that the prices of standard 
articles of trade did not vary much in the two towns. 

The earl}' settlers in Topsham, and perhaps in Brunswick too, used 
to trade somewhat at Richmond Fort. From an account-book of 
Judge Minot, of Brunswick, who was stationed at that fort in 1732 
and sutsequentl}', the following statements are taken: — 

In 1732, V/illiam Reed, of Topsham, was charged with 30 lbs. pork 
@ Is. 3c?. ; bread, 2s. ; rum, 5s. ; " phlip," Is. 2d. 

From 1736 to 1739 the following articles Avere charged to Jacob 
Clark, of Topsham : — 

1736, May 20, 7^ yds. " Ozmb," 4s. ; rum to James, Is. 8cZ. ; rum, 
Is. Zcl. July 30, 6 yds. swan skin, 7s. 6cL ; IJ- yds. linen, 8s. April 
15, 4 lbs. shot, Is. 3fZ. ; bread, 4s. ; thread, 4s, August 15, tobacco, 
Is. Scl. ; 3 galls, molasses @ 7s. 1739, 4 yds. linen, 7s. ; a pr. hose, 
12s. Old. ; 2 prs. yarn hose @ 6s. ; 1 cap, 6s. 6f?. ; indigo, Is. ; 1 pint 
of nam, Is. Ad. ; 5 yds. swan skin @ lis. 6d. 

Thomas Thorne, of Topsham, also had a very similar account about 
the same time. 

In 1777 the selectmen, in accordance with an Act of the legislature 
of the Commonwealth, " To prevent Monopoly and Oppression," fixed 
the price of labor and of all articles in general use. 

The prices named were so nearl}' like those adopted by the town of 
Brunswick that their insertion here would be substantially a repetition 
of that list, and they are therefore omitted. 

BANK. 

The onl}' bank ever in operation in Topsham was the Androscoggin 
Bank. It was chartered in 1834. Charles Thompson was the presi- 
dent and John Coburn the cashier for the whole term of its existence. 
Its charter expired in 1854 and was not renewed The capital stock 
of this bank was $50,000. 

TOWN VALUATION. 

The earliest valuation of the town of which any record is to be 
found was made in 1 752. It was at this time as follows : — 
Polls, 28 ; property, £180 7s. 
The wealthiest man in town then was Lieutenant Adam Hunter, 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM. 617 

■whose real estate was estimated at £1 15s., and personal propert}- at 
£18 4s. 1 

The total valuation for 1758 was, polls 47; property-, £1,052 12s. 
Adam Hunter, then a captain, was still the richest man, his whole 
estate being estimated at £115.^ 

A new State valuation was completed in 1761, and " Topsham pre- 
cinct" was assessed but seventeen shillings. ^ 

The following is the valuation of the town in the j-ears named. "VVe 
have been unable to find the valuation for an}^ j-ear between 1771 and 
1841. In 1771 the number of polls was one hundred and six ; per- 
sonal property, £21 lis. M. ; estates, £204 17s. 5d. In 1841, the val- 
uation of the town was $428,931. In 1850 it was $581,232. In 
1860 there were three hundred and fort3'-five polls, and the valuation 
was $810,623. In 1870 the number of polls was three hundred and 
sixty-five, and the valuation was $879,051. 

The assessment of the town for county expenses was, in 1764, 
£6 10s. ; in 1787, £iS 12s. 6d. ; in 1807 it was $440.89 ; and in 1813, 
$245.58. 

POPULATION. 

The first regular census of the town, known certainly to have been 
taken was in 1765. At this time there were in Topsham fifty-four 
houses, fifty-two families, seventy-eight males under sixteen years of 
age, eighty-five males over that age, eighty-five females under and 
seventA'-eight over sixteen, and one negro, — a total population of three 
hundred and twenty-seven, exclusive of Indians. The population 
subsequently to the above date has been as follows : — ■ 

1776 657 

1810 1,271 

1820 1,429 

1830 1,564 

1840 1,883 

1850 2,010 

1860 1,605 

1870 1,501 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 2 j^jd. 3 X7orth's History of Augusta, p. 71. 



618 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL, 

The principal occupation of the first settlers of Harpswell is said to 
have been cutting cord-wood and shipping it to Boston, Salem, and 
other ports, althongli farming and fishing were doubtless carried on to 
some extent. Bailey's Island, which is now nearly barren of trees, 
was at that time densel}^ covered with wood. After a while the set- 
tlers devoted themselves almost exclusively to farming and fishing. 

FISHERIES. 

We have been unable to obtain any statistics of this business at an 
early date. At the present time there are caught, dried, and cured 
in Harpswell about 20,000 quintals of fish annuall}', consisting of 
cod, hake, haddock, pollock, and cusk. Smaller fish, such as mack- 
erel, porgies, and herring, are also caught in abundance. In the 
month of September the herring come in very plenty, and it is not 
uncommon to see, in Mackerel Cove and Jaquis' Harbor, from 
seventy-five to one hundred and fifty sail of vessels. Large quantities 
of the fish are taken to Portland, where they are packed and shipped 
to various parts of the countr}' as "Portland Herring." During the 
months of March, April, and May, most of the fishermen are engaged 
in the lobster fisher3^ The fishing smacks are so arranged that the 
lobsters are kept alive, and large numbers are shipped to Portland, 
Boston, and New York. 

In former years the clam business was quite an important branch 
of the fisheries, but it is not so now. About the 3'ear 18G3 there were 
put up, and sold at prices ranging from $8.00 to $14.00 per barrel, 
not less than 2,500 barrels. The principal dealers in fish are S. 
Watson, A. T. Trnfant, and Jolin Power, of East. Harpswell ; Smul- 
len «& Prince and J. M. Johnson, of Orr's Island; E. C. Simpson 
& Co. and J. B. Pinkham, of West Harpswell. 

MILLS. 
Owing to the fact that Harpswell possesses no streams large enough 
to afford sufficient water-power, but little attention has been given to 
manufactures in this town. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 619 

Previous to 1758 there was a wind-mili in the town and a tide-mill 
called Jones's Mill.^ The location of the wind-mill is not known. The 
tide -mill was situated near the farm of Arthur Orr, and was at one 
time owned by him. It was originallj' built by a familj' of Quakers, 
by the name of Jones. Captain James Sinnett, of Bailey's Island, 
remembers a ver}' old mill at Widgeon Cove, which was standing as 
late as the 3'ear 1804. It was then owned, in part, by Silas Allen and 
Deacon James Wilson. 

About the year 1800 there was a wind-mill near Charles Meny- 
man's. It was built and owned by Major Paul Randall. The great 
shaft for the mill he hauled from Brunswick, and it was so heavj- he 
nearly broke the backs of his oxen drawing it over some of the hills. 
The mill did not do much business. It was situated down near the 
shore, instead of upon the ridge, which would have furnished more 
wind-power. The present saw and grist mill was erected about the 
year 18.30. It is owned in shares, about twenty in number. 

In 18").j, or thereabouts, there were two grist-mills on Great Island, 
one owned by Stephen Purinton, Esquire, and the other by a Mr. 
Ridley. 

SALT-WORKS. 

During the Revolution salt was very scarce. An Irishman on 
Great Island, who understood how to make salt from sea-water, sug- 
gested the building of salt-works on that island. A company was 
formed, a building erected, and kettles and other appliances were pur- 
chased. The Irishman, whose name was Milla}', had charge of the 
kettles. A yoke of oxen was employed to draw wood for the ovens, 
Sixt}' bushels of salt per week were manufactured, and it was sold in 
Boston for two dollars per bushel. 

TRADES. 

The population of Harpswell is so scattered that it has been found 
no easy thing to obtain an account of the various trades pursued in 
former times or at present. The following is all that we have 
obtained any information about. 

Bakers. — Early in the present or late in the last century a Mr. 
R^an had a bakery on Great Island. He moved to Brunswick in 1804 
or 1805. 

Blacksmiths. — Nehemiah Curtis, whose shop was one mile above 
the Congregational Church on the Neck, was the first blacksmith in 

' Memoranda of Reverend Samuel Eaton, in Pejepscot Papers. 



620 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

town of whom we have any account. He was succeeded in the busi- 
ness by his son and grandson, of the same name. The grandson 
kept the shop until 1820. Somewhat later in the business were Ben- 
jamin Curtis, whose shop was half a mile northwest of the church, 
and Barstow Curtis, whose shop was where Abijah Stover now lives. 

Boat-Builders. — David Doughty was the first boat-builder on 
Great Island. He was engaged in this business as late as 1847. He, 
was succeeded in the business b}' William Doughty. Since then the 
business has been carried on by quite a large number of persons. 

Boot and Shof. Makers. — James Merr^-man, on the Neck, near 
the Baptist Church, and William Orr, on Orr's Island, were engaged 
in the boot and shoe business for some years. They moved away 
about 1847. 

Brick-Yards. — In 1805 there was a brick-yard owned b}' a Mr. 
Douglass, situated on the Neck, about three miles above the Congre- 
gational Church. It was in operation only a shoi't time. There was 
another one carried on b}' a Mr. Reed in 1812 to 1815, on Orr's 
Island. 

Carpenters and Joiners. — John Curtis, in 1802 to 1804, and 
Waitstill Webber, an apprentice of Curtis's, in 1804, worked at this 
trade. Their shop was on the Neck, about two miles above the Con- 
gregational Church. In 1806, John Bibber pursued this occupation. 

Gunsmiths. — A man b}- the name of Nason lived on Bailey's 
Island about 1856, and carried on the business of a gunsmith. His 
shop was where Prince & Smulleu's store is now. 

Harness and Saddle Makers. — A man b}' the name of Barstow 
carried on the above business for one j'ear in 1816 or 1817. 

Masons. — The only mason that we have received any account of 
was a man by the name of Ewing. He lived on Great Island, but at 
what date is not known to us. 

Surveyors. — The only survej-ors of land of whom we have any ac- 
count were Paul and Benjamin Randall, who lived about two miles 
and a half above the Congregational Church. Paul died about 1874 ; 
Benjamin, about 1847. 

Tailors. — From 1800 to 1806, D. Merritt carried on the tailoring 
business in town. He moved to Durham. 

Tanners. — In the early part of the century, Thomas Farr had a 
tanner}' in Stover's Cove, on the Neck, and Benjamin Dunning had 
one about three miles above the Congregational Church. In the east- 
ern part of the town, Stephen Purinton had one. 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL. 621 



TRADERS. 

Mr. James Booker kept store as early as 1752 and as late as 1762. 
About the latter date Andrew Dunning and Alexander Wilson were 
also in trade ; that is, the}^ were licensed retailers, and bad a stock of 
goods wbicb they disposed of to the settlers when called npon, but 
they probably did not confine themselves exclusively to that business. 

Joseph Coney came from Boston in 1795 and opened a store, which 
-was opposite the lower end of Orr's Island. It was afterwards occu- 
pied by Bruce & Everett, Silas H. Dodge, and Jacob Merryman. 
Joseph Eaton kept store near the Congregational Church until his 
death, about 1846. A Mr. Pinkham once kept store at the end of 
Potts's Point, but the date is unknown. In 1847, Washington Gar- 
celon, post-master, had one near Paul Randall's. 

Bailei/s Island. — The old store which once stood at the head of the 
cove, on the outer end of Bailej-'s Island, has been occupied by the 
following men in succession : Perry & Howard, of Brunswick, 
about 1800 ; Joseph Coney, Major John Rowe, Zachariah Lambert, 
and Captain David Johnson. The store now occupied b}^ Lubee 
was formerly owned b}- Ralph Sinnett. 

A Mr. Dana and a Mr. Twombl^^ both kept store on this island for 
a long time. The former was at the lower end. The date of their 
doing business is not known. 

Orr's Island. — In the early part of this century Edward Ingraham 
kept a store on the southwest end of the island, where Prince & 
SmuUen's store is now. He had a brother in business with him, who 
was probably Nathaniel. S. F. Merrill at one time had a store at 
Lowell's Cove. 

Great Island. — In the latter part of the last, or in the first of the 
present century, a Mr. Ryan had a store at Condy's Harbor. 

Esquire Snow kept a store for many years at his wharf on New 
Meadows River. 

ESTSURANCE COMPANY. 

On February 14, 1855, Paul R. Curtis, Shubal Merrj^man, Isaac A. 
Johnson, Thomas A. Estes, Thomas U. Eaton, Abram J. Allen, 
Simeon Curtis, L. H. Stover, Pennell Alexander, Thomas Alexander, 
and Abel Thompson were incorporated as the Harpswell Mutual 
Fire Insurance Company. The first officers were Thomas Alexander, 
president; Thomas U. Eaton, secretary; Abel Thompson, treasurer. 
The first Board of Directors were Stephen Purinton, James Orr, David 



622 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



Webber, Alcot S. MeiT^Tiian, Thomas U. Eatou, Thomas Alexander, 
and Henr}' Barnes. 

The losses of this company have been so little that there has never 
been a necessity for making an}' assessments upon the members. The 
present officers are Thomas Alexander, president ; William C. Eaton, 
secretary' ; Shubael Merryman, treasurer. The present directors are 
Thomas Alexander, Pennell Alexander, William C. Eaton, Shubael 
Merryman, Sylvester Stover, Stephen Purinton, and Samuel E. 
Smullen. 

PRICES. 

The following charges and credits are taken from various accounts 
in James Booker's account-book, and are copied verbatim : — 

1750 

to two pare of buckels o/i & oue pare of buttons 1/10 
one pare of Shoes G/8 & oue pare of Stockens 3/9 
two yards of striped huraspun Cloath & a half 
eiglit yards of Checkt humspuu Cloath . 
two pare of mittens 2/8 & thre pare of buttons -1/10 
one Eaizer 

one pare mens shoes . 
one gallon Rum 
oue Ceutle of fish 
a Quarter of a thousand of pins 
half a pouud of powder . 
one Jarr of Oyl 
one pare of pomps 
one pare plush B riches 
six pound of Cotton Wool 
thirty one Cord of wood @ forty shillings 
one comb .... 
two quarts molases . 
oue peck Rie meal 
one pound of Coffy . 
one bushel Corn 
one hundred of nales 
one Sithe .... 
two pound of Chocolat . 
three pound of Shugar 
one load of hay 
five bunches Shingles 
half a dozen puter plates . 
one pare of silver buttons 
half a bushel of beans 
eleven yards of bed ticking 
half a pouud of peper 



Lawful 


money 


1 


10 








10 


5 





G 


8 


1 


1 


4 





7 


6 





1 


4 





G 








2 


8 





9 


3 








7 





1 








9 


4 





G 


8 


1 


4 





1 





8 


8 


5 


4 





1 


1 





1 


4 








11 





1 


4 





2 


4 





1 


8 





40 








iO, 








2 





1 


17 


4 





10 


8 





13 


4 





3 


2 





2 


2 


1 


18 


2 





1 


4 



COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF IIARPSWELL. 



623 



1750 

oue barril of flower . 

two pare of woman's Shoes 

six pound & a half of tobacco 

one pair of bed blankets . 

four ounces of homspon thred 

eight pound of Shoot 

Quarter of a yard of Cambrick 

Broad Cloath & trimen for a Jacket 

Ten bizcake [biscuit?] 

one cap 

one thousand shingles 
one wheelbai'er 



Lawful 


money 


1 


11 11 





9 4 





2 7 


1 


4 





2 1 





2 8 





2 4 


1 


19 1 





10 





2 4 





10 8 





9 4 



TOWN" VALUATION. 

Our account of the valuation of Harpswell is very meagre, and down 
to 1840 we have no record of anything except the number of polls. 
The following is all we have been enabled to obtain : — 

1773 . . 

1780 . . 

1790 . . 

1800 . . 

1830 . . 

1840 .... " 289 ... . estates $250,335 

1850 . ..." 328 ... . " 345,544 

1860 . ..." 367 ... . " 410,566 

1870 . ..." 404 ... . " 426,968 



. polls 


203 






175 






214 






262 






247 






289 






328 






367 






404 



POPULATION". 

In 1765 there were in Harpswell fifty-five houses, one hundi-ed and 
eleven families, two hundred and twenty-four males under, and one 
hundred and eightj'-eight above sixteen years of age, two hundred and 
twenty-four females under, and one hundred and eighty-six females 
above sixteen, and fourteen negroes. The total population, exclusive 
of Indians, was eight hundred and thirty-six. Brunswick at this time 
had a population o^hni five hundred and six. 

In 1776, Harpswell had nine hundred and seventy-seven white 
inhabitants, while Brunswick had but eight hundred and sixty-seven.^ 

In 1778, Harpswell had twenty-seven Revolutionary soldiers, and 
one hundred and seventy-eight males over the age of sixteen.'-^ 



1 Census of Massachusetts, 1765 to 1776. ^Massachusetts Archives, Book 185, p. 391. 



624 HISTOIiY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

' The following is tlie population for the years in which we have been 
able to find a census of it : — 

1810 1,190 

1820 1,253 

1830 1,352 

1840 1,448 

1850 1,535 

1860 1,603 

1870 1,749 

It will be noticed from the census of the three towns, that while 
Brunswick and Topsham have lost in population since 1850, Ilarps- 
well has made a steady' gain from the ■very first, and in no decade has 
she lost in population. 



FORTS, GARRISONS, CHURCHES, ETC., IN BRUNSWICK. 625 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

FORTS, GARRISONS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER BUILDINGS IN BRUNSWICK, 

FORTS. 

F'oRT Andross. — The first fort ever erected upon the banks of the 
Androscoggin, by Englishmen, was undoubtedly that built by Gov- 
ernor Andross in 1688, which has since been called by his name. After 
King Philip's war, Andross, desirous of promoting the eastern settle- 
ments, came to Pejepscot in midwinter, with an army of 1,000 men, 
and on the now vacant lot adjoining the present store of J. T. Adams 
& Co., a few rods south of Bow Street, he erected a stone fort.^ It 
was large and in form xevy zigzag. In 1689 it was under the com- 
mand of Lieutenant Colonel McGregory and Major Thomas Savage. 
It was demolished about 1691:.- 

Fort George. — From about 1694 to 1715 the fort previously' men- 
tioned lay dismantled and entirel}" unfit for purposes of protection to 
the settlers. Accordingly, on Jul}' 28, 1715, the following proposal 
was presented to the House of Representatives by the subscribers : — 

'• Wee the subscribers Proprietors of the Lands in Brunswick and 
Topsliam, &c. being desirous to make such a settlement as may be 
able to sustain a war with the Indians, Do acknowledge the Favour of 
the General Court in their readiness to encourage and protect the 
intended setilements and particularl}- in the Repair of the Fort there ; 
Vet perceiving the House inclinable to a Wooden Fort on account of 
the cheapness of it : We being sensible that as this Fort is set so, as 
to be a Bridle to the Indians ; So if a War should arise, it may be 
expected, the}- will leave no means untryed to become Masters of it ; 
towards which the Remoteness from Succour will give them great 
advantage ; and considering how much the Lives and Estates there 
will depend upon the strength and security of that Fort : We have 
been induced to make the following Proposall. 

' ' That whereas the Wooden Fort at Winter Harbour cost, as we are 
informed Four hundred Pounds, when Provisions and Labour were 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 2 Massachusetts Historical Collection, od Series, p. 85. 
40 



626 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

mucli cheaper, than at this time ; we can't suppose such an one now 
would cost much less than five hundred Pounds ; and a Stone Fort 
supposed to be much more chargable : yet rather than the s*^ Fort 
should be of Wood, and so liable to be consumed b}' Fire, in case it 
should be assaulted by French as well as Indians. 

'•Wee offer. That if the Generall Court will please to allow Five 
Hundred Pounds, and let us now have the Fifteen men, which are 
designed for that Garrison, we will enter into Engagements to repair 
and finish the aforesaid Stone Fout : To be Fift}" Foot Square, as 
proposed, with Four Bastions, Two of which of wood on the Top of 
the Angle, at our own charge, although it should amount to more than 
that sum. And we shall set about it in a weeks time, if possible, 
and hope to finish it before winter, if not obstructed b}' the Indians. 
We desire to have Three hundred Pounds of the said sum, as occasion 
shall require, to provide Materialls &c. and the remainder when the 
work is finished. 

" Signed 

"Thomas Hutchintsgn. 

Adam Winthrop. 

Oliver Noyes. 

In hchalf of themschcs tV- partners. 

" INIemorandum. It is agreed that the foundation of the said Fort 
shall be Three Foot under Ground. Tliat the Wall shall be Three Foot 
thick at Bottom, and at least Tenn Foot High above the Ground, and 
laid in Lime Mortar, with Barracks for Fifteen men, to be built on or 
near the Spot where the Fort now stands." ^ 

The General Court accepted this proposal of the proprietors, and 
ordered the sums of mone}' asked for to be paid out of the treasury. 

At a meeting of the Pejepscot proprietors, held August 2, 1715, 
it was voted : " That Capt. John Wentworth be writ to to despatch a 
Sloop from Piscatequa forthwith, with Four Thousand of Pine Plank 
and to fill up with good Boards to be landed at Pejepscot Falls. 

" That Capt. No^'es be desired to despatch a Sloop from Xewbury 
with Seventy or Eighty hogsh"^^ of good Stone Lime, llu; price here 
21.S p. hhd. 100 gallons. 

"That a Sloop be sent from hence with Bricks, Shingles, Clap- 
boards, Nails, Provisions, a horse Team, Six Wheelbarrows, Arms, 
Crows, Pickaxes, Mauls, Shovels, Blankets, Kettles, Pails, Dishes, 
Horse Cart, Ox Cart, and a pair of Trucks." - 

* Pyepscot Records, 2 JUd. 



FORTS, GAIiRISONS, CFIURCHES, ETC., IN BRUNSWICK. 627 



The erection of this fort was commenced by Captain John Gyles in 
the month of August, 1715, on the ledge of rocks at the northern end 
of Maine Street, about where two of the factory boarding-houses now 
stand. It was completed in the December following. 




Fort George, Brunswick. 

The walls of this fort were very thick and the stones were laid in 
mortar. It was finished with two bastions and two half-bastions, with 
flanks on the top sutBcient for cannon. There was a large two-&tory 
dwelling-house erected in the fort, the roof appearing above the wail. 
The flag-staflT was in the southwest corner of the southwest bastion . 

This fort effectually resisted the aggressions of the Indians, and 
protected all the dwellings within reach of its cannon. In times of 
alarm, however, the inhabitants usuall}' congregated inside its walls. 
To give an idea of the size and importance of this fort to the infant 
settlement, an illustration of it has been given, drawn originally from 
memor}' b^' Daniel Stone (the father of Narcissa and Daniel) ; and an 
account of the cost of the work, taken from the Pejepscot Records, is 
also inserted. 

"AN ACCrj OP THE CO ^r OF FORT GEORGE 
MASONS WOliK. 

Benj Swnhi 88 daics at 5/ 1 niyiit l/G 

Peter Herod 4/ . 

Ilanniwell & Negro 7/G 

Dutch 4/ 

Clark 4/ . . . . • 



CAItPENTKRS WOKK 



Beuj Haley & man 7/6 
Kemball 4/6 . 
Wheeler 4/ . 



22 


1 


6 


15 


18 




27 


!) 


6 


15 


18 




15 


14 




97 


10 




30 


3 


9 


18 


2 


3 


16 


2 





64 



628 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 



NIGHTS WOUK OF TKADESMEX 



as p acc' 



THE SOULDIEKS AS LABOURERS 

Niglits, Da.vs & Boatage 

Mr. Watts' Boy cooking the Pott at 1/6 . 



MATERIALL8 



Shell lime 500 bush"» at 14'' 
40 hhf? StoQe lime 
Boards 10821 feet . 
Pine Plaiili 4 M . 
Oak Plank . 
Shingles 10 M at 16/ 
Clapboards 12 at 7/ 
Bricks 11 M 
Nails Spikes &c . 
Glass Casmeuts . 
Great Hinges & Rivets 
Small Hinges 
Smiths Work 
Lariie Lock for Gate 



PROVISION ACC^'^ IN THE SEVERALL BILLS 



SLOOP HIRE 



& PILOTING. 



58 


4 


4 


6 


7 


6 


64 


11 


10 


29 


3 




50 


4 


4 


23 


IG 


3 


17 


1 


7 


3 


19 


10 


8 






4 


4 




12 


7 


6 


20 


2 


3 


3 


4 




2 


6 




1 


10 
12 
14 





Mr Watts Bill 
Mr Winthrops Bill 
Mr Noyes' Bill 
Mr Rucks Bill 
Mr Miuots Bill 



Lowles Sloop 
Stephens Sloop 
Board Sloop 
Mr Watts Sloop 
LoTvd Piloting 
More Piloting &c 
Butler Boating Lime 
Do Piloting 



SMALL EXPENSES. 

Giv'n Gyles for dispatch 

Gett : great Boat from Mill pond 

Port^ & Cart* 

Reckonings & Small Charges . . . . 



177 

2 
17 
45 
13 
12 



90 


8 


3 


17 


18 




9 






9 


10 




40 






1 






2 


10 




2 


5 


10 


82 


3 


10 


1 


9 






12 


9 


3 


5 


9 



FORTS, GARRISONS, CHURCHES, ETC., IN BRUNSWICK. 629 

Allowed Mr Watts his Trouble 30 

Due to Mr Jno Miuot to 5"^ Nov 18 8 

Charge eulistiug men 5 

1 horse lost 9 15 

James Irish's work ......... 4 

Use of our Teams no 

Loss & AVear of Tools 2 

99 3 
Total £688 9 4i 

In the latter part of 1736, or early in 1737, the General Court of 
Massachusetts decided to dismantle this fort. This decision filled 
the settlers with dismay, and in consequence the following petition 
was sent to the legislature : — 

" To nis ExCELL'^ Jonathan Belcher Esq' Capt'' Genekall and Gov- 

EHNOUR IN Chief in and Over the Mashecusets bay. 

« 

" To THE Honorable Council and house of Representatives Mett in 

Generall Court. 
"THE HUMBLE PETITION OF BRUNSWICK & TOPSUM, WITH ALL 
THE SCATTRED SETTLERS UNDER THE COVERT AND PROTEC- 
TION OF FORT GEORGE. 

" Humbly Sheweth. 
•" That we j-oiir Excell'^' & Honours Humble Petitioners, filled with 
Inexpressible fears & discouragements upon a vote (as we are In- 
formed) pass'd both Honourable houses, of dismantling Fort George, 
beg leave in the most humble maner to lay our present Condition and 
circumstances before y^ Exceli'^ & Honours, which we claim not only 
as a right, but also gloiys in, as our precious mercy and priviledge, to 
have access to your Excell'* at the head of so man}- Honourable 
Patriots and fathers of our Contre}^ whose great care & prudence in 
securing the rights and priviledges of the Subject in most Crilicall 
Junctures, gives us hope that the revew of our case & Condition by 
the Golden Rule of righteousness will ^et move y'' Excell'* & Hon" to 
prevent our fears by Continuing with us the visible mark of protection 
absolutel}' necessary for the Incouragment & safty of these Infant 
Settlements, with which vew we conceive this fort was erected and 
since continued, supported & defended ; and if }''' Inducing reasons 
then were good. Just, and becoming the Wisdom of our Senators, 
they continue yet in unrepealed force & virtue and concludes now with 
more strength for the Continuance of it ; as there are manj' more lives 
and much more expensive labours and Industry under the covert & 

' Pejepscot Records. 



030 HIS'lORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HAEPSWELL. 

defense of it alone, its advantagious Scituation, being no less a terror 
& restraint to Enemyes, than an Inconragment and wSafe Eetreat to 
your petitioners, there being no other fort or Garisson from which 
an^' aid, Succour, or Relief can be expected in case of necessity, for 
as for Richmond, we only observe what your Excell'® and Several 
members of both Honourable houses are well acquainted with. It 
lies upon a direct line through a vast and almost impassible wilder- 
ness at or about 20 miles by a modest computation from us, and fur- 
ther bj' water, which passage is attended with unavoidable danger in 
case of extremity as many last war can witness from experience. So 
that there is more probability of our being relived b}* Castle William, 
than from thence, and further we beg leave to observe to y"" Excell"" & 
Hon" that Brunswick, time without mind, has been the place of the 
annual Randevouze of all the tribes, which always has been licentious, 
vilg, and Riotous, but now in a great measure broak by the prudent 
care and circumspection of the present Comander, in his civil & mili- 
tar^^ Capacity, the former useless were it not Joyn'd and Suported b}' 
the latter : what can y"" Petitioners expect, upon the dismanthng the 
fort, but to be the Melancoly Spectators, or rather the helpless miser- 
able Sufferers under the returns of their Avild extravigauces, to the 
great danger of our lives & libertyes. But should it be Suggested 
that our lives and libertyes are Secured by the peace, and So the Con- 
tinuance of the fort is an unnecesary Charge to the province, iu 
answer to which we beg leave to Observe to yf Exceli;*' & Hon" That 
this peace cost the province much blood & treasure ; & therefore the 
dearer bought, the greater care and caution is necessary to the preser- 
vation of it ; which is alwa3-s a posture of defence, & readiness to 
resent the violations of it, according to the genei'all maxims of policy, 
practised by all States, Kingdoms, & Comonwealths in the time of 
best concerted peace, always Jealous of their rights and Securing 
their fronteers, without whicii tlie publick faith in many Instances, has 
given way and yielded to the rapid Stream of Interest and ambition. 

" further, all the advantages our Infant Settlements in the east- 
ward have Receiv'd by the peace, are, under God, Owing to y' 
Excell'f & Ilon^ great Wisdom, Care, & Vigilance, and neither to the 
love nor faith of Indians, they being by the Victorious arms of the 
province forc'd into peace, & what How's not from Choyce but neces- 
sity, can onl}- be suposed binding till oportunit}' ofter. 

"That their love cant be depended upon is obvious to us, conversant 
among them, who look upon us, as unjust usurpers & intruders upon 
their rights and priviledges, and spoilers of their idle way of living. 



FORTS, GARIilSONS, CHURCHES, ETC., IN BRUNSWICK. 631 

" They claim not onl}- the wild beasts of the forest, and fowls of the 
air, but also fishes of Sea & rivers, and so with an ill eye looks upon 
our Salmon fishery, and no doubt would disturb our fishers were it not 
under the Imediate protection of the fort, as Severall can witness who 
have fished in undefended places ; besides thej- Cant hide their spleen 
& Eesentment against those of our Setlers, who in the late war acted 
in the province Servise (a good man}* such we have) the peace has 
not secured some such from violent assaults, houses rifled, & peace 
purchased b}' gratifications pleasing to them, but with those vile 
abuses, & gross violations of peace we bore without giving y"". Ex- 
cell'f & Hon" trouble by complaints, while we Injoy'd the benefit of 
the fort, which cannot be expected when left as Catalans to the unbri- 
dled rage of such Enemyes, who Embalm's the memor}- of tlie vilest 
murtherers, transmits them to posterity, who are aml)itious eriough to 
Copy these heroick virtues in their ancesters ; their faith besides 
being the effect of force is under the Influence of that popish prin- 
ciple, of no faith to be kept with hereticks and the Sacraficing such 
has always been accounted meritorious, what can be more agreeable 
to them, than purchase Heaven hereafter, by raising their fame & rep- 
utations as Heroes here. 

" If such principles & practices promisses a longer lifed peace than 
opertunitj- offers, and whether the dismantling fort George gives not 
such an opertunity, by having So man}'' lives at their discretion, 
whose circumstances scarce alow two to be mutual aiding to one 
& otlier, we beg leave to Submitt to y''. ExcelP^ & Hon''f Serious 
thoughts, wisdom & Judgment. If we have forfeited our Claim and 
right to protection, we beg to be punnished according to the known 
equitable laws of the province, but we pray yl" Excell'f and Honours 
may not give us up to the rage of Enemves, tho' under the mask and 
varnish of peace, a punishment never yet Inflicted upon Brittish Sub- 
jects ; In which Circumstapces what sliall we do? tamely to Submitt to 
Salvage rage is beueath the spirits of fres born Subjects, to venture 
our lives in defence of our long toil & labour, tho' we shall be the first 
sufferers, it is easy to see the consequences will reach mucli farther, 
if we fly for Safety, Ave must leave our estates behind, which are the 
purchase of Industry in Subduing a wilderness, and then we become 
a burtheusome Charge to Charitable and well disposed Christians. 

" But we hope better things and such as are worth}^ 3'our Excell'* 
at the head of So man}- wise Senators, to whose wisdom we submitt 
our Condition and circumstances, Earnestl}- begging in the most hum- 
ble and dutiful maner, that your Excell'^ according to the great trust 



632 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



reposed in 3'ou, and Roj'al power wherewith j'on are Cloathed, with 
the advice & concurrence of both Honourable houses, may prevent 
onr fears and give us a Reviving under the Continuance of the fort 
as the sensible pledge of 3'our Excell'^^ protection and Instance of 
their Mon''^ wisdom, care, & Goodness, in Securing the rights and 
hves of man}' subjects, and as in Duty bound 

" Your Humble Petioners Shall ever pray 



"We b}' apointment in 
behalf of ourselves & 20 
families in Brnusvvick, 
Subscribes our names at 
Bi'uuswick meetiug-house 
this 25th of April 1737 



" We by apointment in behalf 
of ourselves and 24 families 
in Topsum, subscribe our 
names at Brunswick meeting- 
house this 25"> of Aprill 1737 





^ C^^^ 



Q/ffiJ^ 







y^/Kn 



M 



" I by apointment in behalf of 
15 Circumjacent families do sub- 
scribe my name at Brunswick 
meeting-house this 25"' of April 
1737> 

Notwithstanding the foregoing petition the fort was soon afterwards 






> 



Pejepscot Papers. 



FORTS, GARRISONS, CHURCHES, ETC., IN BRUNSWICK. 633 

dismantled, and the property reverted to the proprietors, who, Decem- 
ber 19, 17." 8, leased it, together with all the buildings and land con- 
nected with it, to Mr. George Harwood. He occupied the premises 
until November 1, 1761.^ 

At a meeting of the Pejepscot proprietws, held October 8, 1761, 
Belcher Noj'es was instructed to execute a deed of the old fort, with 
the buildings and land belonging to it, and the privilege of the stream 
at the falls, "• the one half to Jeremiah Moulton, Esquire, the other 
half to Captain David Dunning, they pajing unto the said Belcher 
iS'oyes the sum of one hundred thirt}' three pounds six shiUings and 
eight pence, lawful money, for which sum he is to account with the 
Proprietors." 2 This sum amounted to about £1,000 old tenor. 3 On 
November 19, 1761, Belcher Noyes gave Harwood a written order to 
surrender the fort a:nd buildings to either Moulton or Dunning."* 

The ruins of this fort, with some portions of the wall yet standing, 
were plainly to be seen as late as 1802, and Mr, Dean Swift distinctly 
remembers placing upon these ruins when a boy. That gentleman is 
authority for saying the materials of the old fort were used in the 
construction of the foundations of some of the dwelling-houses now 
standing, and that some of the stones of which it was built form parts 
of the cellar-walls of the house owned and occupied b}' the late Doctor 
John D. Lincoln, of the Dunning house on the brow of the hill near 
the First Parish Meeting-House, of the Tontine Hotel, and other old 
buildings. 

BLOCK-HOUSES AND GARRISONS. 

The first fortified places in this vicinity, other than the fort, were 
probably erected bj' the Pejepscot proprietors in 1716, unless there 
is reasq^i to suppose that Purchase, Stevens, and others of the ver}' 
earliest settlers had garrisoned houses. In the record of a meeting of 
the proprietors, which was held October 9 , 1716, the following occurs : — 

" Agreed with Mr. Benjamui Swain to build the Chimneys in our 
House at Maquoit, and in our House at Small Point : the stack in each 
house to have four Fires at Fourty Shillings pr Fire, Each Brick Arch 
under the four Chimneys to be at Fourty Shillings pr Arch : The 
Stonework to be Four Shillings & 6d pr Perch, the Stuff to be at the 
Place, s*^ Swain to allow Boston Price for what Labour he has done by 
our Hands." 

There is no positive evidence that the above were fortified buildings, 
but it is safe to presume so, since it is known that there were, in 1724 

^ Pejepscot Records. ^ Ibid. ^ Pejepscot Papers. ^Ihid. 



634 IIIS'IOUY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

and siibscquenth', a block-house and a well-fortified storehouse at 
Maqnoit. 

Tiiic DuNxiNG Gauuison. — A short distance southwest of where 
the post-office now stands, in what was known as the Schwartkin 
garden, or in the rear of the McLellan building, where a white cottage 
now is, David Dunning erected a strong timber garrison or block- 
house. It was two stories high, forty feet long, and twenty-two feet 
wide. The second stor}- projected about three or four feet over the 
first, and the walls had loop-holes for the purpose of enabling the 
inmates to fire upon the Indians when necessity required. There was 
a tower on the top, from which the teams could be watched on their 
wa3' to and from the Merriconeag Marshes. 

The above-mentioned garrison was probably the largest one, but 
there are known to have been man\- others in different parts of the 
town, and there were probably some of which no account has been 
preserved. The location of all that were known will be given. 

The Giveex Gauuison. — On the elevation between New Wharf 
and Pennell's Wharf there was a garrison erected at an early date by 
David Giveen. 

The IIinkley Garrison. — There was a garrison in 1747 at New 
Meadows, which was built by Deacon Sanuiel Iliukle^' and two of his 
sons-in-law, named Thompson. It stood on the elevation in the rear 
of the barn now owned by IMr. Bartlett Adams, and the outline of the 
garrison is still easil}- traced. 

Ham's Garrison. — There was a garrison on Ham's Hill, near the 
head of New Meadows River, on the road to Bath. It was situated a 
few rods south of the road, on the top of the hill, on a ledge of rocks 
just back of the barn of Mr. Peterson, the present owner of the lot. 
It was near this garrison that Seth Ilinkley was killed, in INIaj, 1747. 
It was probably built or occupied by Joseph Smith, a tanner. No 
remains of this garrison are to be seen at the present day, though 
man}- of the large, square timbers of which it was composed remained 
on the site within the memoiy of persons now living. It was much 
exposed to attacks from the Indians on their route from Ncav Mead- 
ows to Pejepscot.^ 

McFarland's Garrison. — About 1730, James McFarland built a 
two-storv block-house on what is now the corner of Maine and JNIason 
Streets, where Day's Block now is. In this garrison Kevcrend Robert 
Dunlap lived for some years after he came to town.^ 

1 McKeen, MS. Lecture. 2 p^epscot Papers. 



FORTS, GARRISONS, CHURCHES, ETC, IN BRUNSWICK. 635 

This garrison was of hewn timber, forty feet long by twenty feet 
wide. It was taken down a short time before the close of the Indian 
war. 

Minot's Garrison. — John Minot had a garrison and a storehouse 
about five rods west of where the late Henry Minot's house stood 
at Mair Point. The date of its erection is not known. 

The Skolfield Garrison. — This garrison was situated near where 
Mr. Peter Woodward now lives. It was built and owned by Thomas 
Skolfield. I'he date of its erection is not known. 

The Gurnet Point Garrison is said to have been built and owned 
by Captain John Gatchell.^ 

The Spear Garrison. — Nearly opposite the old meeting-house 
which stood on the Maquoit road, about a mile from the colleges, was 
once a garrison built by William and Robert Spear, and occupied by 
the latter. The wall was sixty or seventy feet in circumference, and 
ten feet higli. Inside there was a one-story, gambrel-roofed house, 
which faced the east, and the back of which formed a part of the tim- 
ber wall. This garrison was once attacked hy the Indians. Mr. 
Spear had placed some loose boards across one corner of the wall. 
An Indian climbed up on this corner in order to get inside and unbar 
the gates, but the boards extending outside of the wall, his weight 
caused them to tip up, and he fell back into an old sleigh, the noise, 
of course, arousing Mr. Spear.- 

According to another account, the Indian fell back into a hog-pen, 
and it was the unusual grunting of its disturbed porcine occupant that 
awoke Mr. Spear. 

Besides the garrisons which have been mentioned were dwellings 
which the occupants made proof against bullets Ijy lining them with 
studs four inches thick. These houses had also apertures in different 
rooms, so that their owners might defend their own castle. Guns were 
kept in readiness for use in the house, and were carried b}' the settlers 
wherever they went. 

The Gun-House. — The old gun-house, which stood on Centre 
Street, on the lot adjoining that of the present school-house, was built 
in 1808, and was destroyed by fire in 1809. It was at once rebuilt, 
and was occupied as a gun-house for the Brunswick artillery for many 
years. It is now a dwelling on the southern side of Franklin Street, 
near its eastern end. 

The Powder-House. — The original powder-house was built in 

1 McKeen, MS. Lecture. 2 Pejepscot Papers. 



G36 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

1804-5 hy Samuel Melcher, who agreed to erect it for twenty dollars. 
In 1805 it was examined bj' a committee, and declared h\ them to be 
worth onl}- four dollars and fift}' cents. This amount the town paid, 
but would not accept the building. In 181 G the town authorized the 
selectmen to build a new powder-house at an expense of one hundred 
and fift}' dollars. This building stood on the top of the hill on Pleas- 
ant Street, which gave to the hill the name of Powder-House Hill. 

Town-House. — For almost one hundred years after its incorpora- 
tion the town of Brunswick had no building of its own in which to 
hold its meetings, except the First Parish Meeting-House. 

The first movement towards a town-house was in 1835. At a 
meeting of the town, held April 27, of this year, it was voted to build 
a town-house without unnecessarj- dela}-. In 1836 seven hundred 
dollars was appropriated, and a building committee was chosen, who 
were authorized to borrow three hundred dollars additional. The 
house was built this 3'ear on land given b}' Reverend AVilliam Allen 
and David Dunlap, Esquire. 







It was built of brick, one story high, with fifteen-foot posts. The 
ground dimensions were sixty by fort3'-two feet. Richard T. Dunlap, 
Jacob Pennell, and Joseph McKeen were the building committee. 
The town voted to purchase a lot, at a price not exceeding fifty dol- 
lars, on the southeast corner of the lot on Avhich President Allen's 
academy stood. The lot was to be four rods in front and to run back 
ten rods. The building committee were authorized to obtain any 
other lot, if deemed more desirable. The}' selected the one already 
mentioned, and the house was built on Maine Street, about opposite 
the southern end of the college grounds. Between March 16 and 
the June following, in the year 1857, this building was burnt, and the 
town, at its next meeting, authorized the selectmen to dispose of the 
ruins and lot. Since that time the town has l)een without a town hall, 
and its meetings have been held in halls leased for the purpose. 



FORTS, GARRISONS, CHURCHES, ETC., IN BRUNSWICK. 



637 



MEETING-HOUSES. 

The first meeting-house of the First Parish was situated about a 
mile south of the present edifice of that parish. It was located in the 
road in front of the gravej'ard. It faced south, and the travelled part 
of the road passed by the west end of the building. 

The parsonage was a small, one-stor}' house, situated just south of 
the gravej'ard, and faced the road. 

In front of the meeting-house stood the stocks, and in the rear was 
the whipping-post. 

North of the graveyard was a pound, with a substantial fence, 
gate, lock, and ke}'. 

The boards for this meeting-house are said to have been brought 
from Richmond Fort. The interior was never finished ; the walls 
were left bare, and as there was no ceiling, the roof-timbers were 
exposed to view. The pews Avere large and square, with seats on 
three sides. Over the pulpit was a sounding-board, which was sup- 
ported by two iron rods running obliquely from the posts to the front 
of the sounding-board. During the Revolution the east end of the 
house, next to the roof, was partitioned oflT and used as a powder 
magazine. The building was never warmed b}' a stove or fireplace. 
In scA'ere weather man}' persons carried foot-stoves to meeting with 
them. 




First Meeting-House jn Brl'nswick. 

The municipal doings of the town regarding this building are of 
interest and are therefore inserted here. The first movement lookino- 
to the erection of the building was made in 1719, as will be seen from 



638 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

the following extract ^ from the Records of the Toioishfjy of Bruns- 
wick : — 

"■ Att a Leagual Town meeting in Brunswick Jan'' 9 : 1719 Voted, 
That the Timber for a INIeeting House Be Prepared Raised & under- 
pin'^ as soon as may bee, Tliat whereas To methodize oversee & finish 
the work Capt Gjles, Elder Cochron, John Cochron, James Starrat & 
Joseph Heath are Chosen, This is Their authority for their proceed- 
ings in the S'^ work. And the Towns obligation to Discharge y* Debt 
Contracted b}' S'' Committee for y^ Compleating y^ above S*^ work 

Voted, That whereas it ma}- be an ease to Sum if the}' ma}' Dis- 
charge part of their Dues toward y* work b}' their own Labour therein 
as accation may Serve, The master Avorkman observing I-Cacli mans 
abillity & Labour Shall state their wages in proportion there unto y' So 

no injustice be Done 

"Joseph Hkatii Toion C'^" 

It would appear that little or nothing was done at that time, how- 
ever, as in 1721 it was voted : — 

" That the former Projections of raising a meeting house be revived. 
That thirty pounds monej' be raised by rate to carry on y^ S"^ work 
with a proviso that Each Inhiibitant ma}' be imploy*^ in the work so 
far as his ability' & proportion of y® S*^ Rate will alow Y"^ value of 
Each mans Daily labour to be Stated b}' the master workman & 
return"^ to y" Connnittee for over Seeing S^ work. Such part of the 
S*^ rate only to be Collected in mone}' as shall be soficient to pa}' the 
said master Workman his wages, and also the arrearages which Capt 
Gyles & Pleath Stand obliged to pay on y' Towns Account. The 
w^ork formerl}' Done in preparing Timber For y'^ S** House to be re- 
duised out of the rate of those who Did it. And Capt Gyles, Mr 
Wharton, John Cochron, James Smith, & Joseph Heath to be a Com- 
mittee to methodize y"' work." ^ 

The meeting-house was erected chiefly at the expense of the Pejep- 
scot proprietors, the agreement being that the inhabitants should 
erect the frame of the building and that it should be comi)leted I)}' the 
proprietors. Sashes, glass, doors, etc., were probably procured in 
Boston. The fulloAving account shows a part of the cost of the 
building : — 

^Brunswick Records in Pcjcpscot Collection. ^Ibid. 



FORTS, GARRISONS, CHURCHES, ETC., IN BRUNSWICK. 



639 



The Gentlemen' Puopuietors of Brunswick 

To B. 



Laruabee 



July 28 

1735 The account of stuff &c for the meeting house 
To 1070 ft Joyce Phiuk & Board @ 60/ p I\I 

1438 ft Clear Boards at 80/ 

To fetching stuff fi'om y'= mill 3 men 2 daj's at 6/ . 
To Gundolow hire 2 days at 4/ .... 

To 4 days haling Boards Joyce & Shingles @ 15/ . 

To haling posts for scaffolds 

To 200U Clapboards (« 90/ 

To bringing them from Topsham 3 men 1 day . 

To 5 thick Boards for the Puli)itt .... 

To GOOO of shingles at 20/ 

To 2 1 80 feet of Joyce 

To 857 feet of 2-inch plank 

To .")00 Merchantable Boards 

To 1550 feet of Clear Boards ..... 

Septr 

To haling boards 3 days 2 men 4 oxen @ 24/ . 

To Boating Boards, Joyce &c from North Yarm 2 men 

days at 6/ 

Jan'y 

To half a thousand of Board Nails .... 

To l-i thousand of Clapboard Nails .... 

To treating the workmen 

To Gundalovvhire 15/1 man 2 days @ 0/ . . 

To 3 pair of rais'd Aches at 4/G .... 

To 200 ))oard Nails 

To 300 Clapboard nails 

To Spt'aks, brads, hangings for the Canopy 

To paid Capt Woodside for assisting in haling the Stuff 

To Banisters for ye Pews & Pulpitt stairs 

To paid Ml" Pearse for work done on the meeting house 

To paid said Pearse 



£3 
5 
1 


3 



D« 



4 

14 ]T 

IG 6 

■'; 

10 

15 
13 



10 
4 



3 12 





IG 




1 


10 






G 


G 


1 


7 






12 


G 




6 


G 




5 


6 


3 


15 
15 


4 


1 


17 


G 


123 


2 




5 







£199 



In 1755 the town voted to " repair the windows, long seats, and the 
underpinning of the meeting house." 

[1763.] In the year 17G3 the town voted to set off and sell thir- 
teen pews on the floor and sixteen pews in the galleiy of the west 
meeting-house, " 'Ihe oldest inhabitants that have no pews to have 
the preference in bn^'ing said pews." The proceeds were to be used 
to defray the expense of repairing and finishing the meeting-house. 

[17*J7.] Some difficulty appears to have arisen in 1797 in regard 
to the juris lictiou over and responsibility for the meeting-house, as in 



640 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

March the town passed several rather contradictory votes in regard to 
the matter. In the first place it was voted that the town had }kj right 
to repair the west meeting-house, and that it ought to be repaired b}' 
the owners of pews.^ Then it was decided b}' vote that the irliole 
town should have all the privileges in the meeting-house that had been 
heretofore enjoyed. Third, that if there was an}' vacant space for 
pews, i\iQ proprietors had a right to sell it, and to use the proceeds for 
repairing the meeting-house. Finallj', it was voted that the owners of 
pews were not the sole owners of the meeting-house. 

The meeting-house was that 3'ear cut in two in the middle, one half 
was moved a few feet, and an addition inserted, the width of two 
pews. "2 It is not probable that any repairs were made to this building 
after this date, as in 1806 the First Parish erected a new building on 
the site of their present edifice. 

The old building was unoccupied for many years, excepting for 
occasional services. At one time, probabl}' about 1828, it was occu- 
pied for a short time by the Baptists. It was destroyed by fire in 
1834, the fire being the work of an incondiar}'. 

The second meeting-house of the First Parish was erected at New 
Meadows about the year 1756. Previous to that time services had 
been held in a barn situated near the present residence of Bortlett 
Adams. In 1755 a proposition was made that the town should build 
a meeting-house at the east end of the town, but it was defeated. A 
connnittee was however chosen l)y the town to solicit subscriptions for 
this purpose, and the building was erected not long afterwards upon 
the ground now (1877) occupied by the barn of Mr. Ephraim Wilcox. 
Although the building was erected b}" subscription, yet inasnuich as 
those worshipping in it were members of the First Parish, and as the 
minister of the First Parish was instructed by vote of the town to 
preach at New Meadows a certain portion of the time, this meeting- 
house may properl}- be called the second meeting-house of the First 
Parish. 

This building stood unoccupied for man}' 3-ears, and was finallj' car- 
ried oflT piecemeal, from time to time, by those living in the vicinity, 
for fences, out-buildings, etc. The last remnant was carried away 
about the year 1834. 

The third meeting-house of the First Parish was begun in 1806, and 
was completed the next year. It was built by individuals who sold 

' The Baptistff had ivithdraivn. 

2 Mrs. Lamb, Dean Swift, and other ayed citizens. 



FORTS, GARRISONS, CHURCHES, ETC., IN BRUNSWICK. 



641 



the pews, and then the building was made over to the parish. The 
land was bought of Robert D. Dunning and William Stanwood, and 
not, as is believed by man}^ of the college. The college, however, 
contributed something towards the erection of the building, for the 
privilege of holding Commencement and other exercises in it, but has 
never had any other ownership in it than the right to the pews in 
the south gallerv. 




This meeting-house was built under the direction of Mr. Samuel 
Meleher, who was a superior workman. It is said that the underpin- 
ning for this meeting-house was brought here from Yarmouth, being 
hauled over Crip's Ledge. 

Reverend Samuel Eaton, of Harpswell, in his seventy- fourth year, 

and who had but just recovered from a fractured leg, made a prayer on 

the frame before it was raised. The outside was nearly finished before 

September 2, 1806, and the inside was fitted, temporarih-, for the 

41 



642 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

exercises of the first Commencement at Bowdoin College. The first 
bell ever rung in town was placed on this meeting-house. It was 
bought b}' subscription, but precisely when it was bought is not known. 
This meeting-house was also the first to be warmed hy a stove. In 
1807 the building was dedicated. President Appletou preached the 
sermon from the text, " He hath loved our nation, and hath built us a 
s^'nagogue." 

In 18o;3 this building was remodelled and made more pleasant and 
commodious. In 1845 it was taken down, and the present edifice was 
erected upon its site. The spire of the present edifice was blown off 
in 186G. 

The Conference Room of the First Parish, on Centre Street, was 
erected in 1823. 

In 1841 it was sold with the land, and the building on Scliool 
Street, which w-as erected by the Second Baptist Society, and which 
had been occupied by them as their place of worship, was pur- 
chased and refitted for the Congregational vestry, and is still used as 
such. 

Baptist Meeting-Houses. — The first meeting-house erected by the 
Baptists was bviilt at Maquoit in 1798 or 1799. It stood about a mile 
below the old First Parish Meeting-House, on the right-hand side of 
the road where the old Maquoit burying-ground is. It was somewhat 
similar in appearance to tlie old First Parish Meeting-House, having 
no steeple, and being roughly finished. In 1853 it was sold to Samuel 
Dunning and moved to his ship-^-ard for a boarding-house. 

The next building erected b}' the Baptists w^as at New Meadows, in 
the 3-ear 1800. In 1848 it was taken down, and the present edifice 
erected on its site. 

The third Baptist meeting-house was what is now known as the 
Congregational Vestr}'. It was erected in 182G by the " Second Bap 
tist Society'," and occupied by them for about ten years. In 1841 it 
was sold to the First Parish. 

The fourth building erected b}' the Baptists was the one now occu- 
pied by the Catholics, on Federal Street. It was erected in 1829 by 
the Federal Street Baptist Societ}'. It cost about eight hundred dol- 
lars. It was sold to the Methodists in 1836, and w^as occupied by 
them until the erection of their present house in 18G6. Subsequently 
it was sold to the Catholics. 

The Maine Street Baptist Church was erected in 1840. In 1867 it 
was remodelled and greatl}- improved, at a cost of $2,000. The pul- 
pit and platform were remodelled and finished in black-walnut and 



FORTS, GARRISONS, CHURCHES, ETC., IX BRUNSWICK. 643 

chestnut, to correspond with the newly arranged pews, which were also 
made of chestnut and without doors. The aisles were carpeted, the 
ceiling was frescoed, and gas fixtures were put in. 

Free- Will Baptist Meeting-Houses. — The first Free-Will Baptist 
Meeting-House was erected in 1810. It was a small, one-story build- 
ing, and stood quite near the Freeport line. What became of this 
building is not known. The society worshipping in it afterwards, in 
1827, united with the Universalists and Congregationalists in building 
the Union Meeting-House at Growstown. 

The Village Church of the Free-Will Baptists, on O'Brien Street, was 
erected in 1876, the society having previously worshipped in Lemont 
Hall. 

The Uxiox Meeting-House at Groavstown was erected in 1827. 
This house was built jointly by the Free-Will Baptists, the Congrega- 
tionalists, and the Universalists. Reverend Sylvanus Cobb, a Univer- 
salist, preached the first sermon in it. It is still used by the Free-Will 
Baptists, and although it was built for a Union meeting-house, they 
have from the first had control of it for the greater part of the 
time. 

Uxiversalist ]Meeting-Houses — The first church edifice erected by 
the Universalists was situated on Federal Street, opposite the present 
High-School building, on the lot now owned bj* the Unitarians. It was 
built in 1828, and cost about seven hundred dollars, which in those 
days was quite a sum of mone}'. Mr. Anthony C. Raymond built 
the house, chief!}' at his own expense. When completed he sold pews 
to fifteen persons, and subsequently a few more pews were disposed 
of, but he was alwaA's the principal owner. The house was dedicated 
November 24, 1829. In 1847 or 1848 the building was sold to the 
Maqiioit Baptist Societ)', and it was removed to the junction of the 
old Harpswell and Mair Point roads, where it received the name of 
the Forest Church. In 1875 it was sold to the Grangers, moved back 
to the village, and placed at the corner of Union Street and Gilinan 
Avenue, where it is used as a hall. 

The second church building erected b}' the Universalists was what 
is now known as the Mason Street Church. It was built in 184G, 
the basement of the building and the land being the exclusive property 
of Mr. John L. Swift. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev- 
erend E. G. Brooks, of Bath (now Reverend Doctor Brooks of the 
Church of the Messiah, Philadelphia). The prayer of coiir=ccration 
was offered b}- Reverend George Bates, of Turner, recently deceased. 
Other parts of the services were performed by Reverend Giles Bailey, 



644 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

the pastor, b}^ Reverend Seth Stetson, and b}' Reverend ^Y. C. George. 
The town clock and bell on this building were purchased chiefl}- by 
subscription, bj' citizens of Brunswick and Topsham, in 1847, the 
town of Brunswick appropriating, however, the sum of two hundred 
dollars toward the purchase of the clock. Colonel Andrew Dennison 
was the most prominently connected with the movement, and the sub- 
ject was started by him. He transacted the business, and the bills 
were made in his name as agent for the town. A bell weighing 1,700 
pounds Avas purchased of Henry N. Hooper & Co., of Boston, but it 
was unsutisfactor}' in tone and was returned. Another bell was then 
purchased of George H. Holbrook, East Medway, Massachusetts, 
weighing 1,794 pounds, and costing $479.57. The same bell is now 
in use. The clock was purchased of Howard & Davis, Boston. It 
cost, including dial, hands, etc., and expenses of freight and putting 
up, $340.30. 

Methodist Church. — The Methodist Church on Pleasant Street is 
the onl}" one ever erected hy that denomination in BrunsM'ick. It was 
built in 1866. The society had previously worshipped in the building 
on Federal Street which they bought of tbe Baptists. 

The new edifice on Pleasant Street was begun in the spring of 1866 
and was completed in December of the same year. It cost with the 
lot $9,000 ; nearly- the whole amount was raised l3y voluntary subscrip- 
tion and by the sale of pews. There was, however, a debt of about 
$1,000, which was finall}' paid in the year 1872. 

On December 5, 1866, the chapel was dedicated with the following 
services : — 

Invocation, by Reverend E. A. Helmershausen ; address, by Rever- 
end J. Colby; hymn (964th), by Reverend L. D. AYavdwell ; pra^'er, 
b}" Reverend D.B. Randall; reading of Scriptures, l)y Reverend C. C. 
Cone; hymn (968th), by Reverend Mark Trafton ; sermon, by the 
same, followed by an offertory, psalm of consecration, presentation, 
declaration, prayer of consecration, anthem, doxology, and benediction. 

In 1875 the church was thoroughly repaired, some marked improve- 
ments made, and the lot inclosed with a handsome and durable fence. 
The cost of these repairs and improvements was about six hundred 
and fifty dollars, which was promptly paid. 

St. Paul's Church, Episcopal. — This church was erected in 1844 
and 1845, from plans furnished b}' Richard Upjohn, architect, of New 
York. The cost of the building and land was about $4,000, most of 
which was contributed by friends in Rhode Island, New York, and 
Philadelphia. It was consecrated according to the use and liturg}" of 



FORTS, GARRISONS, CHURCHES, ETC., IN BRUNSWICK. 645 

the Pj-otestant Episcopal Church in the United States, on Friday, 
July 11, 1845. 

The deed of donation was read by lleverend Thomas F. Fales, 
rector of the parish, and tha sentence of consecration, by Reverend 
Robert B. Hall, of the Diocese of Rhode Island. Morning praj-er 
was conducted by Reverend Messrs. James Pratt, of Portland, and 
Alexander Burgess, of Augusta. The rector read the ante-commun- 
ion service, assisted b}' Reverend R. B. Hall, who read the epistle, 
and Reverend Francis Peck, of the Diocese of Mar^'land, who read 
the gospel. The consecration sermon was preached by Bishop Hen- 
shaw, of Rhode Island. 

Various changes have been made in the church. In 1858 the 
present arched ceiling was put in, under the open-timbered roof, to 
improve the acoustic properties of the building. Changes were made 
in the chancel furniture, but the most noticeable improvements were 
made by Reverend Mr. Taylor, in August, 1873, which have made 
the church so beautiful. The msmorial window to Bishop Burgess 
was placed in the chancel in 18G8, and that to Reverend Doctor Bal- 
lard in November, 1871. 

OTHER BUILDINGS. 

A description of the dwellings occupied by Thomas Purchase, Stev- 
ens, and others, among the ver}' earlj' settlers, would be interesting, 
but there is no record or tradition concerning them. The following 
account of ^1 Frontier Home, copied from Sewall's "• Ancient Domin- 
ions of Maine," will probabl}' give as good an idea of those ancient 
habitations as can now be obtained from any source : — 

"A simple structure of logs was reared from the buts of the an- 
cient trees, fallen b}' the pioneer axe on the spot where the}' were cut 
down for a clearing. The walls of a rectangular structure thus built 
were covered with bark or thatch. The enclosed earth was excavated 
for a cellar, which was un walled. The excavation was then planked 
over with riven logs of pine, and a trap-door in the centre of the floor- 
ing let 3'ou into the bowels of the primitive structure, consisting of a 
single room below and a garret above, to which a ladder led the ascent. 
In one corner of the log-walled room, a large fireplace opened its cav- 
ernous depths. The back and one side was built of stone, while a 
wooden post set the opposite jamb, supporting a horizontal beam for 
a mantel-piece. Through the bark, thatch, or slab roof, or outside 
and up the back wall of the building, was reared a bob-work of cleft 
wood, whose interstices were filled with mortar-cla}-, which, in place of 



646 Ills TOBY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

biick and mortar, was called ' cat and clay.' On the hearth, usually 
a flat stone, an ample store of wood was heaped, which was felled at 
the door, while the capacious fireplace, glowing with light and heat 
from the blazing hearth-pile, not only illumined the whole interior, but 
afforded a snug corner for the indiscriminate stowage of a bev}" of 
little ones." 

Allusions to other buildings which are not now in existence, but the 
location of which is a matter of interest, will be found in other con- 
nections. What follows relates onl}- to such buildings as are known 
to have been built in the last centmy or in the early part of this 
centur}', and which are stiU in existence, either in whole or in part. 

Probabl}' the oldest house now standing in town is what is known 
as the RoBEKT Thompson House. It is on the south side of the road 
to Harding's Station, and is the first house to the east after passing 
Cooks Corner. It was erected by Cornelius Thompson, and has lieen 
owned in the Thompson family until 1S69. Cornelius Thompson 
owned the lot in 1738-9, and his first child was born in 1741. If, as 
is probable, the house was erected previously to the birth of this child, 
the liDuse is not less than one hundred and thirty-six years old. 




The chimney to this house is about four feet square at the top. 
The bricks are laid in day. The flooring boards are sixteen to eigh- 



FORTS, GARRISONS, CHURCHES, ETC., IN BRUNSWICK. 647 

teen inches wide, and are treenailed instead of nailed. The west 
room, or parlor, is panelled on the sides and ends up to the windows, 
and is plastered above. The sides of the building on the north and 
east are bricked between the studs as high as the ceiling of the lower 
stor3'. This was done for warmth. In the corner of the parlor is a 
butfet with shelves, etc., elaborately moulded b}' hand. The frame of 
the house is of massive timber. The door-hinges are of wrought-iron, 
large, clums}', and of curious construction. 

The house faces the south. The present road north of the house 
was not in existence when the house was built. The occupants had a 
private road from the house leading southeasterly to the New Mead- 
ows River road, which was only a short distance off. 

The next oldest house in town is the IIinklet House, now owned 
and occupied by Chapin Weston. It is just north of the railroad, 
near Harding's Station. It was occupied b}' Doctor Dunken as early 
as 1775, and probably about 1770, as this latter was the date of his 
marriage. It was occupied, before Dunken had it, b}' Gideon H ink- 
le}'. Hinkley's first child was born in 1758, and his last one in 1770. 
If the house was built by Hinkley, it was probabl}' erected about 1756 
or 1757, and on that supposition would now be one hundred and 
twenty years old. It may, however, have been built before Hinkley's 
time, as Thomas Westbrook owned the lot in 1737 ; and if the house 
was built by the latter, it would be nearly one hundred and forty 
years old, which would make it an older house than the Robert 
Thompson house just described. 

Jacob Weston, grandfather of Chapin, bought this house in 1783 
or 1784, and it has remained in the Weston family ever since. It is 
similar in appearance and in construction to the Thompson house, 
and it does not therefore require a more particular description. 

The house now occupied b}' Deacon James Smith, at New Meadows, 
was built by Samuel Melcher prior to 17G8. 

The house once owned and occupied by Nathaniel Larrabee, and 
which was built somewhere about the time of the Revolution, is still 
in existence, and is owned b}' Grows & Bowker and used as a store- 
house. It is at New Meadows. 

The dwelling-house now occupied by the famil}' of the late Doctor 
John D. Lincoln is the oldest in the village. It was built in 1772 by 
Captain John Dunlap, who lived in it until the year 1800. During its 
occupation by Captain Dunlap it was a public house, and at one time 
Talleyrand was a guest in it. Between 1800 and 1806 it was occupied 
by Captain Richard Tappan. From 1806 to 1820, Henry Putnam, 



6i8 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Esquire, lived in it. At the latter date it passed into the hands of 
Doctor Isaac Lincoln (whose wife was a daughter of Captain Dunlap), 
and from him it descended to his son, its late owner. There was a 
store in the yard south of the house, which was afterwards moved 
across the street, and is now occupied by Mrs. Griffin as a millinery 
store. 

What is now the town Poorhouse was built about 1775 by Thomas 
Thompson, a cousin of the brigadier, so that it is now over one hun- 
di'ed years old.^ 

The residence of Mrs. Joseph McKeen, on McKeen Street, was 
built in 1776, or soon after, by Samuel Stanwood, who occupied it 
until 1804, when he sold it to President McKeen. It was occupied 
b}' the latter from 1807 until his death, and has been occupied by the 
family of the late Joseph McKeen, Esquire, since that time. 

The building now occupied as an office b}' the Eastern Express Com- 
pany was built in the latter part of the last centur}- and was once 
used as a tol)acco manufactor}' b}' Coffin & Thurston. It then stood 
near the corner of O'Brien Street, where is now the residence of Mr. 
Benjamin Greene. It was afterwards removed by Daniel Stone and 
used as a store. The date of its erection and by whom it was built 
are not known. 

The building now standing on the northwest corner of Centre Street, 
occupied in the lower part by John II. Brackett, tailor, and by 
Larkin Snow, grocer, and the upper story of which is used as a tene- 
ment, was built with one stor}' in 1797 by Colonel William Stanwood. 
In 1804 he added another story to it and fitted it up as a law office for 
his son, David Stanwood, Esquire. The lower part was used for a 
store. This building stands within a few feet of the spot where 
McFarland's blacksmith shop once stood. The latter was torn down 
in 1797 and Stanwood's shop erected in its place. 

The house now occupied by Mr. R. T. D. Melcher, on Maine 
Street, was built in 1798 by Mr. Shimuel Owen, and afterwards was 
sold to Mrs. Greenleaf, and was subsequently sold to the present 
occupant. 

The next house north of the above, which formerl}^ stood very near 
to it, was bnilt b}* Shimuel Owen, and was occupied by him until he 
built the Melcher house. Colonel Estabrook lived in this house in 
1802. Mr. Owen at length sold it to a Mr. Read, a brother-in-law of 
his wife. It was afterwards sold to Captain Samuel Dunlap. His 

' Dean Swift. 



FORTS, GARBISOJSrS, CHURCHES, ETC., IN BRUNSWICK. 649 

widow married Reverend George Lamb, whom she survived. She still 
owns and occupies the property. 

The house of Caleb Cashing, now owned and occupied by James 
Alexander, on Maine Street, was built in 1799. 

A portion of the residence of Mr. William Pierce, on Lincoln 
Street, is quite old. It belonged to a house which was originall}' 
hauled from Fish-House Hill by a tailor named Robinson. In 1801 
Robert Orr, Esquire, had an office in it. It was afterwards owned 
aud occupied b}' Doctor Charles Coffin, who sold it to Captain Thomas 
Growse, and he, in 1810, sold it to Mr. Ebeuezer Nichols. Kichols 
kept it as a public house for a few years, and his widow afterwards 
occupied it. After she left it the building was occupied as a private 
dwelling until 1838, when it was purchased b}' Mr. L. T. Jackson, 
was taken down, and rebuilt as a part of Mr. Pierce's house. 

The white cottage between Doctor Palmer's and Mr. Benjamin 
Dennison's, on Maine Street, was built and occupied previous to 1802 
by Mr. Aaron Melcher. It was afterwards owned by Isaac Gates, a 
lawyer, and was sold b}' him to Major Rowe, a Revolutionarj- soldier, 
who still later sold it to Mr. L. T. Jackson, b}' whose heirs it is still 
owned. 

The present residence of the Honorable Charles J. Gilman was 
built by Captain John Dunlap in 1800, and it was for many years one 
of the finest residences in town. It is still a handsome abode. The 
small dwelling-house in Mr. Gilman's yard was built previous to 1800, 
and was occupied for some j-ears b}^ a watch-maker named Bisbee, 
whose shop stood nearly opposite. 

The house erected b}' John Dunning, a few years later, is the one 
still standing on the corner of Union and Pleasant Streets, and is now 
known as the Samuel Jackson house. 

What is now the back portion of Mr, S. S. Wing's house, on 
O'Brien Street, once belonged to old Timothy Weymouth, a wheel- 
wright, and a very eccentric man, who lived in it about 1802. In 
1806 this house was moved into the woods to make way for the then 
new meeting-house of the First Parish. It was afterwards removed 
below Mr. Daniel Stone's house, and still later was moved to its pres- 
ent location. 

The present residence of Doctor Nathaniel T. Palmer was originally 
a one-stor}^ building, erected by Ebeuezer Nichols, He afterwards 
added another story and lived in it, following the trade of a shoe- 
maker. It was afterwards purchased by Secomb Jordan, a deputy 
sheriff", who fitted it up and improved its appearance, and sold it to 



650 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

David Stanwood, wlio continued to live in it until it was sold to Abner 
Bourne. From the latter it passed to Doctor Solomon Cushman, and 
from him to Doctor Palmer. 

The gambrel- roofed house on Centre Street, near Federal, now 
occupied hy Mrs. Pierce, was originally connected with the residence 
of Doctor Goss, at Maquoit. It was hauled to the village earl}- in this 
centur}', by Doctor Page, and was used b}' him as an office, and was 
then situated in his yard, just south of his house. It was afterwards 
removed to its present location. 

The house now owned hy the heirs of Rodney Forsaith, on Maine 
Street, w^as built, in 179J:, b}' Major Swift, father of Dean and John 
L. Swift. 

The house now owned and occupied by Captain L. J. Joyce, on 
Noble Street, was originally tlie old tavern which stood in the north- 
W'est corner of the college 3'ard, and was afterwards taken down, and 
rebuilt in its present location. It was originally l)uilt in 18U3. 

The old house just north of the residence of Theodore S. McLellan, 
on Maine Street, was moved there from Maquoit, previous to 1S02, 
b}- a tanner by the name of Heath. This old house has had many 
occupants. It is now owned b}' Mr. McLellan, and leased b^- him as 
a tenement. 

The Page house, next south of the Mason Street Church, which is 
now occupied as a boarding-house, wnth stores below, was built in 
1804 for a store, and was occupied by Jacob Abbot and Gustavus 
Goss. It was subsequently owned and occupied \)\ Doctor Jonathan 
Page. 

The Cleaveland house, on Federal Street, now the summer residence 
of Honorable Peleg W. Chandler, of Boston, was built in ISOG b}- the 
late Professor Parker Cleaveland, then a tutor in Bowdoin College. 

There are doubtless other houses than those that have been enu- 
merated, which might be entitled to mention on account of tlieir age 
or because in some way noted, but the foregoing are all in regard to 
which any thing definite has been ascertained. 



FORTS, GARRISONS, ETC, LY TOPSHAM AND HARP SWELL. G51 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

FORTS. GARRISONS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER BUILDINGS IN TOPSIIAM AND 

HARPS WELL. 

FORTS AND GARRISONS. 

There is a statement in the Pejepscot Papers to the effect that the 
first fort erected in this vicinit}- was on the Topsham side of tlie river, 
and tradition speaks of an Indian fort on the ledge at the end of the 
bridge near where the old toll- house now stands. In 1GH4 Wharton 
ratified his treaty with the Indians at Pejepscot Fort.^ This could 
not have been Fort Andross, which was not erected until KiS.S, nor 
Fort George, which was built still later. It is therefore not improba- 
ble that the Indians had a fortification at or near the spot npon which 
tradition says there was one, and that it was there that Wharton rati- 
fied his treaty. There is no evidence that there was an Em/lish fort 
here at that time, and there is nothing to warrant such a belief. The 
tradition in regard to an Indian fort on the Topsham Island is not 
only mentioned by Williamson and other earl}' writers, but is also con- 
tained in a statement made by John Merrill, Esquire, which is pre- 
served in the collection of Pejepscot Papers. His statement was as 
follows : — 

" In answer to the Several Questions asked can only answer at 
present : 

" I came to Topsham first in April A. D. 17C0. Tlie fort taken by 
Capt" Church, as I was informed by Mr. Samuel Wilson, was some- 
where near where the Bridge now is and he said he had seen some of 
the remains of said fort and / saw an old cellar on the Island near 
where the bridge is, supposed to be an Indian Cellar. There were 
marks of a settlement where Merrill point so called, now is, — I don't 
know what built of — where was part of a gun or guns and a number 
of Indian knives of stone, — near a dozen I think, — made veiy curi- 
ousl}', one of which I gave to Bowdoin College." 

I See Part 1, Chapter 2. 



652 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

The stutement that the fort taken by Church was at Pejcpscot 
is proved by Church's own journal ^ to be an error. Williamson, 
McKeen, and otheis have made the same mistake. 

There were tbrmorl}- quite a number of garrisons in this town, 
though not so many as in Brunswick. Near the spot where Mr. 
James AVilson's house now stands, there was at one time a block-house 
which had a tower, in which the women used to sit and siiin while 
the men were at work in the fields. If Indians were seen approach- 
ing, the women would blow a conch shell to warn the men. Shot, 
weighing three or four pounds each, have been ploughed up at different 
times in the surrounding field. 

There were several garrisons on the " Foresido," near Merrymeet- 
ing Ba}', the precise location and date of erection of which are not 
positively known. One of these was erected in 1756 and was under 
the charge of Captain Lithgow. 

A garrison-house was built by a IVIr. Gore about where TNIr. Collins 
Purington now lives, near the railroad station. 

There was another garrison on the vacant lot east of the village 
burying-ground, in front of the residence of Mrs. F. T. Furinton, 
and one on the hill above the Free-Will Baptist Mceting-House. The 
late Mr. Kufus Rogers dug up numerous Indian arrow-heads and other 
implements of war near his residence. 

GuN-IIousE. — The gun-house of the artillery company, which was 
built about 1S()8, perhaps earlier, was, after the disbandment of that 
compan3', sold to the proprietors of the Topsham Academ}', and was 
used for a wood-shed until the destruction of the Academy b}' fire. 
in 1857, after which it was purchased by the late Reverend Doctor 
Wheeler, and was converted into the carriage-house connected with 
his residence, where it still remains. 

CHURCHES. 

In 1759 the frame of the first meeting-house in Topsliam was 
erected by the settlers. The agreement between the proprietors and 
the settlers was that the latter should erect the frame of the building 
and that the proprietors should complete it.- It was the wish of the 
proprietors to pay for the work of finishing the meeting house by the 
sale of lots, and owing to the difficulty in obtaining pay for their lots, 
the work upon the meeting-house was dela^'ed, and in October, 17G1, 
it had not been boarded over. At that time Dr. No3'es wrote Mr. 

^Dexter, Church's " Philip's War," pp. 50 to 56 ^Pejepscot Records. 



FORTS, GAliRISONS, ETC., IN TOPSHAM AND IIARPSWELL. 653 

Freeman, " I expect the meeting-house will be covered before winter. 
John Patten sent to me for 15M shingle nails which are sent pr Stan- 
wood. Nothing further, at present, is intended than to secure the 
frame. "^ In April, 1 763, Dr. Nojes writes, " I have the sashes for the 
meeting-house in my custod}-, but until I receive money due from the 
settlers 1 cannot get them done." In June, of the same year, he 
writes. " B3' repeated complaints of the people I do not find that John 
Patten takes any care about the meeting-house, that the window- 
frames have lain exposed to the weather, the shingle nails rusted, and 
1 can't persuade him to act in this service as I expected from him. 
The men that undertook to shingle the roof have not yet completed 
it." '^ Precisel}' when the meeting-house was finished is not known, 
but it was probabl}' shingled and clapboarded and partially finished 
inside during the summer of 1 764. This building stood about two arid 
one half miles east of the village, on the road to Bowdoinham, where 
the old buiying-ground is. It was similar in construction to the meet- 
ing-houses of Brunswick and Harpswell. After the erection of the 
second meeting-house of the First Parish this building was allowed to 
go to ruin, and was carried off piecemeal by different persons for 
fences and other purposes. 

The second meeting-house of the First Parish was built in 1821. 
It stood on what i^ now the High-School lot. It was about on a line 
with the present residence of Deacon David Scribner and the Frank- 
lin Family School building. It was built mainly by individuals resid- 
ing in the village, and was presented by them, conditionally, to the 
First Parish. This meeting-house was, both externall}' and internally, 
very different from the old one. It was much larger, and had a tall 
steeple upon which was a handsome vane. The windows were large 
and long, so that they lighted both the body of the house and the 
galleries. The galleries extended the length of the building on both 
sides and across the north end. They were supported b}^ pillars. 
The north gallery was for the choir, and here, subsequently, was 
placed a really fine organ, which was presented to the society by Major 
William Frost. It was the first organ used in Topsham. The pulpit 
was quite high, being almost on a level with the galleries. A flight of 
stairs on each side led to it, and beneath, just in front, between the 
stairs, stood the communion-table and chairs. Behind the pulpit was 
a large window, hung with heav}' drapery, which opened into the ves- 
try. The vestry was a room over the entiy, and was reached by the 

' Pejepscot Papers. ^Ibid. 



654 mtsTORY OF Brunswick, topsiiam, and tiahpswell. 

stairway on either side that led to the galleries. The pulpit was of 
mahogaii_y, and was considered a nice piece of workmanshi[). There 
were two longitudinal aisles and one broad, transverse one in front of 
the pulpit. There were sixt}' pews in the body of the building, and 
about fort3--two in the galleries. Those in the body of the building were 
oblong box-pews, and the doors were fastened with brass buttons. 'J'here 
was one pew- in the gallery, occupied by Mrs. Fields, that was higher 
than the rest and had windows in front, over which curtains could be 
drawn. The gallery pews were nearly square. The aisles were nicel}' 
carpeted, and the house was wanned b}- two large box-stoves. In the 
centre of the ceiling was a large dome, which was always a source of 
wonder to the children. There were two doors to the meeting-house 
on the outside, and two to correspond to these on the inside. Ai-ound 
the front of the gallery extended an iron rod, upon which were slid- 
ing curtains, Avhich could be closed or opened by the occui)ants of the 
lower tier of pews. The belfry never contained a bell, tliat in the 
Court House near b}- being used on Sunda3's to assemble the congre- 
gation. The Court House bell was the first bell ever placed upon 
an}' building in town, and was purchased by subscription. There was 
a lightning-rod upon the meeting-house, which rod for many years 
the daring youth of that period, regardless of danger to life or limb, 
were wont to ascend. Some of the companions of his youtli still live, 
who will romem])er many an earnest conversation with the writer 
while he was seated upon the gilded ball above the bell-deck. Their 
conversation, it is perhaps needless to say, was usuall}- of a serious 
turn, the lofty situation not being conducive to levity. 

This meeting-house was, about 1855, taken down, and rebuilt at 
one of the Brunswick ship-^ards for a boarding-house for the workmen. 
In 1875 this building was taken down and from the material a double 
house was erected on the lot on the west side of Union Street, at the 
corner of McKeen Street, Brunswick. 

The present Congregational JMeeting-House was built in 1836. 
The meeting-house of the P'irst Parish having passed into the hands 
of Unitarians, the Orthodox Congregationalists, who composed a 
majority of the church of the First Parish, united in building a new 
meeting-house. The following is a copj' of the subscription paper 
which was signed by those who contributed to the erection of the new 
building : — 

" Whereas the First Parish in Topsham, in the County of Lincoln 
and State of Maine, are destitute of a suitable and convenient house 
of worship, and tlie Congregational Church therewith connected and 



FORTS, GARBLSONS, ETC., IN TOPSIIAM AND HARPSWELL. 655 

others are contemplating purchasing a lot of land and erecting and 
completing a suitable and convenient house of public worship for the 
particular use and benefit of the Orthodox Congregational Church: 
and whereas in pursuance and in execution of an agreement hereto- 
fore made b}^ us and others for this purpose, a committee has been 
raised and appointed, consisting of John Barron, Nahum Perkins, 
John Tebbetts, Alfred White, Hugh Patten, and Given Jameson, who 
have already purchased materials and made other purchases, contracts, 
and arrangements to carry into execution the purposes aforesaid : 

" Now know all persons that we whose names are hereto subscribed 
do hereb}' severally, each for himself and not for the others, covenant, 
engage, and agree to and with said committee and the survivors of 
them and their legal representatives to take the share or shares herein 
by us respectively subscribed for in said meeting house, and to pay 
to said committee or any one of them, or other agent b}' them appointed, 
our just and respective proportions of the cost and expenses of pur- 
chasing a lot and building a house as aforesaid ; and we hereby au- 
thorize and empower said committee to go on with and complete the 
purchase of land and building a house aforesaid in such way and man- 
ner as the}- may think best, hereby ratifying and confirming whatever 
the}' ma}- do in the premises. 



" Witness our hands and seals at Topsham this 


ni 


neteenth 


day of 


October, A. 1). 183G, 








" John Barron, 




three shares. 


Nahum Perkins, 




ii 


" 


John Tebbetts, 




two 




Alfred White, 




four 




Hugh Patten, 




two 




Alfred S. Perkins, 




1.1. 




Stockbkidge Howland, 


u 




Willis Sprague, 




i( 




Lemuel Thompson, 




u 




Matiiew Patten, 




one 




Joseph Patten, 




li 




Joshua Foy, 




u 




Isaac L. Cook, 




(( 




John IL Alexander, 




u 




John B. Larrabee, 




two 




Joseph Barron, 




(( 




James McKeen, 




a 




Given Jameson, 




a 




David Alexander, 




one 


'• 


James H. Sandford, 




two 


u 



656 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

" A true copy of the original. 

"Attest: 

" Isaac P. Tkbbetts." 

Tlie bell on this meeting-house was the gift of General Yeazie. It 
cost about seven hundred dollars. Subsequent!}' it was cracked and 
recast. 

The first Baptist or " Old Yellow Meeting-IIouse " was Ituilt in 
17!)o. It was situated about two miles west of the village in llie lot 
adjoining the old burjing-ground. It was forty feet long and thirty 
feet wide. It was built chiefl}' b}* Joseph Hale}', Cai)tain Actor Pat- 
ten, 1st, John Merrill, Telatiah Halej", and James Purington. It was 
unused for man}- years, and was finall}^ taken down, and rebuilt for a 
boarding-house at one of the ship-yards in Brunswiek. 

The Baptist Vestry was built in 1819. It was situated opposite 
the village burying-ground, on the corner of the grounds now occupied 
by the Franklin Famil}' School, and was built over the brook, which is 
still to be seen there. It was a long, low, one-story building without 
a steeple. In 1840 it was purchased hy the town for a town-house, 
and was used as such for man}' years. 

The present Baptist Church was erected in 1835. The first meet- 
ing held in it was in Maj' of that 3'ear. When first built and until 
1870 there was a gallery' over the porch ; the pews were oblong with 
doors, and the pulpit was quite high. In 1870 the building was 
greatl}' improved both internally and external!}-, and it was enlarged 
b}' an addition of some five or six feet in front. Tlie gallery and 
l)u!pit were talvcn down and a new pul[)it erected, the pews were 
remodelled, and the l)ui!ding thorougldy repaired, at a cost of upwards 
of $2,.'J00. The bell on tliis church was purchased in 183G l)y sub- 
scription, tlie larger portion of the cost being paid by Deacon David 
Scribner. 

The Free Will Baptist Meeting-House was erected in 1837. The 
cost of the building was about S3, 000. It has been kept in good 
repair, but it remains to-da}' substantially as it was first built, having 
never been remodelled. 

COURT HOUSE. 

The Court House was built in the year 1800, It was situated about 
midway between the residence of Deacon David St libner and the 
Franklin Family School building. The illustration shows the appear- 
ance of the building previous to 1835, at which time it was remodelled. 
In 1848, Topsham being no longer a half-shire town, the building was 



FORTS, GARRISONS, ETC., IN TOPSIIAM AND IIARPSWELL. 657 



sold to the proprietors of the Topsham Academy. It was again 
remodelled, and was used as an academy until a short time before its 
destruction l)v fire, which was on December 3, 1857. 




Court IIous-e. 



TOWN-HOUSE. 



In 1840 the town purchased of Joshua Haskell the Baptist vestry 
and lot for the sum of two hundred and twent^'-five dollars, and paid 
three hundred and seventy-five for finishing the building inside and 
outside, and also paid fort}' dollars for a stone drain, to secure the 
town-house and road from washing. This was the first and only town- 
house owned by the town, and its total cost was only six hundred and 
fort}' dollars. It was finally torn down in 1864, the town having made 
arrangements with the Sagadahoc Agricultural Society' for the use of 
their hall for town-meetings. 

OBSERVATORY. 

An observaoory was built upon Mount Ararat, at some time between 
1830 and 1840. The project was started by the late Doctor James 
McKeen, and the structure was built by subscribers. The observatory 
was about fifty feet high. It was made of four trees, hewed, and set 

42 



658 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AXD IIARPSWELL. 



up slanting. The trees were fastened together with joists and were 
boarded over. Inside, a flight of stairs led up to the " lantern" or 
standing-place, which was large enough for three or four persons to 
occupy it at one time. From this observatory a fine view of Casco 
Bay could be obtained, and sometimes the "White Mountains could be 
seen from it. This structure remained standing some seven or eight 
years, when the stairs having become somewhat rotten, it was thought 
unsafe, and was consequenth' given to a poor man, who used a 
portion of the lumber for a pen for animals and the rest for firewood. 



OTHER BUILDINGS. 
The oldest house now standing in Topsham is probably the " Old 
Red House," about two miles from the village on the road to Bow- 
doinham. Precisely when this house was built is not known, but it 




" Old Red House." 

must have been previous to 1770, as it was at that time occupied by 
John Hunter as a tavern. The same grooved clapboards, split out by 
hand, which were originalh" used on it, are to lie found on it to-day. 
The interior, finished in panel-work, is novel to those living in modern 
houses. 



FORTS, GARRISONS, ETC., IN TOP SHAM AND HARP SWELL. G59 

The Foster House on the "Foresicle" road, near the Narrows, 
was built in 1775, or very soon after, by Mr. Joseph Foster. The door 
fastenings and hinges were picked up b}' him in Portland, at the time 
that town was burned in 1775, and were used in tlie house that he was 
then building. 

The present Merrill Homestead was erected in 1 785 b}' John Mer- 
rill, and is 3'et in excellent condition. Previousl}' to building this 
house, Merrill lived in a log- house, which was situated a short distance 
in the rear of the present building. The log-house was built in 1760. 

The house now occupied b}' Swanzey Wilson, situated on the 
Bowdoinham road, just be3'ond C^'rus Purington's, was built about 
1 79 1, b}' James Wilson, for Doctor Emerson, who occupied it for sev- 
eral ^ears. After him. Doctor Parker lived in it for a few j'ears. 

Another very old residence is on the baj', or " Foreside " road, 
about three miles from the village. It is now occupied by William 
Douglass. Whether or not it is the original house first built on the 
place is uncertain. The original house was once barricaded for pro- 
tection from the Indians. 

Another of the old houses is the Rogers Homestead, situated on 
the Bowdoinham road, about three miles from the village. The main 
house was erected about the year 1773, and was for some eight or ten 
3'ears used as an inn. The huge chimney now standing, said to be the 
first brick one ever built in town, was put up by JMr. Andrew White- 
house, a mason of the first order. His plastering upon the walls 
excited the admiration of all who 'came from far and near to see it. 
This house was afterwards made into a double tenement, and occupied 
by his son, the late Honorable George Rogers, and is now occupied by 
tlie family of the late George A. Rogers. 

The house now owned and occupied by James Wilson was built 
b}' his father, James Wilson, previous to 1792. 

The Coffin House, on Main Street, nearly opposite the old bank, 
was occupied b}'- Francis Tucker as earl3- as 1800, and for many years 
after. It was originally a one-stoiy building, and Tucker added the 
second story when he converted it into a public house. 

The Major Frost House, now occupied as the Franklin Family 
School-house, was built in 1806 by Captain Daniel Holden, the 
Freemasons paying largely toward defrajing the expense for the 
privilege of having a lodge-room in it. Mr. Nathaniel Green kept 
a tavern in it, between 1831 and 1836, to accommodate persons 
attending court. Dancing-schools were often kept in the hall after it 
was vacated by the Freemasons. From Green's hands it passed to 



660 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Major Willifim Frost. It was sold hj the widow of the latter, in 
185G, to Warren Johnson, who converted it into a hoarding-school 
house. 

The house now occupied b3' Daniel A. Tlall, on Elm Street, was 
Ibrnierl}' the residence of Natlianiel Melcher, and was probably built 
previous to 1800. 

The Stockhridge Howland House, on Elm Street, was occupied 
by James Stone, father of the late Colonel Alfred J. Stone, in 1802. 
At the time of his residence there was open land, under cultivation, 
owned l)_v Gideon Walker, to the north and east of it. The date of 
erection of this house, and by whom it was built, is not known. 

What is known as the Rachel Patten House was formerly occu- 
pied by Joseph Swett, who married a daughter of Captain Actor 
Patten. It was built as early as 1800. 

The house now occupied by Collins Puuington, near the depot, 
was built in 1810, by Captain Ezekiel Pnrington. John Jameson was 
the master workman. 

The Charles Thompson House, on Green .Street, near its junction 
with Main Street, Avas built In* Isaac Johnson, not far from the A'ear 
1800. 

The Porter House, on Elm Street, nearly opposite the gravej^ard, 
was built by Doctor Porter in 1802. When he moved to Camden in 
1829 the house passed into the hands of Governor William King, who 
was his brother-in-law. AVhile Governor King oAvned it, IMrs. Field 
occupied it for some 3'ears for a school. In 1813, Francis T. Purinton 
purchased it. and it has ever since been occupied b^' his family'. It 
is on one of the best locations in town, and was, doubtless, at the 
time it was built and for many 3'ears thereafter, one of the finest 
homesteads in the village. 

The AValkkr Homestead, on the corner of INIain and F.lm Streets, 
was built, in 1809, by Major Nathaniel AValker, who was married and 
moved into it the following year, and resided there ever after until 
his death, in ISol. The French roof was placed upon it for a picture- 
gallerj', in 18G7, by the present proprietor, ' olonel Wildes P. Walker. 
Other improvements were also made upon the outside, and to the 
grounds, which render it now one of the handsomest residences in 
town and an ornament to the village. The interior has been pre- 
served substantially as it was originall3' built. 

There are probably other houses in town as old as those mentioned, 
but nothing definite has been learned concernintj them. 



KiRTS, OARRISONS, F/IC, IN TOPSllAM AXI> UMiP^^^VELL 6G1 



c 

H 

W 
P> 
t) 

o 

CO 



p 



Q 



!> 
I— I 




662 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

HARPSWELL. 

Forts and Garrisons. — The only fort ever constructod in Harps- 
well was made during the war of 1812, on the land now owned by 
Woodbury S. Purinton, at the mouth of New Meadows River. It was 
a simple earthwork, the foundation of which was made of logs. A 
mound of earth and a few decayed logs mark its location 

There was a garrison or block-house for defence against the Indians, 
on the north end of Bailey's Island. It was at the Narrows, between 
Garrison Cove and the main ba}-, within twenty feet of the shore. The 
stone foundations have been seen b}' some of the older inhabitants ; but 
when the land was put under cultivation, all the stones were rolled over 
the bank, and there are now no traces of the garrison to be seen. 

About 17G4, Joseph Orr built a large block-house on the farm now 
owned by Bradbury AVilson. It stood near the middle of Orr's Island, 
on the northwest side of the hill, northwest of the present house. This 
block-house was standing within the memor}- of Captain -James Sinnett, 
of Baile3''s Island. There is now no trace of it to be discovered. 

On the Neck, on the point of land now owned b}' Paul Stover, 
there was a block-house ; by whom erected, or at what date, is not 
known. It was taken down b}- Daniel Kandall and erected as a store- 
house, near his dwelling. In 1822 it was again taken down, and re- 
built as a dwelling, which is still standing. 

It is quite probable that there were other block-houses or garrisons 
on the Neck, and also on Great Island, but these are all of which we 
have an}' account. 

CHURCHES. 

The old meeting-house of the First Parish in this town was prob- 
ably commenced about the year 1757 or 1759. Elisha P>aton, son of 
the Reverend Elisha Eaton, who was a carpenter living in Boston, 
wrote in his diary, August 7, 1757 : — 

" getting stuff for window frames and Sashes for Meeting house 
which is for North Yarmouth 3'* sec'd Parish." 

" Sept. 21. Caping window frames for meeting house." 

"' 1759 June 13th. Puting sashes on board y^ vessel for Meeting 
house at Harpswell." 

" Octo. 6th, sail'd for Harpswell — arrived there y" 8th where I 
tarried until Nov. 27th." 

Altliough there is no proof, j^et it is quite likel}' that Mr. Eaton 
worked upon the meeting-house during his stay in Harpswell, and 
probably put in the windows he had been so long at work upon. 



FORTS, GARltlSONS, ETC, IN TOP^^IIAM AND HARPSWELL. 663 

From an examination of tlie town records it appears that this house 
was a long time in being completed. At a special meeting of the 
town, November 14, 1774, it was voted that the " Advance ground in 
the Galleries and seats in the same shall be for the use of the Parish, 
except the Pew in the Front of the Front Gallery, the}' (the members 
of the Parish) paying the cost of the Same." And it was also voted 
"to put in the glass wanting in the meeting-house, mend the putt}', 
Prime the Sashes and window Frames." 

At another meeting held the same year it was voted to la}' a floor in 
the porch, build the stairs and doors in the porch, put up the breast- 
work in the galleries, and i)ut in the seats there, and to mend the 
windows. Nothing further seems to have been done until June, 1781, 
when it was voted to shingle the "four side" of the meeting-house, 
and to hang the doors. 

This completed the work on the church until January 16, 1792, 
when it was voted that there should be " four pews Iniilt in the body 
of the meeting-house on the Neck adjoining the pews now built, two 
on each side of the front allej'," and that the money arising from the 
sale of the same should be expended in repairing the meeting-house. 
Also, that the pew ground should be sold at auction. 

In November, 1797, the town voted to sell ten feet two inches of 
the pew space in each side galler}-, the purchaser to pay two dollars 
down and the balance in ninet}' days, or forfeit the whole. At the 
sale, pew No. 5 was bid off to William Dunning, Jr., at twenty-one 
dollars ; No. 4 to Walter Merryman, Jr., at twenty-five dollars ; No. 3 
to Joshua Bishop, at twenty-six dollars and fift}' cents ; and No. 2 
to Aleck Stover at the same price. 

This meeting-house was occupied b}' the Fii'st Parish until 1844. 
At a meeting of the parish held May 31, 1841, it was voted, "to 
take out the iusides of the meeting-house, as far as necessary, 
take off the porch, turn the house round end to the road, and rebuild 
the inside of the house," and that Joseph Eaton be a committee to 
consult an architect and estimate the expense. It was also voted 
that the meeting house should not in future be used for town purposes, 
and that Eaton should inform the selectmen of this vote. At a meet- 
ing held Jul}' 5, the parish committee were instructed, in case the 
selectmen thought the town had a claim on the meeting-house, to refer 
the matter to some legal authority, and the committee were emjjowered 
to sue, and to defend the rights of the parish. 

At a parish meeting, held March 26, 1842, it was voted to petition 
the District Court for leave to sell the meeting-house at pri\ate sale, 



664 niSTOJRY OF Brunswick, topsham, and habpswell. 

or otherwise, with or without the land on wliich it stood, as might be 
thouoht advisable. 




The al)0ve illustration will convey a very good idea of the appear- 
ance of the pnlpit and the pews on either side, and of the gallery and 
walls. 

The last entry in the parish records is dated September 27, 184-2. 
It was called in the legal manner, and a legal return was made upon 
the warrant, and was signed by the person who notified the members 
and by the parish clerk. For some reason, however, it was not 
deemed legal by some. The entry reads as follows : — 

" At a certain meeting purporting to be a meeting of the First 
Parish in Harpswell held on the 27, of Sept. 1842, and which was 
called by Washington Garcelon, Jus. Peace, issuing his warrant to 
Thomas Alexander, voted as follows — Thomas Alexander, Modera- 
tor ; after which the meeting was objected to bv a member of said 
Parish, in behalf of the Parish, and they refused to act, as being ille- 
gal on account of its not having been notified by said Alexander. 

"Voted, that a Committee of three be chosen to remonstrate at 
Court against the Meeting House being sold. Voted, Joshua Stover, 
Rnfus Dunning and Simeon Stover 2d. be this committee. Voted, 
that this committee have power to call on papers and witnesses. 



FORTS, GARRISONS, ETC., IN TOPSHAM AND HARPSWELL. 665 

Voted, that John Stover be an agent to cany the remonstrance to 
Court. Voted to pass over the 3d article in the warrant [to see if the 
parish would repair the meeting-house] . Voted, that all votes passed 
on the 26th of March last, concerning the sale of the Meeting House, 
be rescinded. Voted, that the Meeting House be occupied as it has 
been. Voted, not to assess an}- money for the support of the Minis- 
try-. Voted that this meeting be dissolved. 

"Attest. "William C. Eatox, 

P. Chrh:' 

After this date the meeting-house remained, for the most part, 
unused, until 1850, when it was taken possession of by the town as a 
town-house and selectmen's office. 

This Ijuilding, though proliabl^' one hundred and twenty years old, 
is still standing, and in use as a town-house, and is in a fair state of 
preservation. The boards, an inch and a half thick, and the l)irch 
bark covering the cracks beneath the clapboards, are still to be seen 
in it, as well as the curious lunges and the original hand-made nails. 

The old meeting-house of the First Parish, on Great Island, was 
built aliout 1770, and was taken down in 1843. It was similar, both 
externally and internally, to the old meeting-house on the Neck, and 
does not, therefore, require further description. 

The Centre Congregational Meeting-House on Harpswell Neck, 
directly opjiosite the old First Parish Meeting-House, was built in 
1843. It was built by individuals who entered into the following agree- 
ment : — 

" We the subscribers being desirous to have a meeting-house built 
in the vicinity of the old meeting-house on Harpswell Neck, to be 
e\ er owned, managed, and conducted by the Congregational Society 
in Harpswell, with the privilege of its being occupied by others hold- 
ing evangelical sentiments, at the request of any pew-holder, when 
not occupied b}' the said Congregational Societ}'. To contain about 
forty- pews, with a belfiy and steeple, and to be of such dimensions 
as the building committee and some experienced joiner shall deem 
best. 

" And we hereby agree to take the number of pews set against our 
names, and to pay the assessments as agreed upon at any regular 
meeting of said subscribers, the first meeting to be called by the Imilding 
committee or any three of the subscribers, to choose such officers and 



666 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



make such regulations as said meeting may think proper, and to 
determine the manner of calling future meetings. And the build- 
ing committee to be Silvester Stover, Clement INIartin, and James 
Stover. And all who can convenientl}', to pay in to the Building 
Committee. 

•' Silvester Stover . 
Joseph Stover . 
Dominicus Jordan 
George S. Dunning . 
James Stover 
Isaac Dunning . 
William Barnes . 
Joseph Eaton . 
Jacob Merryman 
"William C. Eaton 
Hugh Farr 
Elisha Allen, Jr. 
Abraham Allen 
James Dunning 
Simeon Orr 
Richard Orr, Jr. 
Stephen Sinnet, Jr. . 
Michael Sinnet . 
Norton Stover, 2d 
Clement Martin . 
George R. Skolfield . 
Daniel Randall . 
George Skoltield 
Mary Skolfield . 

At their first meeting the foregoing proprietors voted to purchase 
three sixteenths of an acre of land of Elisha Stover, for the meeting- 
house lot. At another meeting of the same, held June 30, it was 
voted, in explanation of one clause of their agreement, " that when the 
meeting-house is not supplied by Congregational preaching, it shall 
be opened on the Sabbath under the direction of the committee or 
agent having charge of it, and at the request of one or more pew- 
holders, for preaching b}' other authorized ministers in regular stand- 
ing, holding the sentiments commonly called Evangelical, such as the 
atonement, regeneration, the special influences of the Holy Spirit, 



10 


pews 
















































































.. " 



FORTS, GARRISOXS, ETC., IN TOPSHAM AND HARPSWELL. 667 

and future retribution. But for preachers of otlier sentiments than 
those referred to, and for all other public occasions and uses whatever, 
it cannot be opened except in the usual wa}-, viz., by the committee 
or agent acting under the direction of the Congregational Society." 
It was also voted at this meeting that Joseph Eaton, George R. Skol- 
field, and George S. Dunning be a committee to take measures in 
regard to forming a new^ parish, whenever it should be thought expe- 
dient. At a meeting of the proprietors, held September 25, George R. 
Skolfield, James Stover, and Daniel Randall were cliosen a committee 
of arrangements for the dedication. It was also voted, " That we, 
the proprietors of the new meeting-house recently built on Harpswell 
Neck, do hereby convey and transfer to the Centre Congregational 
Parish in Harpswell when formed, all our right, title, and interest in 
and to said meeting-house, authorizing said parish to give deeds of 
conveyance to any persons who may purchase pews in said bouse, 
and to do such other acts as ma}' be legalh' done by parishes in 
respect to meeting-houses." 

The Union Meeting-House on Harpswell Neck was built in 1841, 
and was dedicated by the Universalists on the twent3'-first of Septem- 
ber of the same 3'ear. It is situated near the academy in North 
Harpswell. 

The Methodist Church on Harpswell Neck was erected in 1854-5. 
Work upon the building was commenced in October, 1854, when there 
were but seven members in the society, which was then under the 
pastoral charge of Reverend George C. Crawford. Captains Norton 
Stover and Nathaniel Pinkham assumed the entire pecuniary re- 
sponsibility. The building was dedicated May 17, 1855, and on 
that day the pews were sold. The cost of the building was about 
S4,000. 

The Orr's Island Meeting-House, the first and only one ever 
built on that island, was erected in 1855, and is occupied one quar- 
ter of the time each by the Methodists, Free Baptists, Calvinist 
Baptists, and Congregationalists. The original owners were members 
of the three churches on Harpswell Neck, A Free Baptist Church 
was organized after the building was erected, and the above arrange- 
ment as to meetings was made. 

OTHER BUILDINGS. 

Probabl}' the oldest house now standing on Harpswell Neck is the 
one occupied b}' Horatio Toothaker. It is situated a short distance 



ijQS HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 



east of the academy. It is a large, square-roofed liouse, and was built 
bv Deacon Andrew Dunnins: in Miu. 




The Andrew Dunning IIolse. 

The house now owned by Paul Randall, which is set in from tha 
road a short distance below the Baptist meeting-house, at Harpswell 
Centre, is of about the same age as the preceding, but the precise date 
of its erection cannot be ascertained. 

The ^i'Bi framed house on Sebascodigan Island was erected in May, 
1764, by Colonel Nathaniel Purinton. It was a large two-story house. 
This house w^as taken down in 1850 and another erected in its place, 
but tlie barn, which was built the same year as the old house, is now 
standing, and has been in constant use for one hundred and twelve 
years. 

About 17G7, Reverend Samuel Veasey built a large two-story house 
on the lot a few rods northwest of the burying-ground on this island, 
which was afterwards sold to Captain Isaac Rich, and was occupied 
by his descendants until within a few 3-ears. It has recent!}' ])een 
taken down. 

About 17fi0 a one-story house was built on this island, near Condy's 
Harbor, by James Eastman. It is still standing, and is now occupied 
by Mrs. Adaline Elliott. 

The oldest house on Orr's Island and the oldest in the toivn is un- 
doubtedly that built by Josp:ph Okr. It is situated on a point of 



FORTS, GARRISONS, ETC., IN TOPSHAM AND HARPSWELL. 669 

land about one half mile northwest of the middle of the island, and 
was probably erected about 1756. The sills are ten inches and the 



beams eight inches in diameter. Tliis house is now owned and occn- 
})ied by Bradbury and Elbridge Wilson. 

Another old house on this island is that built by Michael Sixnett. 
It was probably erected about 1777 or 1787. 

It is not unlikely that there are other very old houses still standing 
in Ilarpswell. A lack of personal knowledge of the town, however, 
and the great difficulty tbenrfs in determining the age of a building 
concerning which there is no documentary evidence, prevents us from 
mentioning others. 



670 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, T0PSHA3I, AND HARPSWELL. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

INTERESTING RELICS IN BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

IN BRUNSWICK. 

The relics that will be mentioned in this chapter are of articles that 
originall}- belonged in this vicinity or that were brought here b}- the 
earl}' settlers. 

The christening basin of Robert Jordan, son of Reverend Robert 
Jordan who came to this country in 1640, was in the Jordan famil}' in 
this town until 1854 or 1855, when it was sold to Honorable Seth 
Storer of Scarborough. This basin was made of finely wrought brass, 
and was probably purchased about the j-ear 1G40 or 1650. 

A book entitled '• Burkett's Commentary on the New Testament," 
which is said to have been brought over to this countr}- in 1040 b}' 
Reverend Robert Jordan, is in the possession of Mrs. Narcissa 
Jordan, of Bath. 

Honorable Charles J. Oilman has, in a fair state of preservation, a 
Bible once owned by Reverend Robert Dunlap. It was printed in 
1698. He also has a silver mug, of about a quart in size, which was 
the property of Captain John Dunlap, and is now over a hundred 
years old. It is of solid silver and very heavy. It was used for 
drinking flip. 

The late Doctor John D. Lincoln had the first silver dollar ever 
owned by his grandfather, Captain John Dunlap, who is said to have 
been at his death the richest man in Maine. The doctor had also a 
silver flagon with the arms of the Toppan familj' engraved upon it, 
which was the property' of his grandmother Dunlap, and is upw'ards 
of one hundred 3'ears old. He had also a fire-fender which once 
belonged to General Knox, and which is an elegant article. The doc- 
tor had also a collection of coins which is one of the finest collections 
in the State. 

There is in possession of the Woodside familj' a portrait of Rev- 
erend James Woodside, who preached in Brunswick in 1719. It 
bears date " 1720, by Gibson." 



RELICS m BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 671 

The hat-box of William Woodside and a brass warming-pan once 
owned b^' him are now in the possession of the Woodside family. 
The hat-box is triangnlar in shape, each side being eighteen inches 
long, and the depth of the box is six inches. The box is covered 
with a figured paper, and is lined with newspapers bearing the date 
1761. It was made to contain the triangnlar hat which Woodside 
used to wear. 

The church of the First Parish in Brunswick has in its possession 
nine pieces of sacramental plate, which were given to the church in 
1737. Of these are two flagons, upon one of which is inscribed, 
'-^ Gift of Benjamin Larrabee Esquire, 1737"; and upon the other, 
Gift of C ipt. Jiihn Minot, Esq. 1737, To the Church of Christ in 
Brunswick." 'Ihe other pieces are three plates and four cups. 

Two pewter plates, a part of the wedding outfit of William and 
INIar}' S3lvester, who were married in 1736, and who moved to Harps- 
well soon after, are now in the possession of Mrs. George E. Springer, 
of Brunswick, who is their great-granddaughter. Mrs. Springer has 
also a wooden candlestick, made by Mr. S3'lvester with a jackknife. 
It consists of a wooden shaft about four feet high, an inch and a half 
in diameter at the bottom and for half its length, the upper half being 
about three fourths of an inch in diameter, and is cut like a screw. 
Upon this staff a cross-arm screws up and down. At each end of the 
cross-arm there is a socket for a candle, the screw allowing the can- 
dles to be raised or lowered as desired. 

In possession of the Maine Historical Societ}' is the gun which was 
captured from an Indian in 1725 by James Cochran. 

Mr. Chapin Weston has a basket made by bis great-grandfather, 
Jacob Weston, in 1775. It is what was called a bottle basket^ being 
made of the right shape anil size to carr}^ a large bottle. The dimen- 
sions are twelve inches deep, and six inches square across the top, 
tapering slightly towards the bottom. It is made of white-oak strips, 
and the handle is made without a splice. It is a nice piece of work- 
manship, and must have been a convenic'ut article in the days when a 
bott e was carried wherever one went. It might also have served in 
the place of the modern canteen. Mr Weston also has a three-dollar 
bill, Continental money, dated 1777, it being a part of w4iat was paid 
Jacob Weston for his services as a private in the Revolution. 

Mr. Samuel Adams, of Bowdoinham, has in his possession a blank 
book which was used for arithmetical problems by Samuel Adams, 
who was a private in Captain White's company, of Brunswick, in 
Washington's armj-, while encamped at Valley Forge. The cover is 



672 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

made of a piece of his tent cloth, and the strings were torn from a 
piece of cloth of which his breeches were made. 

Theodore S. McLellan, of Brunswick, has an axe which was made 
b}' Thomas Stone about the year 1795. 

T. M. Giveen, Esquire, has a yerj formidable club, which, it is 
said, was 3-ears ago taken from a " j-agger''^ during a conflict with the 
students. It is of hard wood, sixteen inches in length and about an 
inch and a half in diameter. At one end is a huge knot, into which a 
hole was bored and filled with lead. Nails were also driven into this 
end of the club and filed off, leaving sharp points about half an inch 
in length. There are four of these iron points. At the opposite end 
a groove was cut, to which a cord was tied. In the hands of a strong 
man, this club would be a deadly weapon. 

IX TOPSHAM. 

jMr. David Work has several relics. Among them are two small, 
leaf-shaped dishes which belonged to "Skipper" INlalcom, and are 
now one hundred and ten years old. The}' were probal)ly used to 
hold the snuftings of the candles. He has also a tabk'-i)late of the 
" Skipper's." He has, too, a cup and saucer which belonged to Mrs. 
William Randall, and are now more than one hundred and ten years 
old. He has also a pewter spoon and an iron fork which he dug out 
of the cellar of the house in which Doctor Philip G. Hoyt once 
resided. The supposed age of these latter relics is ninet}' 3'ears. 

A candlestick purchased in Boston in 1770, by Brigadier Samuel 
Thompson, is now the property of Mrs. Robert Tate. The base is of 
mavl)le surmounted b}' two bronze statuettes holding the brass socket 
for the candle. It was doubtless considered, at the time it was pur- 
chased, a handsome and valuable article. 

Mr. James F. Mustard has a gun of French manufacture, which is 
supposed to be over one hundred years old, and a pair of saddle-bags 
of about the same age. 

The late Mr. Rufus Rogers had quite a number of Indian relics, 
such as tomahawks, arrow-heads, stone tools, etc., which are now in 
the possession of the Maine Historical Society. 

An Indian tomahawk was dug up In 18G3 in a field near the house 
of William Sprague. 

Several cannon-balls — four-pounders — have been dug up in Mr. 



1 The name applied by the colleye students to the rowdies ivho lived at the north end of 
(he toivn. The ivord is probably a corruption of the German YiJyer, meaning a hunter. 



RELICS IN BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 673 

James Wilson's field adjoining his house, where was once a block- 
house. Various Indian relics have also been dug up there. 

There is in the possession of Mrs. Samuel Douglass a set of silver 
sleeve-buttons which were worn b}' Captain John Rogers at his wed- 
ding, about the year 1775. 

Mr. AV. W. Patten has a foot-stove which was used earh' in this 
century, and perhaps previously, for keeping the feet warm '' in 
meeting." It is made of perforated tin, in which were placed live 
coals, the tin being encased in a wooden frame. It is about nine or 
ten inches square. Probalilj- there are quite a number of other foot- 
stoves in existence in this vicinit}-, but this is the onlj' one we have 
seen. 

The family of Major Joshua Haskell have in their possession the 
arms and equii)ments which he used while in service in the war of 
1812. 

IN HARPSWELL. 

Owing to a lack of personal acquaintance with many of the citizens 
of Harpswell, and to the scattered situation of its inhabitants, it has 
not been found practicable to obtain accounts of many of the relics 
which are doubtless preserved in private families as heirlooms. 

A sword once owned by Captain Johnson Harmon, a hero of the 
Indian wars in the early part of the last century, and which was 
probably worn by him in his attacks upon the Indians, is now the 
property of Captain A. C. Stover. It is straight, single-edged, with 
a deer engraved on each side of the blade, about six inches trom the 
hilt. The handle is of buck-horn. 

Mr. Da^ad S. Dunning, of Portland, formerly of Harpswell, has a 
little pocket-compass which Captain Andrew Dunning bought of a 
French prisoner, whom he was conveying from Quebec to Virginia 
shortly after the capture of Quebec in 1759. 

Mr. Stephen Purinton, of Harpswell, has a warming-pan which was 
once the property of the wife of John Merrill, Esquire, of Topsham. 
Its age is not known, but it is probably over a hundred years old. 

The sword of Nathaniel Purinton, of Harpswell, an officer in the 
Revolution, is now in the possession of Charles E. Purinton, of Bow- 
doinham . 

Mr. Stephen Purinton has a stone gouge which he found on a shell- 
bank on his premises. It is of hard sandstone, and is about five 
inches long by two and a half broad. Quite a number of flint arrow- 
heads have been dug up in this vicinity. 

There is in the possession of James E. Skolfield a part of a gun and 
43 



674 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

a knife which were ploughed out where a house is supposed to liaA-e 
once stood, though there is no account, traditional or otherwise, of 
any resident at that place. 

Mr. Skolfield's wife has also a salt-cellar, in good condition, in the 
shape of an oak-leaf, which is over one hundred years old. 

There is in the famil}' of Charles N. Leavitt a white earthen plate 
which was his groat-grandmother's. It is over one hundred and Mi\ 
3'ears old. The picture on the plate is a representation of a party at 
a festival in the cabin of a vessel. Under it are the words, " The 
Captains Cabin." It is reall}' a fine thing. 

Thomas S. Skolfield has a gun which formerl}- belonged to Thomas 
Spear. It was given to Skolfield b}- Spear more than seventy years 
ago, and is supposed to be about two hundred 3'ears old. 

The following account of the discovery in Harpswell of an old 
Indian burying-ground, with some curious ornaments found on or near 
some of the skeletons, is taken from some notes written by the late 
Reverend Edward Ballard, D. D. 

On May 24, 1861, seven skeletons, evidently Indian, were thrown 
up b}' the ploughshare on the farm of Mr. Henry Barnes, on the 
eastern side of Middle Bay, near the shore. They were about twelve 
or fifteen inches below the surface of the ground, and la^' in the direc- 
tion of northeast and southwest. In the ground near these skeletons 
Avere found the following ornaments : — 

1. Three copper tube?, a little less than half an inch in diameter, 
one being over a foot long One of these was filled with decaj-ed 
twisted bark, which was probably used as a cord. Four others were 
found that were onl}' two inches in length, and a little more than an 
eighth of an inch in diameter. They were attached in couples, as 
pendants, to two strings of prepared deer-skiu, which were curiously 
knotted at their point of union. 

2. Four other specimens were found, made of the same thin cop- 
per, but of a conical shape, nearly three inches in length, half an inch 
at the base, and tapering to a quarter of an inch at the top, which 
were unattached when found. 

3. Two flat thin pieces of brass, about two and three quarter inches 
long, triangular, more than an inch and a half broad at the base, and 
diminishing to about a quarter of an inch at the top, Avhere they Avere 
rounded, and had a hole showing them to have been designed as 
pendants. 

4. More than sixty white shell beads, each a fourth of an inch 
long and a little less than an eighth of an inch in diameter, were 



RELICS IN BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 675 

gathered from the same spot. A spiral groove around the sides 
showed that the}'^ were made from tlie shell-fish which the Indians 
called " Quohock" (Venus mercenaria). 

"A shell furnished onl}' one grooved bead, which was taken from 
the thickest part near the hinge and rubbed down on sandstones to 
the proper length and thickness, and in oi'der to preserve the size 
necessarily leaving the groove where the ligament Avas attached, that 
secured the shells at the hinges. Two of these beads were slightly 
colored, and somewhat smaller, plainlj' showing, however, they were 
taken from the edge nearest the anterior portion of the shell. 
Between each of the beads were thin circular plates of dark purple 
shell, perforated, and appearing to have been made of the thin part of 
tiie same shell. They were called ' Suckanhoeks,' and were twice the 
value of the white. Both kinds were used as money, and also for the 
decoration of the necks of the wives and children of the Indians. On 
the same skeleton where these various ornaments were discovered, was 
a portion of hair well preserved, somewhat long, and gathered in a 
wrapper in the best state of preservation about the neck, made of 
braided bark, like basket-work, which soon fell to pieces when 
lirought into the air." 

One of the remaining skeletons was that of a child about eight years 
old. The other four were those of adults, and were buried at short 
distances from each other, with no regularity, except in the similarity 
of the direction of their graves. They presented no objects of interest 
Iteyond the fact of their discover}'. Two iron axes of European man- 
ufacture, ground for use, were found on the same day b}* means of the 
plough, at a short distance from the skeleton, on the same swell. 
They have no head above the e^-e. 

" Axes of similar shape, with long handles for bush and brancli 
work, are still in use among the Micraacs. These implements, however, 
may have been lost on the place b}' the first settler, whose name was 
MacNess, and who occupied the shore with two dwellings about two 
hundred 3'ears ago, of which the places are indicated by the cellars, 
which were deep, at the distance of two or three rods from the deposit 
of the relics." 



676 Hla TOR Y OF BE UXS WICK, TOPSHA M, AND HARPS WEL L. 



CHAPTER XX VI. 

MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. 

An account has alread}' been given, in Part I, of tlie several engage- 
ments that occurred in this vicinity during the period of the Indian 
wars, and of the troops that were stationed here, and a list, neces- 
sarih' incomplete, of the soldiers from these towns will be given in the 
Appendix. This chapter goes no further back than the war of the 
Revolution and the events immediatelv preceding it. 

For some 3'ears preceding the actual commencement of hostilities 
the danger of a conflict batween the colonies and the mother country- 
had been anticipated in each of the towns whose history is being nar- 
rated, and Committees of Safety- and of Correspondence were estab- 
lished in all three of them. As to what particular acts were done by 
those committees but little is known, as no records appear to have 
been kept by them. It is known, however, that they kept up a 
correspondence with similar committees of other towns, more espe- 
cialh' with Boston and the larger places, and w^ere thus made season- 
abl}- acquainted with the condition of affairs over the whole country'. 

The earliest movement of a militaiy character, in this immediate 
vicinity, having an}' bearing upon the subsequent war, was in 1774. 
This 3ear the supph* of powder in each town was increased, patriotic 
speeches were frequently' made by public speakers, and nearl}' all able- 
bodied men were engaged in studjing the manual of arms and 
practising the drill. Some time during this 3'ear, Reverend Jacob 
Baile}', of Pownalboro', noted for his Tor}- proclivities, was stopped at 
Stone's tavern, in Brunswick, on his way home from the westward. 
He was accused of being a Tory and was uiged to sign •' the League." 
On his refusal he was allowed to depart, but was notified that he 
would be visited at his home the next week.^ 

[1775.] On April 19, 1775, commenced the opening struggle of 
the Revolution, at Lexington. It took but a few days for the news to 

1 North, History of Augusta, p. 119. 



MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. 677 

reach Bnmswiek and arouse its inhabitants. A town meeting was 
called b}' the selectmen, who issued the following warrant for its 
assembling : — 

" Cumberland ss. 
'To THE Constable or Constables of the town of Brunswick, 

" Greeting; 

" You are hereby required forthwith to warn all the inhabitants of 
the said town of Brunswick, qualified to bear arms, to meet at the 
west meeting-house in said Brunswick, on Thursday, the 27th inst. at 
ten o'clock in the forenoon, with their guns and what ammunition they 
have, in order that it ma}' be known the state of the town for defence ; 
and to determine what measures shall be gone into by the town to fur- 
nish materials for defence against any enemy that may invade it, and 
to act and do everything necessar}' for security iu this alarming situa- 
tion of affairs. 

" Given under our hands and seal this 25th day of April, A. D. 

1775. 

"Nathaniel Larrabee, 
Thomas Moulton, 

Selectmen of Brunswick.^^ 

This meeting " was full}' attended and was remarkable for its great 
solemnity. All seemed deeply impressed with the magnitude of the 
dangers which were hanging over them and the importance of pre- 
serving order and tranquillity. There were some who breathed nothing 
but war and revenge on Great Britain, but who, when the crisis came, 
when the burden of the contest was falling heavily upon the citizens, 
when soldiers, provisions, clothing, and money were wanted and 
must be furnished by the town, moved with their families from town 
into the woods — now Durham and Lisbon — and escaped the heat 
and burden of the war. It was said that twenty moved from Bruns- 
wick at this time to be out of harm's way and save paying taxes. The 
Quakers settled in Durham about this time from a different motive. 
Lemuel Jones, falling into Brunswick, suffered his property to be dis- 
trained in the payment of war taxes, as did others of the Quakers. i" 

Upon the reception of the news of the battle of Lexington, Captain 
Lithgow and Lieutenant George AVhite, of Topsham, at once com- 
menced to collect a company of soldiers, and were very successful. 
This company went to Portland and were, under the orders of Colonel 

' McKeen, in Brunswick Telegraph, July 1, 1854. 



678 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Mitchell, put at work erecting a fort.^ They were discharged in 
November, and many of them re-enlisted under White, who was then 
a captain, and who, the same 3'ear, was made major of the regiment 
of which Samuel McCobb, of Georgetown, was colonel, and Dummer 
Sewall, of the same town, now Bath, was lieutenant-colonel. This 
regiment was ordered to join the arm}- under Washington, at Cam- 
bridge. In 177G it was ordered to Rhode Island. 

In the latter part of April, 1775. Captain Nathaniel Larrabee 
and Lieutenant Isaac Snow went to Condy's Harbor, at Ilarpswell, 
with a company of men from Brunswick and Ilarpswell. The}- 
were emplo^yed in erecting a fort there and in building barracks. 
The}' had two " wall-pieces," that were brought from Fort Halifax, 
and two swivels. A wall-piece was stocked, like a gun, with a lock. 
It was ten or twelve feet long, with a bore of two and one half inches. 
It would send twentv musket-balls across to Bear Island, over a mile 
distant. This company remained here until Christmas, and during 
their sta}' the British appeared off the harbor several times and fired 
at them. The fire was returned with these wall-pieces. Three daj's 
after the burning of Portland, which occurred October 18, this com- 
pau}- was ordered to Portland, and were employed for two weeks, 
under Colonel Finne}-, in building a fort on Munjoy's Neck. The}' 
then returned to Sebascodigan Island. These men were not regular 
troops, but were "minute-men."^ 

On the twenty-ninth of April, the following account of the state of 
affairs in this vicinity was written by Brigadier Thompson. The let- 
ter bears no address, but was probal>!y directed to the governor of the 
Massachusetts Colony : — 

" I this minute have an opportunity to Informe you of the State of 
our affairs at the Eastw'ard : that we are all Stanch for County's Ex- 
cept three men and one of them is Deserted, the other two is in lorns ; 
as for the vessels which attem*pted to Convey Stuff" to our enemies are 
stop' and I am about to move about two hundred of white pine masts 
and other Stuff" got for our Enemies use. Sir, haveing heard of the 
Cruill murders they have dun in our Province, makes us more Reso- 
lute than ever and, finding that the Sword is drawn first on their side, 
that we shall be annimated with that noble Spirit that wise men ought 
to be, until our Just Rights and Libei'tys are Secured to us. Sir, my 
heart is with every tru Son of America, tho my Person can be in but 
one place at once, tho very soon I hope to be with you on the spot. 

^ McKeen, MS. Lecture. ^Pejepscot Papers. 



MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. G79 

if an}' of my Friends enquires after me, Inform them that I make it 
m}' whole business to persue those measures Reeomraendecl by the 
Congresses ; we being nppon the Sea Coast and in danger of being in- 
vaded b}' Piriats — as the 27th of inst. there was a boat or barge 
came in to our harbour and River, and sounding as the}' went up the 
river. Sir, as powder and guns is much wanted in this Eastern 
Parts and also Provisions, Pra}' Sir have your thoughts something on 
this matter against I arrive, which will be as soon as busnes will 
admit. Sir, I am, with the greatest Regard to the Country, at heart 
your Ready friend and Humble Serv'. 

" Samuel Thompson.^ 
"Brunswick, April ye 29tli, 1775." 

Some time in June following. Captain Philip C. Randall, of Harps- 
well, on his way to Salem in his vessel, was forcibly' taken therefrom 
by an armed vessel and carried to Boston.^ 

About the same time Robert Fulton, John and William Patten, 
Thomas Harward, Joseph Berr}-, and David Fowler, from Topsham, 
went in a vessel to the mouth of the Androscoggin for hay, and were 
taken by the English and carried to England. Robert Fulton and 
William Patten died there ; the others returned. 

At the annual meeting this year the town of Brunswick passed the 
following resolution : — 

" Voted., That if a number of men out of this town shall list as min- 
ute-men, and should they be engaged in the defence of our lives, shall 
recei\'e from the town eight dollars each as a bounty. If an}' others 
than such as list shall be equally engaged^ shall receive an equal 
bounty if they are legally called and should march, and Providence 
should order it that there should be an engagement, they are entitled 
to the above bounty. 

" Each man that lists as minute-man to meet three times a week, 
and to spend three hours each time to learn the manual exercise, and 
in consideration for such service shall be paid by the town two shil- 
lings eight pence per week. 

"■ Such as do not list as minute-men shall meet once a fortnight and 
spend half a day in learning the manual exercise, and shall be allowed 
one shilling and four pence for each time they meet." 

After the business of this meeting was concluded, Reverend Samuel 
Eaton, of Harpswell, who was present at the meeting, was invited to 

^ Military Records in Massachusetts Archives. 
'^Guold, Burning of Falmouth, p. 11. 



G80 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

address the people. He did so and made a stirring and eloquent 
appeal to their patriotism. He so aroused the spirit and temper of 
the people, that, carried away by excitement, several of them, nnder 
the lead of the chairman of the mee'ing. Brigadier Thompson, seized 
Mr. Vincent Woodside, one of the most prominent and outspoken 
opposers, who held a commission under the king, and attempted to 
force him to renounce British rule. Finding that they could not 
intimidate him by threats, the}' even proceeded to bury him alive, and 
had succeeded so far as to cover all but his head with earth, when they 
were prevented bv the interposition of a few resolute and considerate 
persons from carrying their murderous design into execution. After 
Woodside's escape, the mob, for such it was, went to Mr. Boss's house 
and to Andrew Dunning's, but found them both absent. The}' si^oiled 
a lot of the king's masts that were in a lumber-yard near the present 
First National Bank. The king's agents, Messrs. Perr}- and Bamiard. 
had, liowever, gone to Georgetown. They then went to Topsham, and 
seized Mr. Thomas Wilson, whom they considered a Tory, though 
strictly speaking he was not one, handcuffed him and carried him over 
to Benjamin Stone's. One of his daughters followed him, got his 
handcuffs off" and threw them away. He escaped and returned home.^ 

At the close of a town-meeting in Topsham, called to pass resolu- 
tions in favor of a separation of the colonies from Great Britain, Mr. 
Wilson voted against them. He did so, not because he favored the 
course pursued by Great Britain, but because he believed too strong!}' 
in the power of that kingdom to subdue the rebellious colonies. 
Brigadier Samuel Thompson was much offended at the vote of Mr. 
Wilson and at the opinions expressed by him, denounced him as a 
Tory, and at one time meditated an attack upon him, and even went 
so far as to collect men together at Mr. Wilson's gate. A portion of 
the people went with Thompson to show their dislike, but the steadier 
portion of the community concluded that a tailor would be too great 
a loss if he should be driven away, and therefore induced the others 
to withdraw. 

The hostility thus engendered between the Wilson family and IVIr. 
Thompson was very intense, and each party had its sympathizers and 
supporters. John Merrill, Pelatiah Haley, Actor Patten, and Alex- 
ander Rogers favored Mr. Wilson, while Mr. James Purington was 
for the side of the brigadier. The older citizens of Topsham were not 
far from being equally divided in taking sides, though there was prob- 

1 McKeen, MS. Lecture. 



MILITABY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. 681 

ably a slight preponderance of public sentiment in favor of the briga- 
dier. The new-comers, however, were for the most part in sympathy 
with Mr. Wilson. Such men as Merrill and Haley, although they 
thought the struggle with the mother country would probably be 
decided against them, yet energetically sustained the action of their 
fellow-countrymen. Mr. Wilson himself disclaimed the existence of 
any unpatriotic sentiments, and above all scouted the name of Tory. 
The brigadier, however, was of too fiery a temperament to be easily 
appeased, and continued hurling his " gall-bladder invectives " against 
all who failed to come up to his standard of patriotism. Some lines 
were written by Mr. Wilson's wife shortly after the intended attack 
upon him. They were designed chiefly as a satire upon General 
'J'hompson. The}^ were as follows : — 

" There was a man in our town, 
I '11 tell you his condition, 
He sold his oxen and his corn, 
And bought him a Commission. 

" A Commission thus he did obtain, 
But soon he got a coward's name, 
At Bunker ne'er shewed he his face, 
Nor there his country's fame disgrace. 

"He came one day to the tailor's gate, 
Aud there his men assemble, 
"Who with his needles aud his shears, 
He made them all to tremble. 

" Some said they were all brave men, 
Some said that they could fight, sir, 
But all of them were made to run, 
And that by the tailor's wife, sir."i 

In May, 1775, occurred what is locall}' known as "Thompson's 
War." 

For some weeks previously Colonel Samuel Thompson, Colonel 
Purinton, Captain John Simmons, Aaron Hinkle}', Esquire, John 
Merrill, Esquire, Thomas Thompson, and James Potter had been 
holding secret meetings at the house of Aaron Hinkley, and had con- 
cocted a plan, first suggested b}^ Colonel Thompson, of seizing the 
British war-ship Canceau., commanded by Captain Henry Mowatt. 

Samuel Thompson was chosen colonel, and John Merrill and 

^ Diary of James McKeeyi, M. D. 



G82 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWKLL. 

Thomas Thompson were chosen captains. Captain John Simmons 
was appointed commodore. To prevent a premature disclosure of 
their plans, all the roads leading to Portland were closely guarded and 
none allowed to pass unless sworn to secrecy. Notwithstanding this, 
some intimation of their design reached Mowatt's ears. The original 
plan was to procure a A'essel of suflicient size to carrj' a compan}' of 
some sixt}' or sevent}' men ; to disguise the A'essel as a wood-coaster ; 
to conceal the men in the hold ; sail for Portland in the night, go' 
alongside of the Canceau and board her immediatel}'. The rendez- 
vous was to be New Meadows. The disclosure of the plan altered 
their arrangements somewhat, but did not deter them from their 
design. Tiiey sailed from New Meadows on the night of JNIay <sth, 
and landed on the morning of the 9th in a grove of thick trees, at a 
place called Sandy Point. There were about tifty armed men, each 
wearing in his hat a small bough of spruce. Their standard was a 
spruce pole with the green top left on. Sentinels were posted around 
their camp, and several pei'sons who chanced to pass that way were 
seized and detained. Pelatiah IIale3' was sent into town to obtain 
whatever information he might be able. About one o'clock in the 
afternoon, Cai)tain John Merrill, with two of the sentinels, while 
walking near the shore, saw Captain Mowatt with Reverend Mr. 
Wiswall, of St. Paul's Church, and his surgeon, land at Cla^' Cove, 
and walk up the hill. They compelled them to surrender, and immedi- 
ately- sent for General Thompson to receive Mowatt's sword. This he 
did, but returned it immediatel}'. A number of prominent citizens of 
Falmouth visited the camp and urged the release of the prisoners. 
The " Spruce Company" were inflexible, but as night was approach- 
ing the3' concluded to march their prisoners to Marston's tavern. 
About nine o'clock the prisoners were released on a promise to reiurn 
the next morning, General Preble and Colonel Freeman iiledging 
themselves for them. The prisoners, howevei". did not keep good 
their promise. The company left on Friday. There were other com- 
panies joined them while in Falmouth, and some misdeeds were com- 
mitted Iw soldiers, but there is no positive evidence that it was b\- 
Thompson's men. On their return they took back some boats belong- 
ing to iNIowatt. AYhen abont leaving it is said that they were consid- 
erabh- alarmed at the approach of a flshing-smack belonging in North 
Yarmouth, which the}' erroueousl}' su[)posed to be a vessel sent out 
by IMowatt to capture them.' 

1 Gould. McKten, from a sunHvor. 



MILITARY HISTORY OF Tilt THREE TOWNS 683 

This attack of Thompson and his men has been pretty harshl}^ criti- 
cised, but however premature it may have been, it was, in a measure, 
successful, and had he been properly seconded by the citizens of Fal- 
mouth no doubt the Canceau would have fallen into their hands. A 
year later and it would have proved a success. 

The soldiers under Thompson's command were mostly young 
adventurers, who afterwards enUsted under command of Captain 
James Curtis, were employed for some time at Condy's Harbor, were 
then sent to Cambridge, and were afterwards sent to Camden, N. J. 

Tradition says that at this time the British made the threat that they 
would breakfast in Portland and dine at Ilarpswell, and that the citi- 
zens of the latter place had their oxen all yoked, and ready, if they 
saw the British coming, to take their goods and go into the woods. 

In September of this year, Reverend John Miller relinquished £30 
of his salary for the ensuing j-ear, on account of the '^ public dis- 
tresses." John Farren, the school-master, in like manner gave up 
£15 Gs. 8d. of his salary; and two of the selectmen, viz., Thomas 
Skolfield and Nathaniel Larrabee, agreed to serve without compensa- 
tion. About this time Captains Dunning, of Brunswick, and Hunter, 
of Topsham, with nineteen men from their independent companies, 
carried stores from Merrymeeting Bay to Forts Western and Halifax, 
on the Kennebec, in gondolas, serving twenty-one da3's.^ 

In October or November, a number of Arnold's men from the 
expedition to Canada, who were brought back sick, were quartered 
by the selectmen in different parts of the town, some of them at the 
house of INlr. Joseph Morse, on the Maquoit road. 

Some of the inhabitants, unwilling to attack Mr. Thomas Wilson, of 
Topsham, a second time themselves, took advantage of the presence 
of these men in town to instigate some fifteen or twenty of them to 
go over to his house, and furnished them with boats for this purpose. 
On the Topsham shore they halted and loaded their guns. Mr. Wil- 
son, who had been watching them, met them pleasantly, invited them 
to his house to rest, and asked them to breakfast. They spent an hour 
relating their sufferings while on the expedition, and after thanking 
Mr. Wilson for his courtesies, returned, assuring those who sent them 
that Mr. Wilson was too worthy a man to be so grossly insulted. 

Mr. Wilson's patriotism was, however, suspected, and he was, 
either previously or soon after the incident just related, attacked by 
a mob, captured, loaded with chains, and carried to New Meadows. 

1 North, History of Augusta, 



684 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, lOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

The mob kept him a prisoner but a sliort time, but insulted him 
grossly, and filling his wig with tar, placed it upon his head and sent 
him home. He made no resistance and showed no resentment. i 

In the Provincial Congress of this 3'ear, a letter was read from a 
Mr. Barber, containing the statement that one Mr. Perry was in this 
part of the country' endeavoring to obtain masts, spars, and timber for 
the use of the enemy, and Colonel Thompson was desired "immedi- 
ately to repair to Brunswick, Casco Baj', "Woolwich, Georgetown, and 
other places, and to take the most efieciual measures to acquaint the 
people" with the fact, "and to make use of all proper and effectual 
measures to prevent their aiding him in procuring said articles." ^ 
According to McKeen, Parry was seized, and sent a prisoner to 
Sturbridge. 

About this same time the Committees of Safety and Correspondence 
for the towns of Brunswick, Bowdoinham, and Topsham reported to 
the General Court of Massachusetts that, learning that nine vessels 
had arrived in the Kennebec and its tributaries, and were collecting 
fii'ewood, butter, and other articles, the}' had considered it their duty 
to inquire into the legalitj' of their proceedings. They found that 
these vessels had clearances from that part onl}' of the port of Boston 
called Nantucket, and were acting without the consent of any com- 
mittee whatever, which was- in direct conflict with a Resolve of Con- 
gress of June 9th of that year. The committee, therefore, finding by 
the confession of the one in charge of these vessels that they had no 
proper license, and that all the authorit}' they had was a permit from 
Samuel Goodwin and Samuel Emerson, two of the Committee of 
Safety for the town of Pownalborough. to sail out of the river, not con- 
sidering this permit legal, had ordered the vessels to be stopped and 
hauled up. The House of Representatives, on receipt of the above 
report, passed a resolve that the committees had done rightl}', and 
directed them to allow the vessels mentioned to return to Nantucket 
with such necessaries as the}' could procure, })roinded that each master 
of a vessel bound himself in a sum equal to the value of the vessel and 
cargo, to sail directl}- for Nantucket and there land the cargo for the 
use of the inhabitants of the island of Nantucket, and not to dispose 
of it for any other purpose.^ 

[177G.] The usual Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and 
Safety was chosen by the three towns in 1776, A committee was 



'^McKeen, MS. Lecture. ^Rec. of Provincial Congress, \llo,Vol. 31, p. 125. 
8 Rcc. of General Court, Vol. 33, p. 306. 



MILITARY IIIbTOEY OF THE THREE TOWNS. 685 

also chosen in Brunswick to petition the General Court for a barrel of 
gunpowder, as they were " very poorly pi'ovided with arms and am- 
munition, and their coast was very much exposed," etc. The com- 
missar}' general of the colon}- was ordered b}' the General Court to 
deliver the amount asked for to Mr. Samuel Stanwood, he to pay for 
it at the rate of five shillings a pound. ^ 

At a meeting of the militia and other inhabitants of Harpswell, 
" Including the Laram List of the first Company in Harpswell, assem- 
bled According to Order of Court Duly Notified and Met on the first 
Daj' of April, 1776," Lientenant-Colonel Nathaniel Purinton was 
chosen moderator, and Andrew Dunning, clerk. Mr. Nehemiah Cur- 
tis was then chosen captain, Benjamin Dunning, first lieutenant, and 
Michael Curtis, second lieutenant of the militia. 

At a meeting of the town of Brunswick, held Ma}- 31, it was unani- 
moushj agreed to support Congress should that bod}- make a Declara- 
tion of Independence. 

This 3-ear Robert Patten was chosen captain of the Topsham militia. 
His commission was dated Jul}' 1, just three days before the Declara- 
tion of Independence, and was granted by the " King's Council of the 
Colon}- of Massachusetts Bay." 

Some time this year a picaroon, commanded by one Hammon, visited 
an island in Harpswell, which was inhabited by a single family only, 
and with a crew of seven men rifled them of their effects in the night, 
intending to rest there until day. Receiving information of this attack, 
Captain Nehemiah Curtis rallied a party, and before morning captured 
the boat and crew, and carrying the latter to Portland, lodged them in 
the county jail. Hammon managed, through falsehood, to get at 
liberty, and immediately Avent to the same island with a larger vessel 
and crew. Here Curtis and his volunteers again met him, and in the 
skirmish that followed, one of the miscreants was wounded and the 
others hurriedly withdrew.^ 

[1777.] Twenty-two men went to Boston from Brunswick in 1777, 
for service in the continental army. The town of Brunswick voted 
this year to make provision for the families of those men who Avere in 
the continental service. 

[1778.] In April of this year John Dunning, Ephraim Graffam, 
Michael Growse, William Spear, Jr., and WiUiam Skolfield, of Bruns- 
wick, went into the continental service, and were sent to Peekskill. 
Harpswell also furnished five men, and Topsham four, at this time.^ 

1 liec. of General Court, Vol. 35, p. 71. 

2 Williamson, 2, p. 429. 8 McKeen, MS. Lecture. 



086 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Not far flora this time, probabh-, an American sloop of war came into 
Harpswell for recruits. Quite a number of young men enlisted, 
among them Marlboro' Sylvester, David Johnson, and Abner Bishop. 
Sylvester enlisted as a clerk. Each received a pension after the war. 

Some time this year the privateer Sea Floicer, Captain Tracj', 
sailed from Newbuiyport and was never heard from. She had among 
her complement of men. John Skolfield, Captain John Campbell, Eben 
Stauwood, William Stanwood, David Stanwood, John Black, William 
Reed, William Hunt, David Stanwood, Jr., and James Dunning, all 
from this vicinitj'. 

ThQ \in\SiiQiiv Sturdy Beggar ?>iK\\ii(\ about the same time with John 
Reed, Thomas Wier, and perhaps others from this vicinity, whose fate 
was never ascertained. ^ 

[1779.] Four prisoners — when and where taken is unknown — 
were quartered upon the town some time in 1779, and Cai)tains Dun- 
lap and Thompson, Lieutenant Berry, and Mr. John Dunning were 
paid for the care of them. 

This year the Penobscot or "Bagaduce" expedition was begun. 

On July 3, 1779, the following order- was issued : — 

'■Major Larrabek, 

" Sir : I have orders to rase a Regement out of my Brigade to go to 
penobscot in order to Dislodge the Enemy there, 1 do therefore 
appoint you Second major of Said Regement and expect 3'ou will hold 
yourself In Read3'ness to march at the shortest notice. 

••To M.v.iou Natul. Larr.vbek." 

In addition to Larrabee's company. Captain Actor Patten's com- 
pany from Topsham were in this expedition and engaged in the first 
fight. Captain Nehemiah Curtis also headed a company of men from 
Brunswick and Harpswell, and went to I'ortland and were placed 
under the command of Colonel Mitchell. Some of the men never 
received any pay.^ Captain Ilinkley also had a company in this 
expedition. He was killed while standing upon a large rock cheering 
on his men,'* and the command devolved upon James Potter, 2d. 

[1780.] The General Court in 1780 called for a supply of beef 

* Pejepscot Papers ^ From the origitial order. 

B Mr Keen, MS. Lecture. * History of Castine, p. 41, note. 



MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. 687 

for the needs of the arm}', and a committee was chosen by the town 
of Brunswick to obtain the amount required to be furnished by that 
town. As there was great difficult}' in obtaining the requisite quan- 
tity of lieef in this vicinity, the selectmen were authorized b}' the town 
to give mone}' in lieu of what they might be unable to obtain, provided 
it was equall}' acceptable to the General Court. This year, by a 
resolve passed December 2, the General Court made a requisition on 
the town of Brunswick for its quota of men for the arm}-. 

[17H1.] On the ninth of January, 1781, the town of Brunswick 
elected a committee to divide the town into classes or divisions in 
order to procure the men called for by a resolve of the General Court 
of December 2, 1780. At a meeting of the town held three days 
later, this vote was reconsidered, and a committee was chosen to 
procure the men called for as best they could. The action of this 
meeting appears, however, not to have been satisfactory, for at a 
subsequent meeting, held Jauuar}' 15. the method of classifying the 
town was again adopted, and it was voted " to choose a committee of 
one man out of each class to join in the whole as a committee, to pro- 
cure a man for the deficient class or classes ; that is to sa}', those that 
have not procured by the 19th inst. said deficient classes, to appl}' to 
said committee by said 19th da}', and the cost of procuring the whole 
number of men to be averaged on the whole town, as also all defi- 
ciencies or penalties accruing thereon ; that if any class being deficient 
shall neglect to apply to said committee by said 19th day, such class 
shall bear the penalty of the law." The town was divided into ten 
classes, and one member of the committee was chosen from each class. 
The committee were directed to meet immediately and adopt such 
measures as the}' should think best. The selectmen were also directed 
" to consider such as have done service for the town this present war 
and report at the next March meeting." 

[1782.] About the year 1782, though probably somewhat earlier,^ 
but still towards the close of the war, a daring and succesful exploit 
was performed by the patriotic inhabitants of Great Sebascodigan 
Island. For some years previously, several small schooners, acting 
as " tenders" to the English war vessels, had infested the waters of 
Casco Bay, landing at defenceless places and robbing the farmers and 
preying upon the fishermen. The inhabitants at last, incensed by 
these maraudings, resolved to retaliate. Knowing that the crew of 
dne of these vessels often came to Condy's to trade and to have a 

1 McKeen dates the occurrence in 1776. MS. Lecture; also P^epscot Papers. 



688 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

carousal at a store kept by a ]\Irs. Eastman (a noted Tor}-), they 
decided to capture the vessel and crew. 

Accordingly, not mau}^ weeks elapsed before one da}', late in the 
evening, notice was passed around that the Picaroon, commanded by 
one Linnacum, a Scotchman, was at Condy's, and for all who were 
willing to engage in the enterprise to meet at the house of Colonel 
Nathaniel Purinton, at ten o'clock, p. m., to organize for an attack. 
Thirty men responded to the notice, armed with sucli weapons as they 
could command, and made choice of Colonel Purinton as their com- 
mander. Upon arriving at Condy's Harbor, they found the enem}' 
had departed. Though disappointed, the}' did not give up, but deter- 
mined to follow in pursuit. 

A few of the men now left, but the others at once went on board a 
fishing-vessel called the Shavinginill, owned b}' Isaac Snow, Esquire. 
It was an open boat of about eight tons, fitted with sails and oars. 
Esquire Snow consented to the use of his boat and volunteered to go 
with them. At two o'clock in the morning they started in pursuit, 
having a light easterly wind and being obliged to use the oars. When 
off Small Point they exchanged the Shavingmill for the schooner 
America, of about fourteen tons, and partly decked over. The}' left 
two of the crew, who showed symptoms of cowardice, to take charge 
of the small boat, and again put to sea with eighteen men. 

At sunrise they sighted the Picaroon in the offing near Seguin 
Island, chasing a coaster laden with lime in the hold and cordwood on 
deck, which was ])ound from Thomaston to Portland. The Picaroon 
captured and transferred her guns, two "three-pounder" swivels, 
with her other effects, to this coaster, and mounted the guns on the 
outer tier of wood and threw the middle tier overboard, thus leaving 
a good breastwork. 

During the time of these preparations the America, was fast coming 
up, and when about three miles distant the English began to fire at 
her with their swivels. Colonel Purinton ordered his men to keep out 
of sight and not to fire a gun without orders. When within pistol- 
shot he ordered them to rise and fire by sections as quickly as possible. 
He instructed the sailing-master to strike the coaster on the quarter 
and at once make fast the two vessels. 

These orders were faithfully carried out, and about three o'clock the 
privateers boarded the enemy's vessel and found only two men on 
deck, one of whom was dead and the otlier shot through the knee. 
The others, seven in number, had gone below and were calling for 
•quarter. 



MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. 689 

Shepherd, the man who was killed, a few moments before he was 
shot, was warned not to expose himself to the fire of the Yankees, but 
replied, " I '11 be damned if I '11 dodge at the flash of a Yankee gnn ! " 
He fell, shot through the heart. He was at the helm at the time. He 
was from Haliftix, and was buried on a point of land at Condy's Har- 
bor, which is now known as Shepherd's Point. 

Colonel Purinton started for Condj's Harbor with bis two prizes, 
eight prisoners, two swivels, and some ammunition, and arrived there 
at eleven o'clock in the evening, having been absent twenty hours. 

The prisoners, who were mostly Tories, were sent to Portland under 
guard. Those engaged in this expedition were. Colonel Nathaniel 
Purinton, commander; Josiah Totman, sailing master; Isaac Snow, 
second officer ; and Henry Merritt, Elisha Snow, John Snow, Stephen 
Purinton, Elisha Hopkins, Peter Birthright, Nathaniel Hall, Joseph 
Hall, Abraham Toothaker, a Mr. Dolf, with four others, whose names 
are unknown. Stephen Purinton was then onl}' about nineteen years 
of age. His share of the prize money was twenty dollars. 

Of the two swivels, one was given to the Parsonfield Academy, 
about 1837, and the other was burst while firing a salute, July 4, 
1869.1 

[1783.] During the year 1783 a letter was received in Brunswick 
from the Committee of Correspondence at Boston, desiring to know 
the feeling of the town in regard to allowing the return to their homes 
of refugees and conspirators. The subject was discussed at town- 
meeting, and it was unanimously voted "■ That they ought never to be 
suffered to return, but to be excluded from having lot or portion in 
any of the United States of America." This is the last recorded 
action of either of the towns having immediate reference to the period 
of the Revolution. 

MILITIA COMPANIES. 

The exact time of the formation of an}- of the militia companies, 
subsequent to the Revolution, is not known. In 1788 the First Regi- 
ment of the First Brigade and Fourth Division of the Massachusetts 
Militia mustered for the first time where the Bath Hotel, in Bath, now 
stands. John Lemont, of Bath, was colonel, and John Reed, of Tops- 
.ham, lieutenant-colonel of this regiment. 

On the twentj'-ninth of Jul}-, 1794, the town of Brunswick voted to 
give each man that should enlist and equip himself as instructed by 

1 The foregoing aecount is that given by Stephen Purinton, a participant in the affair, 
to his son Stephen, and furnished us by the latter. 
44 



690 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

the commander-in-chief, " so much as will make up, with what the 
United States give, ten dollars per month from the time he marches 
till he shall be discharged." It was also voted to pay each man that 
passed muster four dollars as a bounty. This call for troops was 
occasioned by Indian hostilities in the West. 

TOPSHAM MILITIA COMPANIES. 

The first Topsham militia company was formed, probably, prior to 
1753. The earliest date given in the records of the compan}- is 
November, 1795, but the traditionary account is that it was organized 
earlier than this. 

The roster of its officers in 1795 was as follows : — 

Captain, Alexander Rogers; first lieutenant, Steele Foster; en- 
sign, David Patten; sergeants, William Graves, James Fulton, 
Thomas Hunter, Daniel Graves; corporals, John Jameson, Richard 
Knowles, John Riple}', Robert Malcolm ; fifer, David Reed ; drum- 
mer, Joseph Foster, 2d. 

The train band consisted of about fift}' members. The first training 
that is mentioned in the records was had November 16, 1795. In 
1805 the compau}' numbered fifty-eight, rank and file. 

In 1808 it numbered sixty-one, rank and file. 

Nothing of especial interest is recorded concerning this company, 
except that on June 20, 1814, an alarm was given, and the compan}' 
marched to Bath and remained there two days. 

Inspections and reviews probably occurred each year, though the}' 
were not alwa^'s made matters of record. It is said that this compan}' 
was a very large one, and became disorganized at one time by elect- 
ing, in sport, unfit men for officers. At length the commanding gen- 
eral had to appoint competent officers, and Captain John Wilson, 
being placed in command, brought the company' up to a proper 
standard. 

The Topsham Artillery Company was formed in May, 1804, 
although no records of an earlier date than 1818 have been found. A 
muster-roll of the company has been preserved bearing date September 
29, 1814, At that time it belonged to the First Brigade and Eleventh 
Division of the Militia of Massachusetts, and was called into service 
and stationed at Bath. The compan}' was commanded at the time by 
Captain Nathaniel Walker, numbered thiity-four, all told, and was 
in service from September 10 to 29, with the exception of three unfit 
for duty, four not notified, and ten on detached dut}' in forts, etc. 
According to traditionary accounts, Daniel Holdeu was the first cap- 



MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. 691 

tain, Stephen Bradford the lieutenant, and John Holland the first 
ensign. The by-laws of the compau}' were adopted Ma}', 1818. 
These bj'-laws required an annual meeting of the company on the 
first Tuesda}' of May. The uniform was a blue coat, white ker- 
sej'raere vest and pantaloons, black sword-belt, half-gaiters, neck- 
cloth faced, bound, and welted with red, Bonaparte hat, black cockade, 
and red plume. 

The orderl}' sergeant was required to have one gun fired and the 
colors hoisted at sunrise on all days of public parade, and to marshal 
the music at least one hour previous to the roll-call, and to jiiarch with 
it through the several streets of the village to the gun-house. 

On the decease of an}' member the company were required to attend 
the funeral under arms. To these b3'-laws some penal laws were 
annexed. 

B}' a brigade order, not dated, b.ut probablj" of date 1819, the uni- 
form of non-commissioned officers and privates was to be " a short 
blue coat, trimvied with red worsted cord, gilt buttons, short buttons, 
small round hats or caps with a front piece ornamented with a gilt 
eagle, black plumes, tipped with red, red waist-belts." The hostlers 
were to wear "gray coats trimmed with red worsted cord, and while 
vests " ; the rest of their uniform to be the same as that of the privates. 

In 1823 the compau}- A'oted that the alteration in their uniform 
" should consist of red morocco belts or leather painted red, to go over 
the shoulders and round the waist, a new round felt hat with small 
rim, large new frontispiece, and round cockade." 

In 1824, Joseph 8wett was appointed adjutant, and David Scribner, 
both of Topsham, quartermaster of the battalion. 

In 1831 the compau}^ voted, "' 'Ihat the officers should be ex- 
cused from furnishing an}' ardent spirit, on any occasion, for the 
company, and that the officers should pay four dollars to the benefit 
of said company, annually, for being thus excused." The last entry 
in the records was made May 2, 1846, and the disbandment of the 
company occurred May 19, 1851. 

The arms of the companj' were two brass four-pounders. Until the 
gun-house was built they were kept in Mr. James Wilson's barn. 
After the disbandment of the compan}' they were sent to the Portland 
arsenal, and the gun-house was sold. 

In 1836 the selectmen, in accordance with a law passed a short 
time previousl}', defined the limits of the two companies of infantr}'. 
The dividing line was Main Street and its continuance over Cathance 
River to Bowdoin. All west of this line was to be the limits of the 



692 IlISTOIiY OF BBV^'SWICK, TOrSIIAM, AND ITARrSWELL. 

company conunandGcl by Lieutenant Alvali Jameson, and all cast to be 
the limits of the company commanded by Captain Ilolman Staples. 

BRUNSWICK MILITIA COMPANIES. 

The BnuxsAViCK Light iNFAXTra- was organized in Ma}-, 1<S()4. 
Its officers were Thomas S. Estabrook, captain ; Caleb Cnshing, first 
lientenant ; and Kobert D. Dunning, second lieutenant. The records 
of the company have not been found, and consequenth" but little is 
known of their doings. In 1825, Saturday, June 25, LaFayette made 
his visit to •Portland, and this company', under the command of Cap- 
tain John A. Dunning, attended to assist in escort duty, and were 
received ])y the Portland Rifle Company. They celebrated their 
thirt3'-eighth anniversarv oa the seventeenth of June, 1842. Shortly 
after this time this company became disorganized, but on Jul}' 21, 
1854, it was reorganized under the title of " D Compan\' Light In- 
fantry," and the following otlicers were chosen at that time : John 
A. Cleaveland, captain ; Andrew T. Campbell, first lieutenant ; Charles 
Pettingill, second lientenant; John H. Humphreys, third, and John P. 
Owen, fourth lientenant. This company turned out June 27, 1855, for 
target practice, and William R. Field, Jr., got the prize for being the 
best marksman. The pi'ize was a silver cup. The company had its 
first annual parade and inspection on the thirtieth of May preceding. 
On Septeinl)er of the next year, 185(3, the compan}- attended muster 
in Bath, and about August 7, 1857, it disbanded. 

The Brunswick and Topsiiam Rifle Co:iiPANY was organized in 
1821. No records have been preserved of this company, and nothing 
is known of its doings. A. B. Thompson was tlie first captain. 

In 180G and 1807 three other infantry companies and an artillery 
compau}' were formed. One of these infantry companies was com- 
manded by Captain Joseph Dusten, and had its headquarters at Ma- 
(luoit. The village compau}- was under command of Captain Richard 
T. Dunlap. The New Meadows company was commanded by Captain 
Peter Jordan, who died in May, 187G, the last surviving member of 
the company. Early in 1807, Samuel Page and others petitioned the 
proper authorities for the organization of an Artillery Company. 
In compliance with the wish expressed in this petition, a brigade order 
was issued, directing the proper steps to be taken for the accomplish- 
ment of this object, and INIr. Lemuel Swift was directed " to raise a com- 
pany of artillery out of the foot companies of the town of Brunswick, 
by voluntary enlistment." The company was at once organized, and 
Peter O. Alden was chosen as its first captain. lie is said to have pro- 



MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. G93 

cured the first bass drum ever brought to town. This company had 
two six- pounder brass guns in its gun-house on Centre Street. 

In addition to the above companies there was a cavalry company, of 
which a few members belonged in Brunswick and Topsham, and others 
in Lisbon and Durham. Captain Jack, of Litchfield, was the com- 
manding officer, and a IMr. Baker of Topsham was the lieutenant. 

HARPSWELL MILITIA COMPANIES. 

There were, about 1812, two infantr}^ companies in ILarpswell, 
which were organized about 1776. The Ilarpswell Neck company 
was commanded, in 1812, by Captain David Johnson, and Peleg Cur- 
tis was the lieutenant. The Ilarpswell Island company was com- 
manded by Captain Stephen Snow, and Paul Snow was tlie lieutenant. 
In 1832, Isaiah S. Trufant was chosen captain of the island compan}', 
in place of John M. Purinton, and Humphrey Snow ensign, in place 
of Eli Hodgdon.' 

In 1835 the selectmen defined the limits of the companies of militia 
as follows : The limits of Captain Hudson MerrN-man's company were 
all that part of Great Island northwest of a line drawn from Long 
Reach to Strawberry Creek, together with Orr's, Bailey's. Haskell's, 
Flag, Whaleboat, and Birch Islands, and the Neck. The limits of 
Captain John M. Purinton's companj^ were all that part of Great 
Island southeast of a line drawn from Long Reach to Strawberr}'' 
Creek. 

In 183G, Simeon Stover, 2d, commanded the first-mentioned, and 
Isaiah Trufant the last-named compan}'. 

THE WAR OF 1812, AND ANTECEDENT PREPARATIONS. 

As early as 1801 a feeling of hostility against Great Britain was 
engendered in this vicinity b}^ the impressment of sailors, and was 
displayed by the formation of military companies and other military 
preparations. 

All of the Brunswick companies went to Bath during the war of 
1812, and served for a short period. There were one or two British 
vessels there, and the soldiers from them used occasionally' to land and 
commit depredations, until General King called out the, militia. 
There were in all three hundred and twenty men from Brunswick on 
dut}' at Bath. 

One of the regiments on service in this war, in the division of Gen- 

1 Harpsioell Banner, 1832. 



694 IIISTOBY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND JIABPSU'ELL. 

eral King, was commanfled by Colonel Abel Merrill, of Topsham, an 
efficient and aceomplisheil officer. 

In Harpswell, at this time, a fort was built commanding the entrance 
of New INIeadows River. A few soldiers were stationed in it to inter- 
cept the boats canying supplies to the English vessels outside. Orders 
were given to have every boat or vessel report at the fort in passing 
in or out, and to sink every boat neglecting to report after the usual 
warning. Some of the fishermen thought these orders were too strict, 
and said they would not report to the guard if he sunk their boats. 
One of these men, named Dingle}', being bound out on a short fishing 
cruise, attempted to pass the guard when ordered to report, but was 
fired at, and his boat hit. It began to fill, and he barel}' made out to 
reach the shore with it. This put a stop to the boats running that 
fort. The guard's name was Seth Wilson. 

On one occasion during the war, James Sinnett, of Bailey's Island, 
then a young man twenty-three vears of age, with two brothers 
3'ounger than himself, went out fishing. While engaged in this pur- 
suit they saw a large vessel approaching which they thought to be 
American. When she came within hailing distance, the}' asked her 
name, and were told she was the Essex, an American man-of-war. 
Young Sinnett and his brothers then came alongside, and, b}' invita- 
tion, went aboard. AVhen the}' reached the deck they were asked to 
go into the cabin and see the captain. '1 hey did so, and w6re informed 
by him that they were aboard the English man-of-war The Rattler, and 
that they were his prisoners ! He however assured them that he 
should do them no harm, and should hold them captive only for a few 
weeks. He said his object in making them prisoners was to obtain 
the use of their fishing craft to reconnoitre the coast without suspicion. 
Accordingly he put twenty of his men aboard Sinnett's boat with 
instructions to cruise about the bays and rivers in the vicinity, and to 
report to him any discoveries which they made. At the end of a week 
they returned, and Sinnett and his brothers were discharged. During 
their captivity they were kindly treated and well fed. 

At the time the British men-of-war were in the Kennebec River, and 
the division of militia were ordered out by General King, Captain 
Johnson, of the Harpswell company, notified his men to prepare 
quickly to march to Bath. After consultation, however, with some 
of the residents of Bailey's Island, Captain Johnson decided to leave 
on that island, as a guard, all the able-bodied men of his command 
who resided there. This was done on account of this island being 
particularly exposed to the danger of attacks from the enemy's cruis- 



MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. 695 

ers, which were hovering about the coast all the time. Accordingly, 
while Captain Johnson and the rest of his company went to Bath, the 
Baile3''s Island men, under command of Captain James Siunett, kept 
guard night and da}' on their own ground. 

Before Captain Johnson's return. Captain Sinnett noticed a small 
coaster standing in hy Small Point, closely pursued by a schooner. 
The coaster came in between Pond and Ram Islands, and the 
schooner, not daring to follow, manned a barge to continue the pur- 
suit. They both came into Water Cove, and the crew of the barge 
were about to board the coaster, when Captain Sinnett sent a man — 
John Ham, of Bowdoin, who was stopping temporarily on the island 
— to hail the barge. IJam did hail, and asked the commander what 
he wanted. The reply was, "The coasting sloop." " You can't have 
her," answered Ham, " and we will give you a reasonable time to 
leave, or we will sink j'our barge." Upon this the commander of the 
barge quietl}' drew oif. Mr. Jonathan Johnson was very anxious to fire 
upon the intruders, but was prevented from doing so by his officers.^ 

Nothing further has been obtained in regard to the participation of 
these towns in this war, except the list of soldiers engaged in it, 
which will be found in the Appendix. 

After the close of this war the military spirit was still kept alive, 
and the companies did not any of them disband for several years. 
The different towns also took care to see that a stock of ammunition 
was kept on hand, and the town of Brunswick in 1816 authorized the 
selectmen to build a new powder-house, at an expense of one hundred 
and fifty dollars. 

In 1825, Captain John C. Humphreys was chosen lieutenant-colonel 
of the Second Regiment, First Brigade, Fourth Division of State 
Militia, and Joseph Demeritt was appointed quartermaster. 

In 1829, Major Andrew Dennisou was elected colonel, and Captain 
John A. Dunning major, of this same regiment. They were all 
Brunswick men. 

The Mechanic Volunteers, of Brunswick, was organized in 1836. 
Who the first officers were is unknown. In 1843, John A. Cleaveland 
was elected captain, George S. Elliot, lieutenant, and William K. 
Melcher, ensign. 

Musters for review and parade were of almost annual occurrence 
in these towns informer times. The earliest one known to have taken 
place was in Brunswick in 1809. It was a brigade review. Similar 

* Narrated by Captain Sinnett himself, loho is still living upon the island. 



696 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

inspections were held in Brunswick almost every jear up to 1825, 
when it was held at Bath. In 1829 the Brunswick Light Infantry 
Company and the Ritle Company were notified to appear for duty, 
Jul}' 4, probabl}' for escort duty, and a dinner was giAen them at the 
Tontine Hotel. September 21, 183G, the Second Regiment of First 
Jirigade and Fourth Division was inspected in Brunswick, and on 
September 14, 1842, the annual inspection and review of all the mili- 
tary in this vicinity took place there. The line was formed on Maine 
Street in the morning, and about half past ten the line of march was 
taken up for the parade ground, about a mile from the village on the 
river road. It was stated in the papers at that time that the light 
infantr}' and volunteers of Brunswick and the rifle companies of Tops- 
ham and Durham deserved especial notice "for their neat uniforms 
and good discipline." In 1844 there was a muster, on the twenty-third 
of September, of the First Brigade of the Fourth Division and attached 
independent companies, and this is the last occurrence of the kind in 
this vicinit}', so far as known, prior to 18G1. 

At a muster which occurred on September 25, 1822, some difficulty 
arose in regard to the proper place in the line for certain companies. 
The trouble culminated in a court-martial. ^ 

Burlesque Musteus. — In 183G the law required all persons tem- 
porarily' sojourning in a place, who were liable to militar}- duty, to turn 
out for a general muster in Ma}'. That year the students of Bowdoin 
College being warned to appear, and not wishing to refuse to obey a 
legal summons, but disliking the duty, appeared in fantastic and gro- 
tesque costumes. They appeared in the same manner in 1837, and 
although the obnoxious law was soon repealed, the custom was kept 
up by the students for many years, a burlesque " May training" hav- 
ing occurred as late as 185G. 

BRUNSWICK IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 

When the Third Maine Regiment passed through Brunswick in 1861, 
on its way to the seat of war, a salute was fired and a collation pro- 
vided, 'i hat town was zealous in its support of the national govern- 
ment, and not on!}' voted this j'ear $1,500 to paj' the expenses of 
recruiting, clothing, and fitting out volunteers from the town, but also 
voted to pa}' each volunteer " a sum sufficient, Aifith what is paid by 
government, to equal twenty dollars per month during the time they 

^ Owing to the size this voltnne has already attained, it is found necessari/ to omit the 
account of this trial. 



MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. 697 

may be in the pv;blic service," and appropriated $5,000 for the support 
of the families of those who enlisted. 

At the annual meeting in 1862, the town of Brunswick A'oted to 
furnish assistance to the families of such of the inhabitants as were in 
the service of their countrj', either in the army or navy, and to those 
who should thereafter engage in such service, to such amount as pro- 
vided for by an Act of the legislature, so long as they should continue 
in the service. The treasurer was authorized to borrow $6,000 for 
the purpose. The town also voted to guarantee the payment to each 
and ever}' volunteer, who enlisted under the last call for troops, or who 
should enlist by the fourth da^^ of August, in either of the regiments 
of the State which were then in the field or in either of the new regi- 
ments to be formed, and who should be actually mustered into the 
service of the United States as one of the quota of the town under the 
recent call for troops, one hundred dollars over and above the boun- 
ties offered b}' the State and the United States, to be paid at the time 
of being mustered in. This time was afterwards extended. The town 
also voted to hire $5,200 for the above purpose, and a rallying com- 
mittee of thirt^'-three was chosen to induce enlistments. Though the 
large majority of the citizens of Brunswick were intensely loyal, there 
were some lukewarm ones and a few " Southern sympathizers," who 
apparently desired to see the Southern Confederac}' firmly estab- 
lished. One of these individuals was said to have given encourage- 
ment to the Confederates b}" his letters, and the case was made 
known through the public press. To show the sentiment of the 
town, the following resolutions were passed at this meeting : — 

" TFAereas, W. S. Lindsej', a member of the British Parliament, is 
reported to have stated in his place in that body that he had lately 
received a letter from a ' citizen of strong Union feeling in Brunswick, 
in the State of Maine, expressing his hope for British intervention in 
the contest now going on,' 

"Therefore, Resolved, That the citizens of this town will spare no 
pains to discover and ascertain whether this declaration thus made \)j 
a member of Parliament is a fabrication, or whether we really have 
among us such a blackhearted hj'pocrite, traitor, and knave, as could 
thus seek to add the calami t}' of a foreign war to our present distresses. 

'■'■ Resolved, That we need something more than such a naked 
declaration to convince us that there is in our midst such a com- 
pound of the villain and the fool ; but if it should prove that there 
is, be it further 

" Resolved, That we will purge the fair fame of our town by con- 



(i[)8 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWKLL. 

sio;ning him to the deserved punishment of all traitors, whenever he 
shall be discovered. 

" Resolved nnanimousJy, That the citizens of this town abhor the idea 
of foreiijn interference in the affairs of the Republic. That we will always 
resist, to the utmost of our power, the intervention of any monarch or 
potentate whatever against our government, and that we hold in utter 
detestation the fiend or fool who would seek to bring such a thing about. 

" Jiesf tired, That Brunswick is no home for traitors, and that if anj' 
lurk here pretending to be men ' of strong Union feelings,' while 
secretly' sympathizing with the rebels in arms against our government, 
they had better remove before thej' are discovered. 

" Voted, That a copy of the above resolves be signed by the mod- 
erator and clerk of this meeting and be sent, one to the Honorable 
Freeman H. Morse, and one to the Honorable Charles F. Train at 
London, and tliat a cop}' be sent for publishment in the Porthmd 
Press, Boston Journal, and the Briinsirirl- Telegr qili ." 

At a special meeting, held August 2:5, the town voted to guarantee 
to each volunteer who should enlist in -any of the nine months' regi- 
ments, between that date and tlie time fixed for a draft, the sum of 
twenty dollars, to be paid when such j)erson has been accepted by the 
governor as a part of the quota of the town. It was also voted to 
hire niiu^ lunidred and twenty dollars for the above-named purpose, 
and a committee was chosen to solicit subscriptions for a volunteer 
fund, to make up the sum of fifty dollars to each volunteer. 

At another meeting, held August 30, the town voted an additional 
sum of eighty dollars for nine months' volunteers, making a total of 
one hundred dollars. It was also voted to hire $3,G80 for this purpose. 

[1863.] At the March meeting in 1863, the towns voted to furnish 
aid to the families of persons in the service of the national govern- 
ment, either in the army or navy, to the extent allowed by the law of 
the State, and to such an amount as the State had agreed or might 
hereafter agree to I'efund to the town. Tlie treasurer was directed to 
hire for this purpose, as a temporar}' loan, $6,000. 

At a special meeting, held August 17, the selectmen were directed 
to pay each drafted man who was, in person or by substitute, mustered 
into the United States service, a bounty of three hundred dollars. 
Payment was to be made as soon as practicable after such drafted 
man or substitute had been mustered into service. It was also voted 
to hire $20,000 for this purpose. 

At a special meeting, held November 21, the town voted to pay 
two hinidred and fifty dollars each to volunteers credited as part of 



MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. 699 

the quota of the town, under the call of the President, dated October 17, 
18G3. It was also voted to hire $14,000 for this purpose. On 
December 1, an additional bounty of fifty dollars was voted, which 
brouglit the wliole up to three hundred dollai's. Voted to hire 82,800 
for the additional bounty. 

[1861.] At the annual meeting of the town in 18t;4, it was 
voted that the debt of the town incurred in raising money for the i)ay- 
ment of bounties, and expenses connected therewith, should be funded 
as autliorized by the Act of February 20, 1864, and that lionds there- 
for sliould be issued in such sums as the selectmen and town treasurer 
deemed most for the interest of the town. The bonds to be payable 
after three, and not exceeding twenty j'ears, at tlie pleasure of the 
town, witli coupons attached, bearing 3'early interest not exceeding 
six per cent, payable semiannually. 

The selectmen and treasurer were authorized to issue such l)onds to 
the amount of $o.">,000. The town also, at this meeting, voted aid to the 
families of soldiers as heretofore, and to borrow $7,000 for the purpose. 

At a special meeting, held August 8, the selectmen were authorized 
to expend a sum not exceeding twentj'-five dollars per man, of the 
town's proportion of troops required b}' the call of July 18, 1864, in 
paying recruiting agents and other necessary expenses of procuring 
enlistments. It was also voted to pay each recruit raised to fill the 
quota of the town, under the last-mentioned call, such bounty as the 
recruit might be entitled to receive from the State, according to the 
terms of General Order, No. 27, issued from the adjutant-general's 
oflk'e, July 20, 1864, said l)ounty to be reimbursed to the town from 
the State treasury agreeably to the provisions of Chapter 227, of the 
laws of 1864. It was also voted to hire $1,550 for recruiting pur- 
poses and $12,000 for paying bounties. 

At anotlier meeting, held August 15, a bounty of five hundred dol- 
lars for tiu-ee years' men, four hundred dollars for two years' men, and 
three hundred dollars for one year's men, was voted to enrolled men fiir- 
vishing substitutes, inider the call of July 18, 1864. It was also voted 
to pay volunteers enlisting to fill the quota under said call the same 
sums as bounties as were paid to enrolled men furnishing substitutes, 
and to pay a bounty of three hundred dollars to men who may be 
drafted under that call. Voted to borrow $20,000 for the above pur- 
poses, and the selectmen were authorized to appoint recruiting agents 
to fill the quota of July 18, 1864. 

[1865.] At a special meeting, held February 11, 1865, the town 
voted to raise $1 ,300, to be expended in paying the expenses of recruit- 



700 niSTOIiY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

iug to fill the town's quota of troops, under the call of December 19, 
1864, It was also voted to pay each volunteer, each enrolled man 
furnishing a substitute, and each drafted man entering the service of 
the United States in person or by substitute, three hundred dollars for 
one 3'ear, four luuidred dollars for two j'ears, and five hundred dollars 
for three years. An additional bounty of fifty dollars was also voted 
to each veteran vohuiteer who had served at least two jears and had 
been honorably discharged, and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer 
who had served at least nine months. The town A'oted to raise $25,000 
for the above bounties. At the annual town-meeting this 3'ear, it was 
voted to aid the families of soldiers and sailors as heretofore, and 
S7,000 was raised for the purpose. 

TOPSHAM IN THE WAK OF THE REBELLION. 

The earliest reference to this war found in the town records is 
dated Ma}' 1, 18GI. At a special meeting of the town held at this 
time, the selectmen were authorized to make proper provision for the 
support of the families of all persons having a legal residence in town, 
who might enlist in accordance with an Act of the State, passed at the 
extra session of the legislature, and approved April 25, 18G1, during 
their absence from the State, and whose families might stand in need 
of assistance, and the selectmen were authorized to borrow the money 
necessary for the purpose, or to assess the town therefor. It was also 
at this meeting voted to pay all persons who volunteered their services to 
the government, eight dollars per month while they were away on duty. 

[1862.] At the annual meeting in 1862, the selectmen were author- 
ized to raise money for the support of the families of volunteers. 

At a meeting held July 26 the town voted to give a bounty of one 
hundred dollars over and above the bounties paid b}' the State and 
the United States, for each volunteer who had enlisted "under the 
last call for troops," or who might enlist up to the time of drafting 
(dating from July 26, 1862), in either of the regiments of the State 
that was alread}- in the field, or that should be formed, provided he 
was finally accepted and mustered into the service of the United 
States as one of the quota of the town, under the recent call for 
troops. The selectmen were also authorized to hire 81,800 for the 
purpose, or so much of that sum as might be necessaiy. 

There being some question as to whether this action of the town 
would be legalized b}- the legislature, forty-six citizens pledged them- 
selves, to the amount of fifty dollars each, to indemnify the selectmen 
if the doiuas of the town were not legalized. 



MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. 701 

At a meeting of the town held August 29 it was voted to paj^ a 
bounty of one hundred dollars to each A-olunteer who would enlist in 
the service of the United States, under a call from the President for 
3U0,000 men for nine months, and it was also voted to raise $2,500 
for the purpose, or so much thereof as might be necessary. 

Sixty-five citizens pledged themselves to indemnify the selectmen in 
the sum of fift}- dollars each, should the action of the town not be 
legalized by the legislature. 

At a meeting held December 6 the town voted to reimburse all those 
citizens who had subscribed money for volunteers. The town also at 
this meeting voted to raise three hundred dollars for the need^' fami- 
lies of soldiers 

[1863.] At the annual meeting in 1863 the town voted to raise 
seven hundred dollars to be paid as bounties for soldiers. 

At a meeting held July 18 it was voted to pay drafted men, or those 
who provided substitutes, three hundred dollars each. 

At a meeting of the town, August 27, the selectmen were author- 
ized to pnj' drafted men, or those who provided substitutes, three hun- 
dred dollars each, and to procure a loan for the purpose, not exceed- 
ing $5,000, for a term of years, and bearing interest annuall}-. 

At a meeting held November 7, it was voted to pay each volunteer 
one hundred dollars, whether new recruit or veteran. 

The treasurer was authorized to raise by loan sutlicient money to 
pa\' this bounty for a number not exceeding twent^'-one volunteers. 

At a meeting on December 2, it was voted to pay two hundred dol- 
lars more in addition to the one hundred dollars voted in November 
for volunteers. The treasurer was authorized to borrow a sum not 
exceeding $6,300 for this purpose. 

[1864.] At a meeting held January- 6, the selectmen w^re in- 
structed to raise a sum of mone}', not tb exceed $1,000, for the purpose 
of obtaining and paying volunteers, and they were also instructed to 
take such measures as in their judgment seemed best to fill the quota 
of the town. 

In August it was voted to \ia.y a bounty of five hundred dollars to 
enrolled men furnishing substitutes previous to the draft under the 
last call (July 18, 1864) of the President of the United States for 
500,000 men for three 3-ears, to pay a bounty of four hundred dollars 
to those furnishing substitutes for two years, and to pay a bounty of 
three hundred dollars to those furnishing substitutes for one year, to 
be paid after the substitutes were accepted and mustered into service 
on the quota of the town under said call. The selectmen were also 



702 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

authorized and directed to pa}- volunteers, enlisting to fill the quota 
of the town under said call, the same sums as bounties, for the same 
pei'iods as are before stated, and to pay a bounty of tliree hundred 
dollars to men who might be drafted under said call, to be paid after 
such volunteers and drafted men were accepted and mustered into 
service on the quota of the town under said call. The selectmen were 
also authorized and directed to pa}' to men drafted under said call, and 
furnishing substitutes, the same sums as bounties, for the same periods 
as before stated, to be paid after such substitutes were accepted and 
mustered into service on the quota of the town. It was A^oted to 
raise by loan $15,000 for this purpose. 

[1SG.J.] At a special meeting, held January 21, 1865. to see if the 
tow^n would vote to accept the surplus men already enlisted and take 
measures to pay them, it was voted to accept them, and that the 
money raised August 17, 18G4, be appropriated to pay the men so far 
as was necessary. The selectmen were authorized to take such action 
as the}^ deemed best to provide men and means in case of another 
call, wliich was then anticipated. 

At tlie annual meeting, the town voted that the selectmen be author- 
ized to raise $5,000 to be expended in raising men for the govern- 
ment. 

[18G7.] At the annual meeting this year, the selectmen were 
authorized to raise a sum not exceeding $10,000, at not more than 
seven and three tenths per cent interest, to meet the liabilities of the 
town. It was also voted to fund the town debt and issue bonds to the 
amount of the debt, pa3'able, one fourth of tlie sum in five years, one 
fourth in ten years, one fourth in fifteen years, and one fourth in 
twenty Aears ; said bonds to bear six per cent interest, payable semi- 
annually, and to be disposed of to the best advantage by the select- 
men as fast as necessar}', to meet the liabilities of the town for its 
existing indebtedness. 

[1808.] At the annual meeting in 1808, the town voted that the 
sum to be raised to fund the debt of the town, as authorized by the 
town in 1807, be limited to $20,000. 

HARPSWELL IN THK WAR OF THE REBELLION. 
[1862.] The earliest action of the town of Ilarpswell having refer- 
ence to the late civil war was at a special meeting, held July 21 , 1862. 
At this meeting the town voted to raise money to induce men to enlist 
as volunteers in the army. They voted to raise $2,000, and pay each 
man who might enlist or be drafted one hundred dollars when mus- 



MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. 703 

tered into the service. A committee of four, namely, Albert T. Tru- 
fant, Lemuel H. Stover, Alexander Ewing, and Alcot S. Merry man, 
was chosen to procure the quota of men required from Harpswell, 
and to pa}' the same their bounty. The selectmen were also author- 
ized to furnish aid to families of volunteers at their discretion. 

There appears to have been a doubt as to the legality of the above 
action of the town ; and in order that the votes might be carried into 
effect, a number of prominent citizens signed a paper agreeing to 
indemnif}- the selectmen in case the action of the town was not legal- 
ized b}- the legislature of the State. The amount pledged was $3,270. 

On the fifth of September it was also voted to pay each man who 
should enlist into the United States service one hundred dollars as a 
bount}' for him to enlist as one of the nine-months' men, under the call 
of the President, of August, 1862, and to continue paying it until the 
draft was commenced, unless their quota should be full before. The 
bounty was also to be extended to those enlisting in old regiments, if 
reckoned as a part of ITarpswell's quota. It was also voted to extend 
aid to the families of those who enlisted, if in the opinion of the select- 
men any aid was needed. The selectmen were also chosen a commit- 
tee to solicit men to enlist and to pay the bounties. 

At a special meeting, held on September 12, it was voted to place 
the bounty at two hundred dollars per man, instead of one hundred, 
and the town treasurer was authorized to hire mone}' for the purpose 
of paying these bounties. 

[1863.] Several town-meetings were held in 1863. At one, held 
on June 29, the town voted to raise three hundred dollars for each 
drafted man in Harpswell under the Conscription Act, and to place 
the money in the hands of the selectmen to be used in paying the 
bounty to those who were mustered into the United States service, or 
in furnishing substitutes, or in paying fines for those who were liable to 
be mustered under said Act. The selectmen were authorized to hire 
the money for this purpose. At a subsequent meeting, held July 25, 
the above action of the town was reconsitlered, and the article in the 
warrant under which the vote was passed was laid on the table. A 
vote was then passed similar to the foregoing, except that instead of 
pa3'ing cash, the selectmen were authorized to give " town orders" for 
the amounts, the orders to.be on interest at six per cent, and to run for 
ten years, or at the discretion of the town for a less period. 

At a meeting held October 6, David Webber and Sylvester 
Stover were elected a committee to hire mone}' to take up the town 
orders. On November 7, Lemuel H. Stover was delegated to go to 



704 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSUAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

Augusta and confer with the adjutant-general and governor, concern- 
ing an enlistment of non-residents, and also in regard to having the 
enrolment reduced. On November 24 it was voted to raise $8,250, 
to induce men to enlist to fill the town's quota of volunteers, under 
the call of the President, dated October 17, 1863. The selectmen 
were instructed to hire the money, and to paj- each man two hundred 
and sevent^'-five dollars, or less, and if they could not fill the entire 
quota to obtain as many as the}' could. 

[18G4.] On March 7, 1864, a special meeting was called to see 
what method the town would take to answer the call of the President, 
of February, 1864, for more men, and whether they would vote to 
raise money for bounties, etc. This article was " dispensed with," 
and the meeting adjourned. At a special meeting, held August 1, 
Lemuel 11. Stover was chosen an agent to go to Augusta, and confer 
with the adjutant-general and governor as to the best method of fill- 
ing the quota of Ilarpswell under the call of the President, of July 18, 
for 500,000 volunteers. The meeting was adjourned to August 8, at 
which time it was voted to instruct the selectmen to issue to each 
enrolled man under the above call a town order of three hundred 
■dollars when mustered into the service, the order to be on interest, 
and to be in addition to the State and United States bounties. The 
selectmen were also to ajjpoint an agent to procure recruits, and it 
was voted to raise eight hundred and sevent3'-five dollars to pa}- the 
expenses of the agent. This vote to issue town orders for three 
hundred dollars was, however, rescinded at a meeting held August 
25, and it was then voted to raise $15,000 by issue of town notes to 
that amount, payable in five years (or at the option of the town in a 
less time) , the money to be disbursed by the agent as follows : 
Three hundred dollars to each man who should enlist or furnish a 
substitute for one year, four hundred dollars for two 3'ears, and five 
hundred dollars for three years, under the call of the President, of 
July 18. 

[18G5.] On January 17, 1865, the town voted that each enrolled 
man who enlisted upon the quota of Harps well, under the last call of 
the President, or any future call, should receive from the town the 
sum of three hundred dollars for one 3'ear, four hundred dollars for 
two years, and five hundred dollars for three ^-ears, either in scrip or 
money, at the option of the selectmen ; and each enrolled person who 
might have, or should furnish, two hundred dollars for the procure- 
ment of a substitute to represent him, in the armj' or navy, upon the 
quota of Ilarpswell, under the last call, or any future call, should 



MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS. 705 

receive from the town a sufficient snm for that purpose, either in scrij) 
or money, j^^'ovided it did not exceed three hundred dollars for a one- 
year, four hundred dollars for a two-years, or five hundred dollars for 
a three-3'ears substitute. L. H. Stover was chosen the tigent to pro- 
cure substitutes and to expend the money. At a meeting held Feb- 
ruarj' 20, the town voted to receive recruits to fill their quota from 
those who were not enrolled. It was also voted to raise $5,000 in 
addition to the sum raised on the twenty-fifth day of August, 1864. 

At the annual March meeting, it was voted " that the selectmen 
and treasurer of the town of Harpswell be authorized and instructed 
to fund the war debt of the town of HarpsAvell, which has already 
accrued, and also for what may be necessarj- to be raised to fill the 
remainder of the quota of the town under the last call of the Presi- 
dent, and issue town bonds with coupons attached, bearing six per 
cent semiannual interest. The funded debt not to exceed, under any 
circumstances, thirty thousand dollars, said bond to be given running 
not over twent}' 3'ears, and in such manner that at least fifteen hun- 
dred dollars of said bonds shall become due each successive 3'ear." 

For a complete list of the volunteers, drafted men, and substitutes 
in the army or nav}', from each town, the reader is referred to the 
Appendix. 



45 



PART III. 



BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL. 



CHAPTER I. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

In the following pages will be found brief biographies of some of the 
prominent citizens of Brunswick, Topsham, and Ilarpswell, who are 
not now living. 

It is probable that the names of some who were deserving of special 
notice have been omitted, and that some of the sketches are briefer 
than might be deemed desirable. Jf such be the case, it is because we 
have not found or been furnished with the requisite information for 
such sketches. There has been no intentional injustice done or par- 
tiality shown. In writing these sketches we have depended upon the 
communications received from the friends of the parties, and from 
information obtained from such printed sources as were accessible to 
us. Much assistance has been furnished by the files of {he Brunswick 
Telegraph, and in numerous cases we have not hesitated to make 
verbatim extracts from its columns. 

ABBOT, HONORABLE JACOB. 

Honorable Jacob Abbot was born in 1746. In 17G7 he married 
Lydia Stevens, and moved to Wilton, New Hampshire, where he made 
a farm from the forest. About 1776 he sold his farm to his brother 
Joseph, and bought in the middle of the town, and traded in goods. 
He built the first mills on Souhegan River, in Wilton ; was employed 
in town business ; was the first representative to the General Court, 
and the first justice of the peace in the town; was Justice of the 
Court of Common Fleas, and a Councillor of State. He moved to 
Andover, and assisted Honorable Samuel Phillips in his business, and 
was a trustee of Phillips Academy. In 1797 he moved to Concord, 
New Hampshire, traded in gooils, and represented the town in the 
General Court for three years. In 1802 he moved to Hallowell, Maine. 
In 1803 he removed to Topsham, and in 1804 or 1805, to Brunswick. 
He was a useful member of the Board of Overseers of Bowdoin Col- 
lege, and a senator for the county of Cumberland in the legislature of 



710 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IJARPSWELL. 

Maine. In the several offices which he sustained he was capable, 
faithful, and useful ; and in the several places in which he lived he 
was influential in promoting peace, good order, and prosperity. 

His mind was active, his perception quick, his memory prompt, his 
judgment sound, his disposition mild. He was facetious, afiable, and 
benevolent, and had a fund of anecdote. Early impressed with a sense 
of right and wrong, he was upright in his dealings, faithful in business. 
a firm friend and supporter of religion and religious institutions, and 
active in the cause of education. One son and seven grandsons have 
had a collegiate education. He died in Brunswick at the age of seven- 
ty-four 3-ears.i 

ABBOTT, REVEREND JOHN S. C. 

Jolm Stevens Cabot Abbott was a son of Honorable Jacob Abbot, 
and was born at Brunswick, Maine, September 18, 1805. He was 
graduated at Bowdoin College in 1825, and at the Andover Theologi- 
cal Seminary in 1829, and was subsequently settled at Worcester, Rox- 
bur}-, and Nantucket, in Massachusetts, and afterward at New Haven, 
Connecticut. " The Mother at Home" was written in 1833, and was 
his first work of any note ; and to the several European languages into 
which it was translated are added the Greek, Turkish, and Tamul 
languages of Asia. He has written several works of a moral and 
highl}' instructive order, and several biographies, but his greatest 
renown, at home and in France at least, is due to the history of Napo- 
leon and other works relating to the same subject, all of which are 
remarkable for a vigorous defence of that emperor. So effective, 
indeed, were his efforts in his behalf, that Napoleon, never too free 
with recognition of such service, acknowledged the handsome tribute 
not alone with formal courtesy, but by bestowing upon the author his 
warmest friendship, and many substantial proofs thereof. Mr. Abbotfs 
history of the late civil war and his other American histories comprise 
about twenty-five volumes. He died at his residence, in Fairhaven, 
Connecticut, in June, 1877. 

ADAMS, REVEI;END GEORGE E., D. D. 

The subject of this sketch was the oldest son of Deacon Eliashib 
Adams, and was born in Worthington, Maasachusetts, October 27, 
1801. Two years later, his father removed to Bangor, Maine, with 
his family. The son fitted for Yale College, and graduated in 1821. 
He graduated also from Andover Theological Seminary in 1826, and 

1 From AhhotVs Genealogical Register, 1847, A. and E. Abbott. 





. LP t ^ /^ 



c^t^-t^-t^t^. 



r/. 



BIOGRA PIIICA L. 711 

was appointed the verj- next year Professor of Sacred Literature in 
Bangor Theological Seminary. He retained this position until 1829, 
when he was called to the pastoral charge of the First Parish Church 
in Brunswick. This charge he resigned in June, 1870, and assumed 
that relation to the Irinity Congregational Church in Orange, New 
Jerse}'. Although his health was failing, he continued to minister to 
that growing church, even after he had swooned awaj' in his pulpit 
with the exertion, until he was forced to yield to the effects of disease 
and suffering, and tendered his resignation in 1875. The church where 
his late labors had been so signally blessed clung to him with singu- 
lar affection. But he desired to come back to Brunswick to spend his 
last days. "■ This brief appearance among his old people and in his 
old pulpit seemed like the visit of an angel." Returning to Orange in 
the autumn, his health failed rapidly, and he passed away December 
25, 1875. 

His funeral was held in his old church at Brunswick, where a large 
concourse of citizens testified their respect and afifection. A public 
meeting was also held, at which resolutions were passed expressive of 
a deep appreciation of his character and services. 

The doctor married early in life Miss Ann Folsora, of Portsmouth, 
New Hampshire. Having no children, they adopted Frances Caro- 
line Adams, daughter of Asher Adams, of Boston, and now the wife 
of General Chamberlain. They afterwards adopted Anna Delamater 
Davis, who married and died in this town, leaving one daughter, 
Georgie A. Atkinson. 

Mrs. Adams was a woman of remarkable character, and will long 
be remembered in this place. She died in 1850. 

Some years afterward Dr. Adams married Misg Helen M. Root, of 
Chicago. Their oldest child, George, died at an early age. The 
daughters, Sarah R. and Mary L., are with their mother in Orange, 
New Jersey. 

For forty years Doctor Adams filled the pulpit, which may well be 
considered a difficult and tr3ing one, with great acceptance, and 
managed a parish composed of strong and diverse elements, with 
consummate judgment and tact. The church grew under his hands 
by steady, regular increase. 

"Doctor Adams was not on\y a good pastor, he was also a good 
citizen, alive to the interests of the people among whom he lived, and 
his eminentl3' benevolent nature prompted him to the discharge of 
numerous trusts which did not legitimately belong to his calling. 
Doctor Adams, with great geniality of temper, possessed a reserved 



712 nisroRY of Brunswick, topsham, and harps well. 

fund of humor, which rendered hira a charming companion in social 
life, and which gave to many of his fugitive addresses and writings a 
point and elegance that few could impart to such efforts. There was 
about the man so much that was genial and loving, so much of con- 
sideration for the rights and opinions of others, that even those who 
most differed with him could not fail to recognize his sincerity of pur- 
pose and his firm intent to do what he honestly regarded for the best." 

ALDEN, PETER O., ESQUIRE, 
Was the son of Joseph and Hannah [Mall] Aiden, and a descendant 
of John Alden, who came over in the Mayfloiver, in 1G20. lie was 
born in JMiddleboro', Massachusetts, August 20, 1772 ; was graduated 
at Brown University, in 1792 ; studied law with Judge Padelford, in 
Taunton, and came to Brunswick near the close of 179G or earl}' in 
17i)7. lie was admitted to the Cumberland bar at the March term in 
1797. He married, in 1801, Mindwell, a daughter of Doctor L^'man, 
of York, by whom he received some property. He was the onlj' 
lawj'er in Brunswick for a number of years after his admission to the 
bar. His business for a time was very good. He was well read as a 
law3'er, and had fiiir talents and information, but he was no advocate. 
He was very irritable in his temper, and his manner when he under- 
took to argue his cases was abrupt and disagreeable. Whene\er a 
shrewd adversar}- wished to gain an advantage over him, a certain 
way was to ruffle his temper, when I'eter would be sure to spoil his 
own cause. As competitors gathered around him, in Brunswick and 
the neighboring towns, his business declined, and he was left almost 
briefless. To make good the deficiencies arising from these causes, 
he engaged in commercial operations, which for a time were success- 
ful, but which w^ere suddenly and sadly blasted bj' the restrictions on 
mercantile transactions which took place prior to the war of 1812, 
The latter portion of his life was embittered by disappointment and 
poverty, which produced hj'pochondria, and left him a wreck. His 
death occurred February 14, 1843. His wife survived him a few 
years, and died among her kindred, in York. 

Mr. Alden was large and bulk}-, but not well proportioned. He 
was, as may be inferred from the faults of this temperament, unpopu- 
lar in the community in which his life was spent ; but by some reaction 
in 1826, perhaps from sympath}^ he was elected to the House of Rep- 
resentatives, and re-elected the three following years, growing each time 
in favor, Until his election in 1829 was nearly unanimous. ^ 

^ Willis's The Law, the Courts, and the Lawyers of Maine. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 713 



ALLEN, REV. WILLI A.M, D. D. 

William Allen, D. D., an American clergyman and author, son of 
Thomas Allen, born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, January 2, 1784, died 
in Northampton, July 16, 1868. 

He graduated at Harvard College in 1802, and studied theology with 
the Rev. Doctor Pierce, of Brookline. 

After being licensed in 1804 by the Berkshire Association, he 
preached for some months in various parts of Western New York. 
Upon his return he was appointed a regent of Harvard College, and 
was also assistant librarian of the college. 

During this period he prepared the first edition of his " American 
Biographical and Historical Dictionary " (1809), containing notices of 
about seven hundred Americans. Tiiis was the first book of general 
biography issued in the United States. In 1807 he prepared the bio- 
graphical sketches of American ministers for the Reverend David 
Bogue's and Bennett's " History of Dissenters," published in London 
in four volumes. The second edition of his dictionary appeared in 
1832, and contained more than 1,800 names. 

'ihe third edition, publislied in Boston in 1857, contains biographies 
and notices of nearly 7,000 Americans. His connection with the uni- 
versity ceased in 1810, when he was ordained pastor of the Congrega- 
tional Church in Pittsfield, as his father's successor. 

The legislature of New Hampshire in 1816 altered the charter of 
Dartmouth College, and created in its stead a university, of which 
Doctor Allen was made president in 1817. Upon an appeal to the 
Supreme Court at Washington, the rights of the college against the 
State were maintained in 1819. In 1820, Doctor Allen was appointed 
president of Bowdoin College, Maine, and retained that position till 
1839, when he resigned it, and retired to Northampton, Massachu- 
setts, engaging in various literary labors. Among these is a collection 
of more than 10,000 words not found in dictionaries of the English 
language; nearly' 1,500 being contributed to Worcester's Dictionary 
(1846), more than 4,000 to Webster's (1854), and about 6,000 to 
the new edition of Webster. His other chief writings are, "Junius 
Unmasked," to prove that Lord Sackville was the real Junius ; " Ac- 
counts of Shipwrecks"; "'Psalms and H^'mns," with man}' original 
h3'mns (1835) ; " Memoirs of Doctor Eleazar Wheelock and of Doc- 
tor John Codman" (1853) ; " Wunnisoo ; or. The Vale of Hoosatun- 
nuk," a poem with learned notes (1856) ; "Christian Sonnets" (1860) ; 



714 niSTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

" Poems of Nazareth and the Cross" (1806) ; and "Sacred Songs" 
(1876).! 

APPLETOISr, JESSE, D. D. 

Reverend Jesse Appleton was born at New Ipswich, New Hamp- 
shire, November 17, 1772. He married, in 1800, Miss Elizabeth 
Means. He died in Brunswick, NoAcmber 12, 1819. 

Reverend Mr. Appleton graduated at Dartmouth College in 1792, 
and subsequent!}' entered the ministr}-. He was elected president of 
Bowdoin College in September, 1807, and was inaugurated in Decem- 
ber following. He took an active part in the instructions of the col- 
lege, and was noted for his punctuality in the discharge of duty. ' ' Aside 
from the common routine of his college duties, as a gratuitous service, 




he composed, with great care, a course of more than fifty lectures on 
the most important subjects in theology. They were delivered once a 
week, in the chapel, to the whole college, and were always listened to 
with deep attention b}' the students. A part of them have been pub- 
lished in a volume with a few of his sermons, and in connection with 
his baccalaureate addresses, which are before the public in a separate 
volume, place him in the highest rank of the theological and ethical writ- 
ers of our country-. During his life, sermons, which he preached on sev- 
eral interesting and important occasions, were published. In truth, Pres- 



^ AmeJ-ican Cyclopcudia, Vol. l,p. 330. 



BIOGRA PIIICAL. 715 

ident Appleton lived not in vain. He was a most diligent stndent and a 
laborious man. His varied attainments in philology and criticism, of 
which, particularly in reference to our own language, he was very fond ; 
in mental and moral philosophy, to which his habits of mind were pe- 
culiarh' adapted ; and in theology, which was his favorite stud}', ail 
combined with a fine taste, admirably qualified him to preside over a lit- 
erary institution. When we add to these qualifications his uncommon 
dignity and courtesy of demeanor, and those traits of character which 
have already been mentioned, we cannot but regard him as one of the 
most able and most valuable among the presidents of our colleges." ^ 

BADGER, CAPTAIN NATHANIEL. 

Nathaniel Badger was a son of Joseph Badger, and was born in 
Gilmantown, New Hampshire, in March, 1789. He moved, with his 
father, to Franklin Count}', and afterward came to Brunswick. He 
married Jane, daughter of Philip Owen, of Brunswick. In early life 
he followed the sea, but afterwards for many years was a trader in 
Brunswick. 

" For twenty-three 3'ears Captain Badger was annually elected town 
clerk (1837-1859 inclusive), the duties of which oflfice he discharged 
with great fidelity, his record being ever clearly and intelligently 
made. He was also a conve3'ancer, and was remarkable for the accu- 
rac}' with which he performed his work, for the urbanity and courtesy 
which marked his conduct when transacting this class of business ; he 
was no less remarkable for the stern integrit}' of his character, for his 
rigid adhesion to all the requii-ed forms of business. For some time 
he was postmaster of Brunswick, and he filled this post to the full 
acceptance of his fellow-citizens. Genial in his temper, appreciative 
of the humor which warms but never stings, he was a most cheerful 
companion, his rich, merr}' laugh over a good story or witty saying 
being in the highest degree S3'mpathetic and encouraging. A man of 
rare good sense, his judgment upon public matters was greatly to be 
relied upon." 

He died September 13, 1866. 

BADGER, CAPTAIN JOSEPH. 

Joseph Badger, a brother to Nathaniel, was born in 1791. He was 
married to Eunice Noyes. In early manhood he was a sea-captain, 
afterwards had a large interest in navigation, and at the time of his 

' History of Bowdoin College, Quarterly Register, 1H36. Packard. 



716 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

death was president of the Pejepscot Bank. " A methodical man, he 
conducted his business with great exactness, was kind, charitable in 
his feelings, gave freel}', and in man}' instances with unusual liber- 
alit3% and ever manifested the liveliest interest in the comforts and 
pleasures of the young, doing his best to contribute to them." He 
died in Brunswick, March 27, 18G3. 

BAKER, WILLIAM. 

Mr. William Baker was born in 1811. He was an apothecar}' for 
many years in Brunswick. He was a man of a genial temper, of 
stern integrity of character, and of whole-hearted generositj'. 

He was a kind and generous husband and father and a good citi- 
zen. He was a Freemason, and acted as secretary of the Brunswick 
Lodge for about twelve years. 

For many years he was u member of the First Parisli Church, and 
in his relations of life observed a consistent Christian character. He 
died December 22, 1867. 

BALLARD, REVEREND EDWARD, D. D. 

The subject of this sketch was born at Hopkinton, New Hampshire, 
November 11, 1804. 

He died at Brunswick, November 14, 1870. He graduated at the 
General Theological Seminary, New York, in 1829, and was ordained 
a deacon of the Episcopal Church on July 5 of that year. Ho was 
ordained as priest September IG, 1830. From 1821) to 1832 he was a 
missionary and rector in St. Luke's Church, North Charlestown, and 
in St. Peter's Church, Drewsville, New Hampshire. He was rector of 
St. Stephen's Church, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, from 1848 to 1852. 
From 1852 to 1858 he was principal of the Llpiscopal Academy of 
Connecticut. He was received into the Diocese of Maine, June 22, 
1858, and was made missionary and rector of St. Paul's Church, 
Brunswick, in 1858. He was secretary of the iMaine Diocese from 
1860 to 1869, of which he was, at the time of his death, the Senior 
Presbyter and President of the Standing Committee. He was repre- 
sentative of this Diocese to the General Convention of Episcopalians, 
to the General Board of Missions, and to the General Theological Sem- 
inary. Doctor Ballard received the degree of Master of Arts at Dart- 
mouth in 1830, at Trinity in 1845, and at Bowdoin College in 1858. 
He received the degree of S. T. D. at Trinity in 1865. Doctor Bal- 
lard was much interested in educational matters, and especially in what 
is called the common-school system of the State. He was appointed 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 717 

State Superintendent of Common Schools, and filled that office from 
1SG5 to 1868. He was also interested in historical matters, as is seen 
from his contributions to the publications of the Maine Historical Soci- 
et}-, of which he was a member, and of which he served as secretary 
from 1861 until his decease. 

Reverend Doctor Ballard was a self-educated man, his earl}' advan- 
tages of education being slight. He was a tall, stout, and muscular 
man, but yet not ver}^ robust. He was esteemed as a faithful and lov- 
ing pastor, and was especially fond of children. " Humility, equanim- 
ity, gentleness, and fidelity were perhaps the most conspicuous virtues 
in his character. But firmness in his convictions and unwavering lo}'- 
alty to the church, under whose orders he served, were no less remark- 
able in his teachings and public action. His wisdom and moderation 
made him an excellent counsellor, his kindness, unselfishness, and ami- 
abilit}' the most desirable of friends, and I know not in what Christian 
attainment he was not a worthy exeiuplar. 

" His manliness was apparent, while there was a touch of womanly' 
tenderness in his character. Whatever responsibility was laid upon 
him was faithfull}' discharged. He was a large-hearted man, a gener- 
ous man, far beyond his means a friend of the poor." 

BARRON, HONORABLE JOHN. 

Mr. Barron was born in Dracut, Massachusetts, in 1792. He went 
with his father to Danville, Maine, about 1796, where he lived until 
he removed to Topsham, about 1813. He did not, however, establish 
himself there permanently until 1820. In 1817 he married Martha 
Crockett, of Danville. He died in 1860. During his fort}' years' res- 
idence in Topsham he was known as an active and influential citizen, 
and often filled offices of trust. He was a member of the State Sen- 
ate in 1850. 

The following is from an obituary notice b}' Reverend Doctor 
Adanls : — 

" For a long course of years Mr, Barron was extensively and suc- 
cessfully engaged in the lumbering business, and was one of the most 
industrious and enterprising of the many energetic and laborious men 
who in this occupation have contributed so much to the growth and 
prosperity of our State. 

" Being vigorously honest and of an excellent judgment, he pos- 
sessed the confidence of all who knew him, there being no man whose 
opinion in relation to the lumbering business was more sought after 
than his. And though unobtrusive and retiring, and not inclined to 



718 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

volunteer unasked advice, he was ever ready to give good counsel 
where he thought it would be well received. He was a man of quick 
feelings and generous impulses, and man}^ are the deeds of his kind- 
ness, done quietly and unpretendingl}', by which, we trust, he laid up 
treasures in heaven ; a kind husband, an indulgent father, often speak- 
ing to friends, when absent from home, of his famil}-, and declaring it 
to be his chief object and desire to see his children started happily in 
life. His last illness, caused by an internal cancer, as supposed, was 
very distressing, continuing more than two ^-ears. In politics Mr. 
Barron was a Whig. In his religious views he was a Trinitaiian Con- 
gregationalist, uniting with the church of that denomination in Tops- 
ham, about 1840." 

BARRON, WILLIAM. 

William Barron was born April, 1797, and moved to Topsham about 
1816. " For many j'ears, in company with his brother John, he carried 
on lumbering, and the firm, through its business energy and enter- 
prise, secured a handsome fortune to each of the brothers. William 
Ban-on, at the time of his death, was president of the Pejepscot 
National Bank, in Brunswick, a position that he filled with marked 
ability and acceptance. He ever sustained the character of an upright 
man, a good citizen, and a benevolent, Christian gentleman. He was 
one of the deacons in the Baptist Church, in Topsham." He died in 
Topsham, January IS, 1866. 

BOARDMAN, ALEXANDER F. 

Alexander F. Boardman was born at Aux Ca3'es, Ha3-ti, in 1819. 
He was educated principally at Hildreth Academx', at Derry, New 
Hampshire, but finished his studies at North Yarmouth. He entered 
Bowdoin College in the fall of 1834, but was compelled to leave in his 
Sophomore year, on account of weak eyes. He afterwards engaged in 
the dry-goods business in Brunswick, and continued in trade until the 
time of his death. He was among the first persons in Brunswick who 
dealt in dry-goods onh, and he carried on a large business. He was 
a kind father, husband, friend, and neighbor, known and esteemed by 
all. He died November 29, 1876. 

CLEAVELAND, PROFESSOR PARKER. 

The following sketch of this distinguished man is abridged from the 
eulogy of Reverend Leonard Woods, D. D., it being impossible for 
words of ours to add an^-thing of interest or value thereto. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



710 



Those who desire to read the full account of the life and character 
of this really remarkable man will find it in the eulogy referred to, 
which is published in the Collections of the Maine Historical Society, 
Vol. VI, pp. 381 to 432. 

Parker Cleaveland, M. D., of Byfield, Massachnsetts, the second 
son of Reverend John Cleaveland, was the father of the subject of 
this sketch. Doctor Cleaveland married, in 1773, Elizabeth Jackman. 
Their only child, Parkek, was born in Byfield, January 15, 1780. 
He was married in Boston, September 9, 1806, by Reverend John 
Elliot, S. T. D., to Martha Bush, who was born in Boylston. Massachu- 
setts, on August 19, 1787. They had five sons and three daughters. 
Professor Cleaveland died August 15, 1858. 







Professor Parker Cleaveland inherited the powerful intellect and 
the active and cheerful temperament of his father, and also somewhat 
of the ph3-sical and psychological infirmities of his mother, especially 
the electrical excitability of the latter, whom he is said to have 
resembled in the general cast of his features. 

During his childhood he gave many indications of that clearness 
and vigor of mind for which he was afterwards distinguished. On 
one occasion, when onl}- four years old, having answered a question 
which had been put to him with a wisdom above his years, and being 
asked who told him that, he replied, I told myself. He was remark- 
able, even at that age, for a certain constitutional timidity and for 



720 HISTORY OF BRUKSWICK, TOPSUAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

great reserve in the expression of his feelings. Though he was 
known to have strong affections, he never showed them in the ordi- 
nary way. On account of his studious tastes and peculiar temper- 
ament, his father decided to give him an education, and therefore 
sent him to prepare for college to the fanpus Dummer Academy, 
which was situated in his native ])arish, on the Newbur}- side, about 
two and one half miles from his home. The preceptor of the academy 
at this time was Reverend Isaac Smith. He entered Harvard College 
in 1795, before he was sixteen years old, and became at once a gen- 
eral favorite. Though he was led by his high spirits and social nature 
to mingle freely in scenes of pleasure, there is ample evidence that 
he was never seduced into any neglect of his college duties, into any 
conflict with the college authorities, or anj' abandonment of the moral 
and religious principles in which he had been educated. If during the 
day and evening he indulged himself in the society of his boon com- 
panions, he would retire at night to his chamber, darken his window, 
and while supposed to be asleep, would push his studies far.into the 
morning. 

The natural sciences had so little place at this time in the college 
course that he did not then lay the foundation of his future success in 
this department. He was, however, a proficient in Greek. 

He was graduated in due course in 1799, enjo3-ing the reputation 
among his fellow-students of being the best general scholar and the 
man of most talent and promise, though not bearing off the highest 
honors of his class. In his Junior year he had taught school in 
vacation, in Boxford, and in his Senior j'car in Wilmington. After 
he left college, he taught for a few months in Haverhill. From 
thence, in March, 1800, he went to York in this State, where he 
taught the central town school for three 3'ears. As a school-master, 
he exhibited the same skill in teaching, the same strictness of disci- 
pline, the same power to attach his pupils to himself and to awaken 
their enthusiasm, which he displayed afterwards in the higher spheres 
to which he was called. Notwithstanding his eminent success as a 
teacher, he did not at this time think of taking teaching as a vocation. 

On his leaving college, it was his purpose to study law ; and accord- 
ingl}^ when he went to Haverhill to teach, he at the same time entered 
his name in the law office of Ichabod Tucker, Esquire. "When he 
moved to York, he engaged himself as assistant to Daniel Sewall, 
Esquire, who was at that time Clerk of the Courts and Register of 
Probate, and also village postmaster ; and during his vacations and 
at the intervals of his school hours, gave his aid in those several 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 721 

offices. As Mr. Sewall's assistant, lie sometimes attended the courts, 
and was also occasionally engaged in justice business. Although 
thus engaged while at York, his intention of devoting himself to the 
profession of law was shalcen b^' his own distaste for the business, 
though not of the stud}' itself, and still more by the eainest desire of 
his parents that he should study divinity. For several 3'ears his mind 
was agitated about the matter, but he finally detcmiined in favor of 
the ministry, and placing himself under the direction of his uncle. 
Reverend John Cleaveland, of IS^orth Wrentham, he pursued his 
studies at his home in By field. 

While he was thus engaged, he received, near the close of October, 
1803, information through President Willard that "he was chosen 
tutor of Harvard College, to succeed Mr. Emerson, in the department 
of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy." He promptl}' accepted the 
appointment, and commenced, November 23, with the instruction of 
the Senior class in P^nfield. 

About 1804 he made a public profession of religion in the church in 
which he had been baptized. In 1805 he determined to discontinue 
his tutorship and to enter upon a professional life. Although his 
religious views had not changed, he found the question of his future 
profession again unsettled, owing to his conscientious scruples about 
entering upon one to which he felt that he had no certain and unmis- 
takable call. He therefore again determined to enter the profession 
of law, and had some thought of settling in the then new town of 
Bangor. ' 

At a meeting of the Phi Beta Kappa Societj-, August 30, 1804, he 
was appointed, with Dr. Kirkland and others, to superintend the pub- 
lication of the " Literarj' Miscellany." To this he contributed two arti- 
cles from his own pen, viz., a review of Morss's " G-azetteer," and of 
Darwin's " Temple of Nature." The "Miscellany" did not continue 
its existence long after his connection with it ceased. 

Maj' 15, 1805, b^' the unanimous vote of both boards, he was chosen 
Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, in Bowdoin Col- 
lege. He at first declined it on tlie ground " that it would involve the 
sacrifice of the profession which he had chosen, and the time which he 
had spent in preparing for it." He was, however, prevailed upon to 
accept the appointment, though he took out certificates of qualification 
as far as he had proceeded in the law, and kept them for future use 
should occasion require. 

He was inducted into office October 23, 1805, being scarcely twent}'- 
five 3'ears of age. He entered at once upon the duties of his profes- 
46 



722 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

sorship, which he continued to discharge without intermission to the 
da}' of his death, a period of fifty-three years. 

During the early period of his professorship he paid some attention 
to the ancient classics, read the standard authors in P^nglish and French 
literature, and even indulged his poetic faculty. He is reported, on 
good authorit}', to have written, soon after coming to Brunswick, an 
ode on some public occasion, which was set to music and sung. 

There being no instruction at that time in Bowdoin College in any 
of the branches of natural science except those of mathematics and 
natural philosophy, Professor Cleaveland set to work to prepare himself 
to supply the deficienc}^ and in 1808 gave his first course of lectures 
on chemistry and mineralog}'. For this voluntary service he was after- 
wards paid by the Boards two hundred dollars, and this sum was con- 
tinued to him thereafter. From that time he bore, in addition, the title 
of Lecturer in Chemistry and Mineralogy until 1828, when it was 
changed to Professor in these branches. During this early period he 
wrote several papers recording certain meteorological, geological, and 
astronomical observations made b^- him, which were published in the 
third and fourth volumes of the Memoirs of the American Academy, 

The finding by the workmen in the Topsham sluice waj' excavation, 
in 1807. of substances entirely new to them, attracted his attention 
and led him to the stud}' of mineralog}', which he pursued so assidu- 
ously that in 1816 he published his "Elementary Treatise on Minei'al- 
og}' and Geology." This work, making its appearance at just the time 
when such a treatise was imperatively demanded, was a perfect suc- 
cess, and placed the author at once in the front rank of living miner- 
alogists. The work, the first of its kind in America, was immediately 
noticed in terms of high commendation by the leading literaiy and sci- 
entific journals at home and abroad, among others by Silliman's " Jour- 
nal of Science and Arts" and b}' the " North American " and " ^Edin- 
burgh Review." It was used as a text-book in Cambridge Universitj' 
^England) . In 1822 a second and enlarged edition was issued. In rec- 
ognition of Professor Cleaveland's services, his name was given to a 
species of feldspar before known as albite, and to a compartment in 
the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. He was noticed by the most emi- 
nent savans of Europe, including Goethe. He received letters of 
respect and congratulation from Sir David Brewster, Sir Humphrey 
Davy, and Dr. McCulloch, in England ; from Berzelius of Stockholm, 
Germar of Halle, Brouguiert, Baron Cuvier, and the Abbe Haiig, of 
Paris. He received visits of regard from Colonel Gibbs, Godon, 
Maclure, and many others devoted to this department of science. Pie 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 72d 

received diplomas of membership from sixteen or more literary- and 
scientific societies, including those established in the principal capitals 
of Europe. He received otters of professorships — some of them with 
offers of salary double his own — from Harvard College in Massachu- 
setts, from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, from the Univer- 
sity of William and Mar}' in Virginia, from Princeton College in New 
Jersey-, from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, 
and from the University of Pennsylvania. He was later appointed 
one of the commissioners for the surve}^ of the New England bound- 
ar}' by President Van Buren, and Regent of the Smithsonian Institute 
by President Pierce. 

His reputation as a lecturer on chemistrj' extended far beyond the 
college walls. He was often urged to deliver his course of chemical 
lectures in several of the principal towns in Mafne and the adjoining 
States. In the winter vacations of 1818, 181^, and 1820, he did 
deliver the courses in Hallowell, Portland, and Portsmouth, but always 
after refused to deliver them away from his own laboratory. Upon 
the establishment of the Maine Medical School in 1820, he was ap- 
pointed Professor of Chemistrj- and Materia MecFica, and at the first 
meeting of the Medical Faculty he was appointed secretary. 

From this time forward his first thoughts and best endeavors were 
given to his chemical lectures. There was no confusion in his thoughts, 
and none in his discourse. By his calm and simple st3ie, and its easj' 
and uninterrupted flow, by his lucid order, by the earnestness of his 
manner, b^' the interest with which he seemed to regard the smallest 
and most common things pertaining to his theme, by his happy illus- 
trations and never-failing experiments, and by his occasional sallies of 
wit and good-humor, he carried along the delighted attention of his 
hearers without weariness to the end of his hour, making plain to 
them what had been obscure, investing even trivial things, b}' a sal- 
utary illusion, with an air of importance, and in short, accomplishing, 
in a manner which has never been surpassed, the great object of con- 
veying to the mind of the learner definite notions and useful knowl- 
edge on the subject under consideration. 

Such was Professor Cleaveland as a lecturer on chemistry. It is in 
this capacity, more perhaps than in any other, that he has been thought 
to have distanced all competition. It is in this capacity, certainly, 
that all his peculiar excellences appeared to the best advantage ; and 
it is, accordingly, as a lecturer on chemistry that he has been for many 
years priucipallj^ distinguished, and that he will be most distinfctly and 
gratefully remembered by his thousand admiring pupils. 



724 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, lOrSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

In his external appearance and to a casual observer, Professor 
Cleaveland was stern and austeie. and on a sudden provocation or any 
obtrusive impertinence was sometimes passionate and violent. But 
underlying these rugged austerities on the surface of his character and 
constantly cropping out from beneath them, to use a term of his own, 
there was a large-hearted nature, an exhaustless vein of kindlj' and 
generous feelings. This essential goodness of heart was often repressed 
and concealed b}^ his constitutional reserve of manner, but not seldom 
did it break through the outward crust, and diffuse over his features a 
benignant expression, and give to the tones of his voice and to his 
manners a winning gentleness. It was manifested in his domestic 
relations, especially in the gentle courtesy with which he always bore 
himself towai-d the worthy partner of his life. It was manifested to 
his classes, in his friendly interest for them, in his earnest desire for 
their improvement, and in his frank and familiar intercourse with them 
out of the lecture-room. 

Though retired in his habits, he felt a lively interest in the general 
welfare, and, until overburdened with official engagements, took an 
active part in all measures for promoting the public good. In 1814 he 
delivered an address before The Brunswick, Topsham, and Ilarpswell 
Society for the Suppression of Intemperance, which was published by 
their request. In 1825, after the occurrence of the fire in which the 
factory and a large part of the adjoining district were consumed, he 
interested himself in organizing a fire companj', and was chosen its 
first commander. Though he was then in the zenith of his fame, and 
had declined the most distinguished offices to which he was called from 
abroad, he gladly accepted this village appointment, and held it, to 
universal acceptance, for twenty years. It is hardly necessary to sa^- 
that whenever a fire broke out, by night or b}' day, he was always first 
on the ground, always managed the hose-pipe, and alwa3s stood, when 
duty required, in the place of the greatest exposure. 

His general and excessive timidit}' cannot be passed over in silence. 
The stories which have been current for the last fifty years in regard 
to his fear of lightning, however apparently incredible, are yet sub- 
stantially correct. It is related b}' persons who were inmates of his 
house in the early period of his residence in Brunswick tliat during a 
thunder-stoim it was his wont to lie on a feather-bed, takiug care that 
the bedstead should be removed to a good distance from the wall ; and 
that a rising cloud, which gave signs of being charged with electricit}-, 
had, in some cases, kept him from his recitation-room, in others, driven 
him home from college or from church in the midst of the services, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 725 

that it was not until his house was well protected by two lightning- 
rods that he was able, on such occasions, to maintain an}' tolerable 
tranquillity. But it was not in regard to lightning only that he was a 
timid man. It was this extremity of caution which prevented him 
from travelling, and finally circumscribed his motions within a few 
miles from his own door. Long before the stage-coach was supplanted 
bj' the railwa}' car, it had become too dangerous a vehicle for him. 
His last journey to Boston, now some twenty years back, was made 
in a one-horse chaise. It is no wonder that he never repeated the 
experiment, obliged as he was, on that occasion, to make a tedious 
detour through the upper counties, to avoid the long and dangerous 
bridges on the lower route. This infirmit}' was undoubtedly inherited 
from his mother, and had its seat in his physical rather than in his 
moral nature. He could be brave enough when he thought his duty 
required him to be. 

Another marked characteristic of Professor Cleavelanrl, which de- 
serves a passing notice, was his aversion to change, his attachment 
to a settled routine, his tenacity of the wa3's to which he had become 
wonted, iu short, his intense conservatism of character. Each duty 
of the day, from his rising up in the morning to his Ijing down at 
night, had its allotted time and place. 

But no proper estimate can be formed of Professor Cleaveland's 
character without taking into view its moral and religious elements. 
There are few men in whom the sense of duty has been higher or 
more active, or whose lives have been more strictly governed by it. 
It was his great endeavor in ever}' condition of life, and especially in 
his official relations, to be found faithful. His habitual and cheerful 
self-denial, his constant sacrifice of personal ease and comfort, his 
careful husbandry of time in Avhich even the fragments were gathered 
up, his stern disallowance of all light reading and unnecessary recre- 
ation, his midnight toils, his careful preparation for his recitations and 
lectures, his punctual and never-failing attendance upon them, and 
the earnestness which he carried into them, were all inspired and 
ennobled by his sense of oflScial duty. This, perhaps, more than any 
other iDrinciple, was the deepest spring and the crowning excellence 

of his character. 

COBURN, JOHN. 

The subject of this sketch was one of a family of eleven children. 
His parents. Captain Peter and Mrs. Elizabeth Coburn, resided in 
the town of Dracut, Massachusetts, where John was born, June 1, 
1785. He was married in 1815 to Rachel, daughter of John Dunning, 



726 HISTORY OF BEUXSWICK, lOPSHAM, AND IJARPSWELL. 

of Brunswick. She died March 30, 181(5, aged twent3'-eighl 3^ears, 
leaving an infant, John Dunning Coburn. INIr. Coburn married for 
his second wife Rebecca Dunning, a sister of Kaehel, March 11, 1823. 
She died in Topshani, January 3, IHoO, aged nearly seventy years. 
He died in Topshani, December 1, 18G5. 

The first fifteen years of Mr. Coburn's life were passed witli his 
parents, assisting his father in the labors of the farm. But having a 
delicate constitution, and not being thought to possess suflicient bodily 
vigor to prosecute with success the business of agriculture, he then 
left home in order to (jualify himself for mercantile pursuits. For 
some time he was a student in l^hillips Academy, Andover. Leaving 
Andover, he spent some time in teaching, after which he went into 
the store of Mr. Phik'mon Chandler, in Dover, New Hampshire, 
where he remained until he was twenty-one. The next year he was 
in ]Mr. Joshua Bradlej-'s store in Dracut, Massachusetts, and the next 
(1808) we find him at Brunswick. 

On his first coming to Brunswick he was concerned in business 
with his uncle, Nathaniel Poor. After that he went into business by 
himself. Then, for a time, he was connected Avith Hon. David Dun- 
lap, and still later with his brother. General Richard T. Dunlap, the 
term of his agreement with the latter expii'ing June 2, 1832. 

In the j-ear 1834, on the organization of the Androscoggin Bank in 
Topsham, he was appointed cashier, and removed his residence to 
that side of the river. He contiiuied to hold the same office in the 
bank until the expiration of its charter, in 1854. 

Mr. Coburn was always ready to do his full share in promoting the 
welfare of the conununity in which he lived, and enjoyed the entire 
confidence of his follow-citizens. While a resident of Brunswick, he 
interested himself in schools, in societies for mutual improvement, and 
was for man}^ years an active member of the Washington Fire Club. 
For some ten years he was town treasurer, and for several years 
assisted the late John Abbott as treasurer of Bowdoin College He 
held the office of justice of the peace for the county of Lincoln, and 
of notary-i ublic, was often arbitrator in the settlement of vexed 
questions, and executor and administrator of estates, in whom the 
widow and orphan found a wise counsellor and a kind friend. Once 
during the illness of the State treasurer, he performed the duties of 
his office. Lideed, that office was tendered to him by prominent 
members of the party in power, on condition that he would go over to 
their side, but he declined the offer, though he was at the time out of 
business. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 121 

"Mr. Coburn was a man of an amiable disposition, strong in bis 
attachments, thoughtful of others, fond of children, firm in his adher- 
ence to what he deemed to be right and strict in the observance of the 
Sabbath. He had a sound judgment and a benevolent heart. He 
was an honest man and one who would rather overpay than underpay 
one in his emplo3\ A few da^'s before his death he said what many 
men of colossal fortunes cannot say, and what others of equal integ- 
rity with himself have been pi-evented by misfortune from saying, ' I 
believe no man ever lost a dollar by me.' " 

In iiis religious views ]\Ir. Coburn was a Unitarian. When the 
church of that denomination was formed in Topsham, he was the first 
to record his name, and Avhen the society in Brunswick was consti- 
tuted he enrolled his name tliere. He always contril^uted according 
to his abiUty for the support of pul)lic worship, and for fifteen years 
he was never absent from a single communion service. 

CURTIS, CAPTAIN NEHEMIAH. 
Captain Curtis was ])orn in Hanover, Massachusetts, in 1733, and 
died December 2C, 181 G. He was a selectman, a member of the 
Committee of Safety, etc., and commanded the militia before and 
during the Kevolutionar}' war. He was an active patriot during that 
war, and did good service in defending the town of Harpswell from 
marauding bands of Tories who were not British soldiers. It is said 
that he killed and captured some of the leaders. His force consisted 
of volunteers fiom the citizens of the town. Captain Curtis led a 
company in the unfortunate " Bagaduce Expedition." He discharged 
with honor and fidelity the several offices he held. 

CIJSniNG, CALEB. 
Caleb Cushing was born in Coliasset, Massachusetts, April 2, 1777. 
When quite 3'oung he went to Boston and served apprenticeship in 
the tailoring establishment of Samuel Beals. He afterwards worked 
at his trade in Portland, then in Georgetown (now l*hips))urg). and 
in September, 171)7, he came to Brunswick, where he located himself 
permanentl}'. About 1800 he built a two-story frame shop on the 
west side of IMaine Street, and a two-story frame dwelling-house on 
the opijosite side of the street, next north of the Tontine Hotel, 
which he occupied till his death. About 18*25 he built a lai-ge frame 
building on the corner of Maine and Pleasant Streets, where Lemont 
Block now stands, which was occupied by himself and sons in trade 
for many years, and until within a few 3'ears the locality was. known 
as " Cushings' Corner." He married, in 1801, Mar}- Dunning, 



728 IIISTOItY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HATiPSWELL. 

daughter of the late John Dunning. She died November 13, 1808, 
aged thirtj'-one years. He married again December 5, 1814, Dolly 
Owen, daughter of the late Philip Owen. She died in Augusta, April 
29, 1865, aged seventy-eight 3-ears. Mr. Gushing was in 1817 elected 
chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Brunswick, and served for 
seven successive years. He was a genial man, possessing the confi- 
dence and respect of the communit}', maintaining the strictest honor 
and honest}' in his intercourse and dealings with all. He died quite 
suddenly April 14, 1838. 

DENNISON, COLONEL ANDREW. 

Andrew Dennison was born in Freeport, in 178G, came to Topsham 
in 1818, and to Brunswick in 1824. 

In his early daj's he was an active and energetic politician, but always 
fair and above-board. He possessed a most curious and inquiring mind , 
and was an ingenious mechnnic. For some time he acted as deputy 
sheriff of the count}'. During the war of 1812 he was orderly sergeant 
of a compan}' in garrison at Fort Preble. Such was the strength of 
his memor}', as he informed his sons, he could call everj' man upon that 
roll without once referring to his manuscript. He was afterwards a 
colonel of militia. He was mainl}' instrumental in procuring the town 
clock and bell on the Mason Street Church, and he was greatly inter- 
ested in having accurate time kept in the village, frequentl}' visiting 
the college sundial for that purpose, so long as it remained in order. 

Mr. Dennison was a man devoted to all matters of public concern 
and to the causes of temperance and antislavery. He was always 
courteous and gentlemanly, was a man of Christian character, of strict 
integrity, and was held in high esteem by^all. He died in Brunswick, 
July 3, 18G9. 

DUNCAN, DOCTOR SAMUEL. 

Doctor Duncan, or Dunkan, as he himself spelled the word, was set- 
tled for a short time as a physician in Bath, on High Street. He next 
lived in Topsham for a little while, and moved to Brunswick in 1770, 
and practised his profession there until his death. He lived in the old 
Gideon Hinkle}- house, now owned by Chapin AVeston, near Harding's 
Station. The north room of this house he used as his office, in one 
corner of which stood a skeleton which was the terror of all the chil- 
dren of the neighborhood as well as of man}' of the older persons. He 
was said to be very skilful in his profession, and had quite an extensive 
practice in West Bath and in Harpswell as well as in Brunswick. He 
received pay in 1770 from the town of Harpswell for attendance on 



BIOGRAnilCAL. 729 

some of the poor of that town. lie was a representative to the Gen- 
eral Court in 1781. He died in 1784, in the prime of life, and was 
buried in the old burying-gronnd in West Bath. 

DUNLAP, REVEREND EGBERT. 

The Reverend Eobert Dunlap was a zealous divine of the Presbj^te- 
rian order. He was born in the North of Ireland, in the province of 
Ulster, county of Antrim, and parish of Barilla, within nine miles of 
Scotland, in the month of August, 1715. His father's name was John 
Dunlap and his mother's Jane Dunlap. They had but two children, — 
a son and daughter. Robert was the son ; the daughter, whose Chris- 
tian name is not known, was married to William Livingston, of Ireland. 

As he had a peculiar relish for scientific pursuits, having passed 
through the elementar}' part of education, he entered as a student of 
the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, at an early age. During his 
connection with this institution he sustained an excellent reputation, 
and made rapid progress in the natural sciences. 

Having comjileted his collegiate course, he commenced the study of 
divinit}'. At the age of nineteen he was admitted to the degree of 
Master of Arts, and was immediateh" afterward licensed to preach the 
gospel, having been occupied for a considerable time in the study of 
theology. In the spring of the year 17.3G, with a number of his coun- 
trj-men, he embarked for America, and arrived in this countr}' on the 
nineteenth daj- of June following. During the voj'age the}' were 
overtaken b}' a violent storm, and were shipwrecked on the Isle 
of Sable, an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, ninety miles 
southeast of Cape Breton. There were on board about two hundred 
souls, ninety-six of whom, in the Aery bloom of life, perished in the 
waters. From some flax and candles that were washed on shore from 
the wreck the survivors were enabled to repair the long boat, in which 
they went to the Isle of Canso, twenty-seven leagues distant, and 
about forty leagues east by north of Halifax. By the direction of 
Governor Shelby they were taken in a small fishing-vessel, then at that 
place, and carried to Cape Ann in New Eugland. 

Reverend Mr. Dunlap went immediately to Boston, where he became 
acquainted with the Reverend Mr. Moorehead and the Reverend Mr. 
McGregor, two eminent divines of that daj', and joined the Presb3ter3' 
of which the}' were members. He soon left Boston, and was for a 
time at Dracut, Massachusetts ; from there he removed to Noblebor- 
ough, Maine. After this he resided for a time at Boothbay, then at 
Sheepscot Bridge in Newcastle, from which place he removed to Bruns- 



780 HISTORY OF BliUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

wick. After some time spent on probation, the town agreed, in Decem- 
ber, 174G, to settle him as their minister, offering him an annual salary' 
of two hundred pounds, old tenor, and to hire him a house during the 
war. It was agreed between Mr. Dunlap and the people that he should 
be ordained in Boston, and Deacon Samuel Ilinkley and Mr. Ebenezer 
Stanwood were appointed as commissioners to repair to Boston on 
behalf of the town, and receive Mr. Dunlap as their minister. Accord- 
ingl}', during the summer of 1747, Mr. Dunlap was ordained in Boston 
in the meeting-house of Reverend Andrew LeMercier, a small brick 
church on School Street, b^- a Presbytery composed of Reverend Mr. 
LeMercier, of Boston, Reverend ]\Ir. Morton, of Coleraine, Reverend 
Mr. Davidson, of Londonderry, Reverend Mr. Wilson, and Reverend 
Mr. McLothlin. lie was the first regularl}' settled minister in the 
town, though there had been other preachers there before him. He 
dwelt at first in the garrison-house of McFarland, where Day's Block 
now is, and afterwards on the lot gi'anted to the first settled minister, 
near the old meeting-house. 

Mr. Dunlap continued the minister of Brunswick about thirteen 
3'ears. Some difficulties having arisen between him and the people 
respecting the payment of his salaiy, a council was proposed to advise 
in the case. Reverend Messrs. Smith, of Falmouth, Morrill, of Bidde- 
ford, and Lorrain were invited. 

The result of this council is not now known, but it led to his dismis- 
sion, which took place in October, 17G0. Reverend Mr. Dunlap was 
never again settled in the ministry. He is said to have been vehement 
and pei'suasive in his style of preaching, and to have taken somewhat as 
a model the celebrated George "Whitefield, whom he became acquainted 
with soon after his arrival in this countiy. He resided in Brunswick 
until his death, which took place June 2G, 177G. 

DUNLA.P, CAPTAIN JOHN. 

Captain John Dunlap was a son of the Reverend Robert Dunlap, 
and was born June 19, 1738. His parents were poor, and when quite 
young he resolved that if energy and perseverance would accomplish 
it he would become rich. With this object in view he enlisted as a 
soldier in Fort George, but the remuneration was too small to satisfy 
his ambition, and he ace rdingl}-^ abandoned that calling and adopted 
that of a hunter. In this he was quite successful. He made long 
journe3's into the wilderness, and brought back huge packs of furs, 
which 3'ielded him a handsome remuneration for his labor, and gave 
him a fair start in the world. Durins; one of these excursions he 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 731 

became acquainted with the famous Indian chief Sabaltis, who piloted 
Arnold and his army to Canada. Sabattis in his latter da^ys made 
frequent visits to Brunswick for the purpose of seeing Captain Dunlap. 
Later in life Captain Dunlap was a trader, and still later he was largeh' 
interested in the lumber business and in navigation, accumulating 
wealth, and fulfilling the ambition of his youth. In 1803 he had 
become the richest man in the then District of Maine. His personal 
property was estimated at $200,000. He was an active, enterprising 
business man and a man of unquestioned ability. He represented the 
town of Brunswick for six years in the General Court of Massachu- 
setts, from 1799 to 1805 inclusive. He married, for his first wife, 
Jenette Dunning, by whom he had five children, Robert, John. David. 
Samuel, and Mar^'. His second wife was Mary Tappan, whom he 
married in 1788, and by whom lie had four children, Richard T., Rob- 
ert, Robert P., and Marcia Scott, who became the wife of the late 
Doctor Isaac Lincoln. Captain Dunlap died July 30, 1824. 

DUNLAP, DAVID. 

David Dunlap was the third son of Captain John Dunlap, and was 
born in Brunswick, January 21, 1778. He married, in 1821, Nanc}' 
McKeen, daughter of Reverend Joseph McKeen, the first president of 
Bowdoin College. Mr. Dunlap represented the town of Brunswick in 
the General Court of Massachusetts five j-ears, between 1810 and 
1817, and in the legislature of Maine in 1820 and subsequently. He 
was also called to fill various other public offices. He was for a long 
time a member of the Board of Overseers of Bowdoin College, and a 
member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis- 
sions. He was a highly respected citizen, and was noted for his char- 
ities to benevolent objects. He died February 5, 1843. 

DUNLAP, GENERAL RICHARD T. 

General Richard T. Dunlap, son of Captain John Dunlap, was born 
in Brunswick, June 28, 1789. During the earlier part of his life he 
was engaged in mercantile business, and later in shipping and bank- 
ing. He was president of the old Branswick Bank for a number of 
years. He was a remarkabl}' clear-headed man, was w'ell ])Osted in 
the news of the day, well read in history, and familiar with the antiq- 
uities of Brunswick and Aicinity. He was exact and methodical in 
business. In politics he was an old-line Democrat, but a firm and 
un3-ielding Union man. He never, however, took an active part in 



732 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IlARPSWKLL. 

political life. He died in Brunswick, October 26, 1863, at the age of 
seventy-four. 

DUXLAP, HONORAHLE ROBERT PINCKNEY. 

The sul)ject of this sketch was born in Brunswick, August 17, 1794, 
in the house now owned and occupied b}^ the family of the late Doctor 
Lincoln, in which he lived until ISOO, when his parents moved into a 
new house, now the residence of Honorable C. J. Oilman. He fitted 
for college under the direction of Esquire Hasey, of Topsham. He 
graduated from Bowdoin in 1815. He then studied law in Brunswick, 
with Honorable Benjamin Orr, and in Newburyport, JMassachusetts, 
jimder Ebenezer Morely, Esquire, and was admitted to the bar in 1818. 
He continued in the practice of his profession for many years, but his 
prefei'ence was for political life. He was an old-school Democrat. He 
served in both branches of our legislature, was a member of the exec- 
utive council, and in 1834 was elected governor of INTaine. He served 
four terms in the latter capacity. He served also for two terms — 
1843 to 1847 — as a representative to Congress. He was warmly 
interested in the welfare of his Alma Mater, and filled for many years 
the office of president of the Board of Overseers of Bowdoin College. 

He had a strong regard and affection for the Order of Freemasonr}-, 
of which he was a distinguished member and in which he attained emi- 
nence. He clung to Masonry even during its darkest daj'S. He was 
several times Master of United Lodge, of Brunswick, was Grand Mas- 
ter of the Grand Lodge of Maine, and was for nine years the General 
Grand High Priest of the General Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the 
United States. On retiring from the last-named office he was pre- 
sented by the Masons of Charleston, South Carolina, with an elegant 
pitcher and salver. He was also a Knight Templar, and it is said that 
he attained the highest degree under the Scottish rite that had, at that 
time, ever been conferred in America. 

" As a presiding officer, whether in the Senate, the Board of Over- 
seers, the town meeting, or in political or philanthropic conventions, 
Mr. Dnnlap was hardly surpassed, conducting business with great 
accuracy-, promptness, and despatch, and at the same time with a dig- 
nified impartiality." 

Governor Dunlap was generous-hearted and liberal in his disposi- 
tion, kindly in his feelings to all, honest in his opinions, upright in his 
intentions, and manl}' and just in his conduct. For twenty-five years 
he was a consistent member of the Congregational Church, and was 
always friendly to the cause of temperance. He married, in 182o, 



BIOGRAPmCAL. 733 

Lj-dia Chapman, who died January 29, 18GS. At the time of his 
death, October 20, 1859, he was the oldest surviving member of 
the American Bible Society. 

His burial was accompanied with more ceremony and was more fully 
attended than that of any other which has ever occurred in town. He 
was buried with Masonic ceremonies, and there were present two com- 
manderies of Knights Templars,^ with Chandler's Band, Montgomery 
Royal Arch Chapter, representatives of the Grand Lodge and ten sub- 
ordinate Lodges,^ with delegations from two others. ^ 

DUNNING, ANDREW. 

Andrew Dunning came from Ashburton, county of Devonshire, Eng- 
land. He married Susan Bond. In 1717 he arrived at Georgetown, 
Maine, and came to Brunswick the same year and settled at Maquoit 
on the lot former]}- occupied bj^ Master Samuel Dunning and now 
owned by Patrick McManus. He was a PresbA'terian in his religious 
belief, and was much respected for his integi'ity and uprightness of 
character. His children were all born before he emigrated to this 
countr}'. He is said to have been a blacksmith. He was buried in 
the old graveyard, and his gravestones are the oldest in the yard. (See 
epitaphs.) They were wrought and engraved by his son James. A 
few j-ears before his death, his house was burned, and his wife, in 
endeavoring to save some money she had laid aside, fell through the 
floor into the cellar and was burned to death. A negro slave, who was 
asleep in an arch in the cellar, was with difficult}' rescued by being 
dragged through the cellar window. 

DUNNING, ANDREW. 

Andrew Dunning, of Harpswell, was the son of William Dunning of 
York, and was born in 1727. In earl}' life he followed the sea and was 
master of a vessel. He afterwards abandoned this calling, and set- 
tled in Harpswell about 1758. He was a prominent man in Harps- 
well, and was town clerk for twenty-five years, 1758-82, and select- 
man in 1758, 1759, 1760, and 17G4. June 17, 17G7, he was chosen 
deacon of the church in Harpswell, and held the office until his death, 
which took place March 27, 1808. The following incident illustrates 
the energy and determination of his character : — 

1 Maine Commandery, No. 1, and Portland Commandery , No. 2. 

2 Portland Lodge, No. 1 ; Kennebec, No. o ; .'iolar, No. 14 ; Freeport, No. 23 ; Te7n- 
ple, No. 25 ; Village, No. 26 ; Jlermon, No. 32 ; Casco, No. 36 ; Lafayette, No. 48 ; 
Richmond, No. 63 ; besides United, No. 8, to which he belonged. 

* Tranquil, No. 29 ; Cumberland, No. 12. 



734 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

He once went to Halifax with a cargo of provisions, etc., and was 
to take a cargo of coal from thence to Virginia. A wharf was to be 
erected, and the coal was to be on the wharf upon his arrival. The 
wharf was not, however, completed, in fact, it was but just begun when 
he arrived. Not wishing to wait the slow movements of the wharf- 
builders, he took a part of his crew, went into the woods and cut and 
hauled out logs and assisted in building the wharf, which was the first 
ever built in Halifax. 

DUNNING, BENJAMIN. 

Benjamin Dunning, of Harpswell, was town clerk in 1791 and 1792, 
justice of the peace, representative to the General Court in 1781, 1782, 
1785, 1791, 1793, 1797, 1800, 1801, 1803, and 1806, and lieutenant 
in the Revolutionarj' war, and an overseer of Bowdoin College, the 
location of which at Brunswick he was instrumental in securing. He 
was a man who took a prominent part in the affairs of the town and a 
strong interest in education. 

DUNNING, DAVID. 

David Dunning was the son of Andrew Dunning, who came over 
from England. He married first a daughter of John Farren,^ and after- 
wards Mrs. Adam [Lithgow] Hunter, when she was over eight}' 
years old. 

He owned a large part of the laud where the village of Brunswick 
now is, and erected a block-house where the post-office now stands. 
He received the command of a company of soldiei's about 1740, and 
scoured the wilderness up and down the Andi'oscoggin in pui'suit of 
the Indians. He was one of the most active, enterprising, and respect- 
able men of his day. He died in 1799. 

EATON, REVEREND ELISHA. 

Reverend Mr. Eaton was ordained over the Third l^arish in Brain- 
tree, now Randolph, Massachusetts, June 2, 1731, and was settled 
there until 1750. Of his previous life but little is known, or in regard 
to his pastorate in Randolph. From the length of his settlement 
there, it is fair to presume that he gave good satisfaction. He came 
to Merriconeag by recommendation of Mr. Alden, the first minister of 
Cape l^^lizabeth, and was installed in 1754 over the First Parish of 
Harpswell, which was then the Second Parish of North Yarmouth. 
His salary was £450 old tenor, or £60 lawful money .^ 

' McKten. 2 Pejepscot Papers. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 735 

Of Mr. Eaton's abilities as a preacher, or of his characteristics as a 
man, scarcely anything is known. That he zealously followed his 
chosen career is not to be doubted, but from the specimen of his Muse 
which was found in A book of records of baptisms performed b}' him, 
and which is the only literary specimen of his that we have seen, his 
theology would appear to have been of a very gloomy cast, unless the 
sentiment conveyed was that of an anatomist or artist, rather than of 
a theologian. We insert this poetical production as a fitting conclusion 
to this sketch. 

FINI3 LAVATIONTS. 

REV. E. EATON. 

NAM MORTE CORREPITUR. 

Ah ! lovely Appearance of Death, 

No Sight upon Earth is so fair ; 
Not all the gay Pageants that breathe, 

Can with a dead Body compare. 

With solemn Delight I survey 

The Corpse when the Spirit is fled; 
In Love with the beautiful Clay. 

And longing to lie in its stead. 

EATON, REVEREND SAMUEL. 

The subject of this sketch, a son of Keverend Elisha Eaton, was 
born in Randolph in 1736. He was fitted for college at York, by 
Master Moody, and entered Harvard. One of his Latin exercises 
while there was dated "Cambridge Collegge, 10 of November 1762, 
Wednesday eleven o'clock at night." He was graduated in 1763, and 
for the next year he taught school in Scarboro', boarding during the 
time at Mr. King's, the father of Honorable Rufus King.^ Rufus 
attended his school. 

W^hile at Cambridge, Samuel Eaton not only attended the theologi- 
cal course of study, but also attended medical lectures, and obtained 
a knowledge of the healing art that his excellent judgment afterwards 
enabled him to put in practice for the benefit of his people. 

He was ordained in 1764, and preached his first sermon at Mr. 
Elwyn's meeting-house in Scarboro'. He afterwards preached at 
Harpswell and New Gloucester, and had a call to settle at both places. 
He accepted that from Harpswell, and was ordained October 24, 1764, 
with a sahny of £66 13s. Ad. besides a settlement. 

Reverend Samuel Eaton was, prior to 1820, the onl}' resident of 

1 United States Senator in 1821. 



736 mSlORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND UATiPSWELL. 

ITaipswoll who hud ever received a, collegiate education. He was 
never nuirried, but in his later 3-ears he lived with a nephew whom he 
had brought up and educated at Fryeburg Academj-. He was a man 
of remarkable enei'gy, and when eighty-six 3'ears of age he not only 
attended to his ministerial duties, but also attended to the care of a 
barn containing eleven head of cattle, which he always fed before sun- 
rise in the morning. 

Samuel Eaton was a ripe scholar and a man of thought. His 
knowledge of religious doctrines was both thorough and discriminat- 
ing. He possessed great eloquence, and people tlocked from all quar- 
ters to meeting to hear him, notwithstanding his sermons were written 
with all the old scholastic divisions and repetitions. " He never sepa- 
rated religion from moralitj" in his catechisings, which all the children 
attended in the different school-houses. He impressed upon them 
not merely the doctrines of religion, but the practical duties of it. 
He was of most commanding presence, and possessed a natural dig- 
nity which was not diminished bj' the old dress and wigs that he never 
laid aside. For this reason and on account of a rare executive talent 
that he possessed, he was generally chosen to preside in all deliber- 
ative assemblies where he was present. His own people were jnstl}' 
proud of his abilities and fame. He was possessed of a keen wit and 
was never at a loss for a repl}'." He was also peculiarly fearless in 
the expression of his opinions. What he thought he never was afraid 
to abide l>v. In the war of the Revolution he was an ardent patriot, 
and exerted all his abilities in the cause of his country. \\\ that 
struggle he had the sentiment of the people with him, but in the war 
of 1812, he was in the minority, and opposed the war and its abettors 
with all his might. 

During the Revolutionary war a recruiting officer came to Harps- 
well, but failed to obtain any men. On Sunday morning he called at 
the parsonage and said, "Mr. Eaton, cannot 3-00 do something for 
me and the cause?" Mr. Eaton replied, " It is m^- communion Sab- 
bath, sir. I can have nothing to do with secular subjects, but if you 
will remain till night I will call the people together on the Common, 
and I will speak to them from the horse block." 

In 18r2, when he was being looked upon with some suspicion as 
regarded his patriotism, he referred to this meeting on the Common, in 
conversation with Reverend Elijah Kellogg, of Portland, and said, 
" When the services of the da}' were over I went to my house, opened 
the Bible, iand my 63-6 fell upon the words, ' Cursed be he that hold- 
eth back his sword from blood.' I spake an hour from those words, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. IZl 

and there were thirt}" men ready to march the next morning, and yet 
now they call me a Tory." Though like the rest of his party patriotic 
at heart, he was a Federalist in his political belief, and bitterly op- 
posed the embargo and the war of 1812. Preaching about that time 
at Freeport, he began his prayer thus, " Lord, thou hast commanded 
us to pra}' for our enemies, and we will commence with Tom Jeffer- 
son, if he is not beyond the reach of mercy." He proceeded in like 
manner to pray for each member of the Cabinet. According to the 
traditionary account of this service, the Secretarj' of State was pres- 
ent, being accidentall}' detained there over the Sabbath, while on a 
journe}-. 

In old times it was customary for judges of court to ride together 
over the circuit. Upon one occasion they reached Brunswick on Sat- 
urday evening, and concluded to remain until Sunday afternoon, and 
then proceed to Wiscasset, where the court was to be held. The 
First Parish in Brunswick was at that time without a pastor, and 
Parson Eaton was therefore sent for to preach in the forenoon. He 
did so, preaching a powerful sermon, and at the close of his remarks, 
knowing the intention of the judges was to proceed on their way in 
the afternoon, he alluded to their presence in his prayer, and thanked 
the Lord " that the magistrates of the Commonwealth cherished such 
respect for the laws and the Sabbath, that the}^ would not violate 
either by travelling on the Lord's da}-." 

The judges were so much interested b}' the sermon they had heard, 
and were so amused b}- the palpable hit given them b}' the pastor in 
his prayer, that they resolved to remain and attend service in the 
afternoon. During the intermission they sought an introduction to 
INIr. Eaton, and were much pleased with his conversation. On their 
wa}- to AViscasset the}' made a contriltution, and sent to Boston and 
purchased the wig, a ver}' fine one, of Judge Lothrop, who had recently 
died, and sent it to Mr, Eaton, as a testimonial of their esteem. The 
parson was buried with this wig on his head. 

As has been said, Mr, Eaton was a man of very commanding pres- 
ence, especially with this wig upon his head. He was once taken for 
an English judge, hy an Irishman in the emplo}' of President McKcen, 
This man, seeing him approaching with his cane, wig, and cocked hat, 
and fearing an arrest, dropped an axe which he held, and ran, and 
was never again seen in Brunswick, 

The following anecdote will serve to displa}' his ready wit. Upon 
one occasion he was chosen moderator of a public meeting. He 
declined, and nominated "Father" Scott, who was a man of small 
47 



738 IIISTOIiY OF BRVNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIAItPSWELL. 

stature, feeble voice, aud veiy retiring manner, in his place. Mr. 
Scott declined, saving, "Mr. Eaton, there is more dignity- in yoxxx 
wig than in my whole body." "Take the wig then," repUed Mr. 
Eaton, catching it off his own head and placing it upon Father Scott's. ^ 

ELLIS, EEVEREND JONATHAN, 

The subject of this sketch was born in Franklin, Connecticut, April 
11, 1762. His father was Reverend John Ellis, a graduate of Har- 
vard, class of 1750, and a chaplain in the Revolutionary army. 

Jonathan fitted for college at New London, and graduated at Yale 
in 1786. In his Senior j-ear he received a prize for excellence in 
writing. He came to Topsham on probation in July, 1788 ; was 
ordained over the church and society of the First Parish, September 
16, 1789, and was the first settled minister in Topsham. He remained 
over this societ}' ten j'ears, being obliged a portion of the time to 
teach school in addition to his parochial duties, in consequence of 
the inadequacy of his salary-. He was informally dismissed in Sep- 
tember, 1799. He I'emained in town, however, teaching school and 
occasionall}' preaching, until August, 1811, when he left his home 
and went to New York State, and afterwards to Delaware to teach. 

During his residence in Topsham, Mr. Ellis took a warm interest 
in educational matters and in town matters generally. He fitted 
quite a number of 3'oung men for college, among them John McKeen, 
Lithgow Hunter, Dean Swift, John Patten, of Bowdoinham, Joseph 
Sprague, Benjamin Randall, and others. He was a member of the 
original Board of Overseers of Bowdoin College, the first secretary 
of this board, and a member of the examining committee until he 
resigned these offices in 1811. 

Very little is known of him as a preacher, but he must have been, 
on the whole, pleasing to the majority of his people, or he could hardly 
have maintained his position foi- the length of time he did, over a 
society made up of somewhat discordant elements. In his theological 
views he was an Orthodox Congregationalist. Some of his leading 
parishioners were I'resbyterians, and it was doubtless chieflj' due to 
this fact that his connection with the parish as its pastor was sev- 
ered. 

His reputation as a writer and a scholar was excellent. He was a 
superior Latin scholar. He was also considerablj' interested in his- 
torical researches, and wrote an historical sketch of Topsham which 

^ Fyepscot Papers mid Edlogy's MS. Lecture on JIarpswell. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 73'J 

was printed in the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Soci- 
et}'. In Februaiy, 1800, he delivered an elogy on AVashington at 
the old First Parish Church in Topsham. The manuscript of that 
elogy is now in the possession of his son, Doctor Asher Ellis, of 
Brunswick, and it shows that its author had a poetical talent of more 
than ordinary- merit. He was a member of the Massachusetts Gen- 
eral Court in 180G, and that year he delivered an oration on the 
Fourth of July, at the Court House in Topsham, " before the Federal 
Republicans of Brunswick and Topsham." The audience passed a 
vote of tlianks, and the oration was afterwards published at the office 
of the Portland Gazette. 

The following extract from his diary is inserted as an evidence both 
of the ability of the man as a writer and of his Christian char- 
acter : — 

" December 31, l&OO. This day we close the year 1800 and the 
eigtheenth centiuy. Great and important scenes have been disclosed 
on the theatre of human action in the past centurj', more especially 
in the latter part of it. The new empire formed by the Union and 
Independence of the American Colonies in this western world excited 
the attention of the European nations, which had scarcely subsided 
when the scene began to disclose in France which has greatly injured 
all and destroj'ed some of the nations of Europe and astonished man- 
kind. Where or when this scene of revolution and devastation will 
end God only knows. To the wise and good this reflection that lie 
governs the world, restraining the wrath of man and causing it to 
praise him, affords support and consolation. May I be ever under 
his fear, constantly devoted to his service, and be enabled to say with 
full consent of mind, Th}' will, O God, be done. Amen." 

EMERSOX, DOCTOR EBENEZER. 

Doctor Ebenezer Emerson came to Maine from Reading, Massa 
chusetts. The date and place of his birth are both unknown. He 
moved to Topsham, and occupied the house now occupied by Swan- 
zey Wilson. He mai-ried Sallj' Stinson, a sister of Captain John 
Stinson, of Woolwich, and afterward married Becke}', daughter of 
Reverend John Miller, of Brunswick. His intention of marriage to 
her was recorded December 20, 1792. His second wife survived him 
and married again. 

Doctor Emerson was a tall, raw-boned man. He was liberalh' edu- 
cated, but was an odd character. He kept a span of mules with which 
tie drove about to visit his patients. He died prior to 1798. 



740 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

ESTABROOK, COLONEL THOMAS S. 

Colonel Thomas S. Estabrook was born in Lunenbnrg, Massachu- 
setts, August 24, 1777. lie served his time as a baker at New 
Ipswich, New Hampshire, where he married Judith Nichols. He 
removed to Hopkinton, New Hampshire, where he lived two j'ears. 
In 1801 he came 'to Brunswick, where he ever after lived, with the 
exception of one year, 1817, when he lived at Norfolk, Virginia. At 
first he kept a bakery, but afterwards engaged in trade. He was one 
of the first mail-carriers between Brunswick and Augusta, and ran 
the first passenger coach between these towns. He was a Free- 
mason. He started the first light infantr}- company' and was its 
commander. In 1812 he was a major of militia. He was also a 
prominent fireman. For thirty years he was college marshal. He 
was an honorable, upright, and genial man, fond of joke and stor}', 
and an excellent citizen. 

EVERETT, EBENEZER, ESQUIRE. 

Mr. Everett was the son of the Reverend Moses Everett, of Dor- 
chester, Massachusetts, and was born in that place in 1788. He was 
of the sixth generation from Eichard Everett, the first American 
ancestor, who was one of the founders of Dedham in 1636. His 
father, and the Reverend Oliver Everett, father of those distinguished 
men, Alexander H. and Edward Everett, were brothers, and sons of 
Ebehezer Everett. His mother was Hannah Clap Gardner, the third 
wife of his father. 

Entering Harvard College in 1802, he became the companion and 
room-mate of his cousin, Alexander H. Everett, and pursued his 
studies with diligence and success, graduating with honor in 1806. 
After his admission to the bar he established himself in Beverl}", where 
he remained until 1817, and where he formed an acquaintance with 
the excellent lady. Miss Prince, who in 1819 became his wife. In 1817 
he removed to Brunswick, where the remainder of his life was spent. 
He had several children, three of whom survived their childhood, Moses 
Everett, a young man of much promise, who died in 1840 ; Sarah Ellen 
Everett, a most estimable young lady, who died in 1847 ; and Charles 
Carroll Everett, now a professor in Harvard Universit}'. Of Mr. ICver- 
ett's abilities as a lawj-er, the late Honorable William Willis said : " As 
an advocate, Mr. Everett made no pretension, but as a wise counsel- 
lor and an upright and conscientious lawyer he had few superiors. 
He was often emploj^ed as a master in chancery and a referee, and by 





^^^^-t-'KJL^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 741 

his strict integrit}' and abilit}- he secured the confidence of the commu- 
nity and acquired a large and profitable practice. In m^' acquaintance 
with him of half a century, in most of which time we practised at the 
same bar, I never knew him guilty of an unworth}" or dishonorable 
action ; his conduct was without fear and without reproach ; it was not 
strained or put on for the occasion, but was inbred and natural. His 
countenance exhibited both firmness and benevolence, and his life did 
not betray this revelation." 

Mr. Everett's services were not confined to his profession, but were 
required in other departments. On the establishment of the Union 
Bank, in Brunswick, in 1825, he was appointed its first cashier, with 
David Dunlap, president. The duties of this office he discharged with 
great fidelity and promptness for fourteen years, at the same time con- 
tinuing the practice of his profession. 

In 1828 he was elected one of the trustees of Bowdoin College, and 
held the office thirtj'-six ^-ears, until compelled b}- the infirmities of age 
to resign. 

In 1838 he was appointed a commissioner, with Chief Justice jNIellen 
and Judge Samuel E. Smith, to review and codif}' the public statutes 
of the State. This important work constituted the first published vol- 
ume of the Revised Statutes, a valuable acquisition to the profession 
and the people. 

In 1840 he was chosen to represent Brunswick in the legislature, but 
politics and public life had no charms for him ; he preferred the quiet 
pursuits of private life to the nois}' and unsatisfactory' contests of the 
political arena. In politics he was an unwavering disciple of the Fed- 
eral school and of its successors, and was uniforml}' loyal to the true 
Republican principles on which our government was founded. During 
the civil war he gave substantial aid toward sustaining the cause of 
freedom and equal rights. In his religious views he was a Unitarian, 
conservative without dogmatism, liberal without radicalism. He was 
a public-spirited citizen, taking a lively interest in whatever atfected 
the welfare of the town. He died at his home in Brunswick, February 
6, 1869. 

FIELDS, MRS. ELIZABETH. 

Mrs. Fields was the widow of Robert Fields, Esquire, barrister, in 
England, a lawyer of abilit}', who came to America and lived for many 
years in Boston, where he died in 1812. In 1831, Mrs. Fields came 
to Topsham, and opened a school for 3'oung ladies in the house now 
owned and occupied by Mrs. Susan T. Purinton. Of her earl}' life, 
before coming to this couutr^•, nothing is known. Although a woman 



742 HISTORY OF BliUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

of marked ability and refinement, and fitted to adorn any station in 
life, her reputation in this vicinity was mainly due to her pre-eminent 
qualities as an instructress. Although she was apparently lax in dis- 
cipline, jei she allowed no shirking of duty or abuse of privileges. 
She alwaA's managed to know what was going on around her, and it 
was a common saying of her pupils. " Mrs. Fields can hear us think." 
She possessed a wonderful power of drawing out whatever latent power 
her pupils possessed. She was also very mindful of their physical 
needs. She followed the English customs in many respects, especially 
in requiring her household to tarry at their meals. Though herself 
adhering to the social etiquette of the English, she did not require it 
of her pupils, acknowledging its absurdity here. Although French was 
made a specialt}' in the school, she insisted upon the necessity of a 
thorough preliminar}' knowledge of English, and even "went so far as 
to insist upon a knowledge of American historj' before commencing 
that of England. She was extremel}- intolerant of shams. She was a 
good stor3--teller, and w^as wont to take pleasure in rehearsing tales 
of the exiled French nobility, man}- of whom she personally knew. 
Though not opposed to what she deemed real improvement, she was 
b}' nature conservative, and had a profound A'eneration for the great 
minds and thinkers of the past. She not only told anecdotes of exiled 
noblemen, but would occasionally' tell tales of her own youth, espe- 
ciallj' of her presentation at Court, and give her recollections of Mrs. 
Siddons and of the plots of foreign plays. She was stately in figure, 
and possessed a pleasant but dignified demeanor that was a comfort to 
her friends, but a terror to the evil disposed. She was ver}- charitable 
in her disposition, and always had two or three pupils at a time to 
whom she gave board, tuition, or both. 

FEOST, MAJOK WILLIAM. 

William Frost was born December 11, 1781. He was a trader in 
Topsham for many jears, and was also engaged in the lumbering and 
shipping business. He was the second president of the First Union 
Bank of Brunswick. 

He was chosen major of the militia, and was also a representative 
to the legislature in- 1823, 1824, 1828, and 1830. He was esteemed 
as a charitable, liberal, hospitable, and honest citizen. His religious 
views were Unitarian. He died January- 17, 1857. 

FURBISH, BEN.JAMIN. 
Mr. Fui'bish was born in Wells, Maine, May 2, 1807. He learned 
the trade of a tin-plate and sheet-iron worker, and worked a year or 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 743 

two in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. In 1831 he went to Exeter, 
New Hampshire, and in 1834 married Mary B. Lane of Exeter. He 
moved to Brunswick in 1836 and continued in trade in Brunswick until 
January, 1866. 

His health was broken down early in life, but a strong constitution 
enabled him to battle with disease through man}- years. He was one 
of the earliest and most earnest supporters of the graded school sa's- 
teni in Brunswick, and a member of the first board of agents, in which 
position he served for a number of years. He was also one of the 
building committee for the erection of both the grammar schools and 
Union Street primar}- school-houses. He was a Freemason. He was a 
representative in 1854 and in 1861. selectman in 1851, and also town 
treasurer, and in the discharge of his public duties secured the full 
approbation of his fellow-citizens. 

" Mr. Furbish was a man who exhibited marked characteristics, a per- 
son of strong individualit}-, great frankness of expression, but toler- 
ant of the faith and opinions of others. He was reserved, uncommu- 
nicative at times, but still, beneath all this reserve, there flow^ed a vein 
of humor which rendered him a most desirable companion in social 
life, and which was the charm of home. He was keen in his criticisms, 
but no ill nature marked them. A man with a clear judgment, enlarged 
and lil)eral views of men and things, reading much, he proved an excel- 
lent citizen, read}' to promote any good object, with labor or purse ; 
and his fellow-citizens marked their appreciation of the merits of the 
man by repeatedly electing him to fill offices of honor and trust in this 
his home for many years. Of incorruptible integrity, dishonesty and 
low dealing he held in scorn, and all his transactions were marked by 
honesty, and a desire to do justice as between man and man. A mem- 
ber of the Congregational Church for many years, he maintained a 
Christian character, to the sincerity of which others have borne testi- 
mon}'." He died in Brunswick, February 27, 1873. 

GETCHELL, CAPTAIN JOHN. 

Captain John Getchell came to Brunswick from Spurwink, about 
the time of the incorporation of the town, and settled on Gurnet Point. 
He was said to be "a large, portly, venerable looking old gentleman, 
especiall}' when he made his appearance on the Sabbath, dressed in his 
white wig and triangular hat." Captain Getchell was a member of 
the board of selectmen in 1739 and in 1749. He was also the first 
captain of the militia, and served in that capacity for man}' 3'ears. His 
first wife's name was Elizabeth. It is not known with certainty whether 
he was married a second time. 



744 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

GIDDINGS, DOROTHY. 

Miss Doroth}' Giddings was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, Janu- 
ar}", 1785. She came to Brunswick in 1812, and was Avelcomed to the 
hospitaUt}' of Captain Richard Toppan, a relative hx marriage. She 
was soon persuaded to undertake a private school for children, kept a 
part of the time in a back chamber of Captain Toppan's house, and 
then in a room in the house of Robert D. Dunning, Esquire. Her 
influence as a teacher was greatly valued. She joined Reverend Mr. 
Rowland's church in Exeter, and her hfe for more than sixt}' years tes- 
tified to the sincerit}' of the consecration she then made. 

She remained in BrunsAvick about three years, and for a time she 
was a respected and beloved inmate of the famil}' of President Apple- 
ton. In 1815 she left Brunswick, spending two or three j'ears with a 
sister in Newburyport, where she was highly esteemed as a teacher. 

In 1818, Miss Giddings, with a heart ready for anj' good work, was 
induced to undertake a mission in the neighborhood of Foxcroft and 
Brownfield. Her object was to open a school for chiklren and youth 
to fit them to become teachers, to open a Sabbath school, and to insti- 
tute other means of moral and religious instruction as she could. 

She lived and kept her school for some time in a log-dwelling, with- 
out a door to the rude abode, and she was charged with extravagance 
for having a cheap carpet on the floor. 

On the Sabbath she had her Sabbath school, which the parents of 
the children often attended, and if no minister or brother to conduct 
the service was present, she would, after the school exercises, read a 
tract or sermon, adding such words of instruction as she could. 
Besides her school work. Miss Giddings was a nurse for the sick, 
where she exerted her skill in the knowledge of disease. At one time 
she became so much oppressed with the poverty of the people, that she 
formed a scheme to travel on horseback from her "^ Iderness home to 
Exeter and Newburyport, to beg assistance from friends. 

She finally made that jourue}" of about two hundred and fifty miles 
on horseback, with saddle-bags. She returned to her people laden with 
gifts, disposed in the saddle-bags and on or about the horse. 

In 1824, Miss Giddings left her mission to minister to a dying sister 
in Newburyport, and then came to Brunswick, her abode for fort^'-six 
years. She opened a store, a well-known resort, in a building Avliich 
stood where the house occupied by Doctor Mitchell and Captain J. D. 
Pennell now stands. After some j^ears she removed to a building 
which stood on the corner of Maine and O'Brien Streets, on the site 
of the present residence of Mr. Benjamin Greene. 



BIOGRAPlllCA L. 745 

Here the poor knew where to find heljj, the pastor or Christian 
brother or sister some aid in their Master's work, the inquirer a word 
in season. She was a woman of no common mould. Energy, decis- 
ion, determination, a deep fountain of benevolence, strong individual- 
it}- of character, were unmistakably revealing themselves in her daily 
life under the power of a thorough, overmastering faith. 

GOSS, DOCTOR EBENEZER H. 
Doctor Goss came to Brunswick soon after the Revolution. He 
married a sister-in-law of Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford. 
He lived at Maquoit until 1804, when he moved up to the village, and 
soon after moved to Paris, Maine, where he died. He is said to have 
had an extensive practice, but was a very eccentric man. He some- 
times indulged too frequently' in alcoholic potations, and it is narrated 
concerning him that on one occasion when he was inebriated some 
j'oung rogue got him and his horse into a cow-3'ard, and put up the 
bars. The doctor started for his home at Maquoit, riding, of course, 
around the 3-ard several times, and exclaiming with oaths that some 
one had fenced the road. 



GRAVES, JOHNSON. 

Johnson Graves was born February, between 8 and 19, 1732. He 
married, first, in Falmouth, Sarah, a sister of Stephen and Samuel 
Staples.. He married, second, June 23, 1803, Mrs. Susanna (Llobbs) 
Staples, formerly of Falmouth. He was grantee in a deed of March 
4, 1763, from Samuel Staples, John Patten, and John Fulton, of lot 
No. 3, of fifty acres in the Cathance mill right. He was in the disas- 
trous expedition to Bagaduce (Castine) in the summer of 1779. He 
was a private in the compan}' under the command of Captain Actor 
Patten. After the defeat of the expedition, he travelled through the 
wilderness from the Penobscot, until he struck the Sebasticook, where 
he was Biet b}- his brothers Samuel and John, who, on hearing that 
the remnants of the ill-fated troops were endeavoring to wend their 
•way homewards, had started on to meet and relieve their suffering 
brother and his fellow-patriots. He was found b}' his brothers much 
fatigued and in want, but sorrowing most of all for the ill success of 
the expedition. He was among the troops who first engaged in battle 
in the attempt to land at Bagaduce. Of his private character nothing 
is known. 

GREEN, HONORABLE NATHANIEL. 

Nathaniel Green came to Topsham with his brother, Peter H. 
Green, in 1804. Thej' were engaged in lumbering and trade for a 
number of years, but after a time dissolved partnership. 



746 IIISTOIiT OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Nathaniel Green was a member of the convention that formed tlie 
Constitution of this State in 1820, was a member of the Senate from 
Lincoln Count}' five 3'ears, and a member of the House of Represent- 
atives from thj town of Topsham five or six years. He was sheriff 
of Lincoln County one 3'ear, register of deeds several 3'ears, and at 
the time of his death a member of the Board of Commissioners of 
Lincoln Count3\ As a politician, he was upright and honorable : as a 
citizen, respected and loved by all classes for his moral worth and 
public and private virtues ; and as a man and a Christian, the friend 
and counsellor of the poor and' unfortunate. He died in Topsham at 
the age of sixt3'-six 3ears. 

GREENLEAF, RICHARD. 

Richard Greenleaf was born in 1787. He was a man of acute men- 
tal powers, and was often consulted and cmplo3'ed in matters relating 
to the settlement of estates. He was a selectman for twelve succes- 
sive 3-ears (1842-G4) and also in 18.39, and held other public trusts. 
He was a member of the Masonic fraternit3\ He died in Brunswick, 
April 29, 18G2. 

GRIFFIN, JOSEPH. 

Sir. Griffin was born in 1798, and came to Brunswick in 1819, and 
set np a printing-oflice. His first work was the publication of the 
Baccalaureate address b3' President Appleton. He subsequentl3' 
printed the works of Professors Uphara, Newman, Sm3-th, and Long- 
fellow, the publications of the college for a long series of vears, and 
much other matter. He was a printer of judgment, taste, industr}', 
and fidelit}', and enjo3'ed the reputation of being the best printer in 
the State. In restricted quarters, and with few of the modern appli- 
ances and conveniences, Mr. Griffin accomplished an immense amount 
of work. 

His last elaborate work, " The Press of Maine," testifies to his 
nntii-ing activit3' and his interest in all that pertains to the craft. It 
is due to his earnest labors that so much that relates to printing in 
this State is presented in so enduring a form. The last publication 
which came from his hands was a catalogue for the Maine Historical 
Society. He opened the first bookstore in Brunswick about 1822, 
and continued the business until his death. He was interested in all 
matters pertaining to beautif3'ing the town, and took an active part in 
the work upon the Mall. Mr. Griffin was earnest and devoted in the 
cause of religion, which to him, in his later vears, was rather the out- 





{;. 



-n 



'W 



-7 l\^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 747 

growth of Christian love than of dogmatic behef. He was a man of 
strict integrity, and tlioronghlj' straightforward in all his dealings. 
He died November 18, 1874. 

GYLES, JAMES. 1 

The subject of this sketch, one of the earh* settlers of Topsham, 
was undoubtedl_y a relative and is presumed to be a brother of Thomas 
Gyles, who died at Peniaquid. According to his own account, which 
has been preserved, he left the Downs, England, September 5, 1668, 
probably with his famil}', and arrived at Boston November 9. On 
November 30 thej^ went to Braintree, INIassachusetts, where they 
" hired a liouse until spring," during which time he took a voj'age 
eastward to look out for a place to settle. On May 10, 1669, the}* 
left Boston, and Ma}' 17 he says, "We arrived at Merriraathing in 
Kennebec River, and not liking that house, the fourteenth of October 
we removed from thence to Whidby,^ a house on the same river, and 
having lived tliere two years 1 bought a tract of land of the Indians, 
and having bought a house upon tlie same, October 31, 1671. we 
removed from Whidby to go into our own house ; but Muddy River 
being frozen over, we were fain to go into James Thomas's house. 
April 16, 1672, we removed from thence into our own house at 
Muddy River, and having lived there three 3'ears and four months," 
on account of the Indian outbreak they left their house and went to 
Samuel York's as a garrison, where the}' stayed a month, but the 
Indians molesting their cattle and plundering their houses, and having 
killed several in Casco Bay, some of their men became timid and left, 
so that they had but nine men in garrison. They accordingly left 
about the middle of September, and went to Arrowsic. They remained 
there until the last of November, when on account of the number of 
people in the house, the}', with five other families, went to Sylvanus 
Davis's house, " on the west side of the river" (probably in what is 
now the town of Phipsburg), where they stayed all winter. After the 
peace of April, 1676, he went to a Mr. Weaswell's house (which was 
empty), and planted some corn, intending to go up to Muddy River 
again; but on account of the attack on Arrowsic, August 9, 1676, 
they were forced to flee for their lives in a canoe, and went to Dara- 
ariscove, where they stayed a week, and then, August 16, sailed for 
Boston, where they arrived August 18. October 11, 1676, they sailed 
from Boston, and on the twenty-sixth arrived at Southold, N. Y. 

' From Gyles Memorial. ^ Whidby or Whisgeag, near Stevens's Carrying-Place. 



748 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

The}' sta3'ed there at the house of Rieliard Brown for one 3'ear, during 
which time he bought some land about fourteen miles west from there, 
and October 26, 1677, the}' removed to iMattelock, a house about two 
miles from his lot, where the}" stayed about a 3'ear. The land being 
poor, and he dissatisfied, April 7, 1680, the}' sailed for [New] York 
[City], where they arrived on the seventeenth. Ma}' 22, they went 
to Governor Andros's house on Staten Island, where thev remained 
four mouths. On September 7 the}' went to Mr. Witt's house, '' to 
look after liis land, until Sir Ednuiud could get a lot of laud laid out 
for me," but he being recalled to England, Gyles did not get as good 
a lot as he expected, and accordingly he sold it and bought a lot in 
New Jersey. 

October 14, 1681, he continnes, " AVe removed from Staten Island 
to Benj. Hull's house in Piscataway, where we stayed all the winter, 
until our own house was ready. April 6, 168i, we removed into , pur 
own house at the Bound Brook, upon liariton River, in Piscatav,/ji 
in the East Province of New Jersey." 

The reasons for supposing him to be a brother of Thomas are : -^r.. 

1. They both cams from Eugland, — James from Kent, and It^is 
not certainly known what part Thomas came from, but probably from 
the same county. 

2. James left Boston for Merrymeeting, May 10, 1669. Thomas 
Watkins's deed to Tho)iias Gyles was dated only two days before, 
viz., May 8. 

3. They lived near each other while in Maine. 

4. They both went to Long Island, N. Y., in 1676. 

5. They both had interest with Governor Andros. 

6. Thomas Gyles named his first son for himself, his third son for 
his brother John (probably), and his second son Avas named James. 

7. Tradition. 

The negative testimony is that Thomas and John have left nothing 
in regard to him, and that there are no affidavits of the settlers as in 
the case of Tho}iias. 

GYLES, CAPTAIN JOHN.i 

The subject of this sketch, a son of Thomas who was killed at 
Pemaquid, was taken prisoner by the Indians at the time of his 
father's death, August 2, 1689, and was carried to tha St. John's 
River. He was with the Indians six years, and was then sold to a 
French gentleman in New Brunswick. He remained with the latter 

^ From Gyles ^kworial. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 749 

until June 13, 1698, when he was gh'en his freedom and sailed for 
Boston, where he arrived on the nineteenth of June. He was in cap- 
tivitj' eight years ten months and eleven daj's. After reaching 
Boston he was employed the greater part of the time, by private 
parties and b}- the government, as an interpreter with the Indians, 
from June 28, 1G98, to April. 1706. This latter year he received a 
commission as captain, having previouslj* served as lieutenant. In 
1707 he went to Port Royal under Colonel Salstonstall. In 1708, 
and again in 1709, he was sent to Port Royal with a flag of truce to 
exchange prisoners. Between 1709 and 1715 he resided in Salisbury, 
Massachusetts, and was an innholder there. 

In August, 1715, he received orders from Governor Dudlej^ to 
build a fort at Pejepscot. It was finished November 25, 1715. His 
pff\- was thirt}' shillings per week, and the proprietors gave him £5, 
w*^ich he was not altogether satisfied with. He was dismissed from 
t George, December 12, 1725, and the next da^' was commissioned 
.1 the garrison at St. George's River. November 28, 1728, he was 
ofiimissioned a justice of the peace. In 1737 he retired from the 
military service and removed to Roxbur^', where he died. 

"He was a man of stern, unbending virtue, a true patriot, and a 
sincere Christian, upright in the discharge of duty, both to God and 
man. He served his country faithfully on a dangerous frontier, and 
was just and kind, yet ever vigilant, in his transactions Avith the abo- 
rigines. He was a man of energy and activity, and became possessed 
of considerable propertv, as appears from his will and from man\- 
deeds on record." Many of his letters to the governor and his muster- 
rolls are in the Massachusetts State archives. We append a fac- 
simile of his autograph. 




GYLES, THOMAS.* 

Thomas Gjdes resided in Topsham until late in the autumn of 1674, 
when, on account of the death of his father, and not because he was 
driven away by the Indians, he went to England with his family. 
Having obtained possession of his father's property, he returned to 
New England, probably in the autumn of 1675 or spring of 1676. 

From Gyles Memorial. 



750 mslORY OF BIWNSWICK, TOrsHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

He intended returning to Pleasant Point, Topsliam, but was prevented 
by the Indian war tlien going on. In the summer of 1G77 he returned 
there, but finding the place deserted, he went to Pemaquid. 

•' He was a maij of wealth. . . . He was also a gentleman of great 
personal worth, of high religious character, a strict, unbending Puri- 
tan, a careful observer of the Sabbath, faithful and fearless in the dis- 
charge of all his duties. As a magistrate ' and ruler, who must be a 
terror to evil-doers, as well as a rewarder of those Avho do well, he met 
with much difficulty in enforcing the laws among a people who had 
long been accustomed to live without restraint." 

GYLES, TH0MAS.2 

Thomas Gyles, the son of the subject of the preceding sketch, was, 
without doubt, born in Topsham, as Lydia Felt, aged sixty-one, de- 
posed July 22, 1718, that she lived in his father's famih' and was there 
when Thomas was born. He was, so far as can now be determined, 
the first white child born in Topsham. He escaped from the Indians 
at the time of his father's death at Pemaquid, and went to Boston, 
where he probably lived the remainder of his da^'s. At any rate he 
was a ferry-man there in 17^7, and kept a retail store in 1730. 

On August 15, 1727, Thomas Gylos, ferry-man, John Gyles, gent.. 
Mar}' Brewer, widow, and Jonas Webber, lawyer (or sawj-er) , and 
Margaret his wife, all of Boston ("Thomas and John are sons, and 
Mary and Margaret the daughters of Thomas Gyles, late of Pemequid, 
deceased"), in consideration of sixt}' acres where their father's house 
stood in Topsham, and five hundred and fifteen acres on Cathance 
Point, relinquished to the Pejepscot proprietors their father's right in 
the neck of land on Muddy River Point, and all other lauds of their 
father in Topsham. 

T^ A.LEY, PEL ATI AH. 

Pelatiah Hale}- was born in Kittery, Maine, October 8, 1740. He 
married Elizabeth Ley|is, who was born April 9, 1743, and died Feb- 
ruary 19, 1836. He was called Captain in consequence of having, for 
a time, commanded a company of militia. His sister Susannah mar- 
ried John Merrill, Esquire, of Topsham. Captain Haley moved to 
Topsham in May, 1769, coming by water. 

Captain Hale}' was in the Indian campaign of 17.39 or 1760 ; in the 
French war, at Lake Champlain and Montreal, under Captain John 

' At Pemaquid. - From Qijlcs Memorial. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 751 

Wentworth, of Kitteiy. The next year after the capture of Quebec 
(1760), he was engaged in battle at the taking of the Isle of Aux.^ 
He was one of the Committee of Safety during the Revolutionarj^ war, 
for three jears. He was also one of the part}' at the capture of Cap- 
tain Mowatt, at Falmouth, in May, 1775, He was an orderly- corpo- 
ral in Captain Actor Patten's company in the Bagaduce Expedition in 
1779, and was in the attack at the landing of the troops. After the 
defeat of the Americans he, guided by a compass, penetrated the wil- 
derness and reached the Sebasticook, where he hired a canoe and thus 
reached home. He died in Topsham, October 29, 1819, 

HALL, PAUL. 

Paul Hall was the son of Hate-evil Hall, of Falmouth, now Port- 
land, and came to BrunsAvick in the latter part of the last century. 
He first lived for a while on a farm at Rocky Hill, and in 1798 moved 
to a house in the village that stood where the Pejepscot Bank is now. 
He afterward lived on Mason Street. He was at one time largel}' 
engaged in the lumbering business, and lost heavily' in the great freshet 
of 1808. The latter part of his life he was a survejor of lumber. He 
was a Quaker, an upright, houest man, who expected others to bo as 
honest as he was himself, a good husband, father, and Christian citizen. 
■ He died in April, 1841. 

HASEY, BENJAMIN, ESQUIRE. 

Benjamin Hasey was a native of Lebanon, Maine. His father, 
Isaac Hasey, the first minister of that town, was born in Cambridge, 
Massachusetts, and graduated at Harvard in the class of 1762. He 
was settled in Lebanon in 1765, where his son Benjamin was born, 
Jul}' 5, 1771, and was named from an uncle, who took his degree from 
Cambridge in that year. His mother was a i , ghter of William Owen, 
of Boston, Mr. Hasey, like his father and uncle, was a graduate of 
Harvard, class of 1790. Mr. Hasey received L^s preliminary educa- 
tion at Dumraer Academy, vinder the tuition of the celebrated Master 
Mood}', and entered college in 1786. 

Soon after leaving college, he entered the office of Judge Thacher, 
in Biddeford, as a student, and was admitted to practice in April, 
1794. In June of the same year he established himself at Topsham, 



1 So Woodman smjs in his 3ISS. We can find no such island. The Isle of Aix, France, 
was the seat of a naval battle in IT-lT, hut this date is too early. 



752 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

where he continued to reside until his death, March 24, 1851, a period 
of fiftj'-seven 3'ears, a single as well as a singular man. 

Mr. Hasey represented his town in the legislature of Massachusetts 
several _yeai's before the separation ; but he had no taste for politics, 
and he withdrew from all public emplo^'ment. He was, for fifteen 
years, one of the trustees of Bowdoin College. 

Reserved and retired in his habits, he became more so as he left the 
common highwa}' so much frequented by lawyers and politicians. It 
was not unnatural that a man of his sensitive nature should have shnifik 
from scenes which are often contaminated by low intrigues and self- 
seeking arts. Of the most rigid integrity, regular and quiet in all his 
modes of thought and action, nothing disturbed him more than the 
cant of demagogues. As maybe supposed, he was strong!}- conserva- 
tive ; change was distasteful to him. This ma}- be a reason wh}- he 
never married. For more than thirty-eight years he boarded in the 
same family, and for many years occupied the same office, to which he 
daily resorted until within a few da^-s of his death, in the same manner 
as when he was in practice. But with all his peculiarities, he was ever 
to be relied upon ; his word was sacred, his act just, his deportment 
blameless. As a counsellor, his opinions were sound and much val- 
ued, and for many 3-ears he had an extensive practice in the counties 
of Lincoln and Cumberland. He rarel}' appeared as an advocate, his 
natural diffidence and reserve disqualifying him for any displaj'. Many 
3-ears before his death he left the active duties of his profession ; the 
innovations which were taking place in the manners and course of prac- 
tice at the bar were ill suited to his delicate and conservative feelings. 
The want of ancient decorum and respect, the absence of forensic 
courtes}-, fretted upon his nerves. The abolishing of special pleading 
annoyed him, and the revision and codification of the statutes thor- 
oughl}^ confused his habitual notions of practice, displaced his accus- 
tomed authorities, and cast him afloat, in his old age, on what seemed 
a new profession. He lived in the past and believed in it, and strove, 
as much as mortal could, to keep himself from the degenerac}' of mod- 
ern ideas. Mr. Hasey, at the time of his death, was the oldest sur- 
viving lawj-er in the State ; when he commenced practice the whole 
number was but seventeen, all of whom he survived except Judge 
Wilde, who had removed from the State. ^ 

The Honorable Frederic Allen, his contemporar}- in Lincoln County, 
has furnished the following well-considered estimate of Mr. Hasej-'s 

^ William Willis's The Law, Courts, and Lawyers of Maine. 



BIOGRAPIIICAL. 753 

character and standing : " He was well versed in the principles of the 
common law. His reading was extensive, both legal and miscellanea 
ous. His memory was tenacions, his habits studious. In his person, 
though very small in stature, he was of the most perfect formation, and 
always most neatly attired. He had much good sense, and was a strict 
adherent to the old Federal party, from whose leading opinions, so long 
as the party had a distinctive existence, he never wavered, and had 
little charit}' for those who did. He was not much employed as an 
advocate ; he generally argued not over one case a 3'ear, and that was 
done ver}- well. His address to the j^ny was brief, free from all rep- 
etition or copious illustration. He left the world in the same appar- 
ent quietude in which he had lived, leaving a name much honored and 
a character highly respected." In his religious views he was a Unita- 
rian. 

HASKELL, DEACOX JOSHUA. 

Deacon Haskell moved to Topsham, August 2, 1S18. He had been 
previouslj' engaged in the lumbering business on the Androscoggin 
River, and still continued at that occupation. AVhen he first came to 
town, he resided in the house recentl}' occupied by'Sandford A.Perkins. 
In about six months afterwai'ds he moved on to "the Island," and 
took up his abode in the Nathaniel Green house, recently" occupied by 
Captain Henry W. Green. At the time of his entering this residence, 
Mr. Henry Bowman, from Litchfield, moved in and occupied one half 
of the house. Eariv in 1819, Messrs. Haskell and Bowman formed a 
partnership in business and commenced manufacturing lumber, buy- 
ing logs at the head of the Androscoggin, which they drove down, 
in the spring of the year, into booms. They rafted and sawed boards, 
shingles, clapboards, and laths for many years with good success. They 
finally dissolved partnership, and Mr. Bowman moved to Gardiner, 
where he died. Deacon Haskell was also engaged in trade. The 
small residence now occupied by Mrs. Beny, opposite the blacksmith 
shop of Samuel Jameson, was for some years a store, bearing the sign 
of Bowman & Haskell. 

In 1826 he built the house now occupied by Ebenezer Colby, and 
moved into it in November of the same 3-ear. He afterwards removed 
to the house on the corner of Main and Elm Streets, where his fam- 
il}' still resides. 

He was made deacon of the Free-Will Baptist Church at its first 
organization. 

He was a captain of the Artillery Companj- for some years, and 
48 



754 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

was afterwards chosen major. He served in the war of 1812, having 
Qplisted at the age of eighteen. 

Joshua Haskell was a man of enlarged views and a liberal disposi- 
tion. He was kind-hearted, unselfish, and benevolent. He was a man 
of the highest integrity of character and was a sincere Christian. He 
possessed a rare humor and was alwaj's good-tempered. He invaria- 
bly looked upon the bright side, and his cheerfulness was undiminished 
by loss of property or other dispensations of Providence. 

HINKLEY, JUDGE AARON. 

Aaron Hinkle}'^ was one of the noted men of Brunswick in his day. 
Of his personal appearance and manner nothing is now known, but he 
is said to have had but one ej'e. The tradition which accounts for the 
loss of the other eye is, that a " tame " Indian in the employ' of Aaron's 
father was one day holding him in his lap, and accidentally dropped a 
live coal from his pipe into the boj^'s eye, totally destroying the sight. 

He was a man of good judgment, and was often engaged in the ser- 
vice of the town, either on committees or as a selectman. He served 
in the latter capacity five several years, 1745, 1750, 1755, 1759, 1760. 
In 1775 he was one of the judges of the Court of Sessions for Lincoln 
County. When Topsham was incorporated, in 1764, Judge Hinkley 
was directed to issue his warrant for calling the first town meeting. 

In his religious views he was a Congregationalist, and was very 
severe in his opposition to Presb3'terianism. He lived where Ephraim 
Larrabee resided in 1854. 

HINKLEY, DEACON SAMUEL. 

Samuel Hinkley was born in Harwich, Februar}' 7, 1711. He moved 
to this State, and in 1729-30 is named as one of several persons asso- 
ciated together for the purpose of forming the First Church of Bidde- 
ford. On August 29, 1735, he purchased of James Kent, for one hun- 
dred and fifteen pounds, thirtj'-five acres of land in Biddeford. He 
was chosen a deacon of the church there. 4Ie soon after, however, 
moved to Brunswick, and settled at New Meadows. His wife's name 
has not been ascertained. He was selectman in 1739, 1740, 1741, 
1742, and 1743, and a representative in 1747. 

HUMPHREYS, GENERAL JOHN C. 

John Campbell Humphreys, the son of Lawrence and Frances 
(Campbell) Humphreys, was born in Georgetown (now Phipsburg), 
February 22, 1798. 




/^ 



J' a ^r^. 




BiOGRArmcAL. 755 

His father afterwards removed to Topsham, and at the age of four- 
teen John C. entered the store of Jotham Stone, of Brunswick. 
Active, intelhgent, upright, and energetic, he soon won the confidence 
and esteem of his emplo^'er, and before he had attained his majority, 
Mr. Stone sold his stock to liim and Ephraim Brown, and the}', as 
Brown & Humphreys, continued the same business for several 3'ears. He 
afterwards formed a partnership witli A. B. Thompson, and for many 
years the firm of Thompson & Humphre3's were largely engaged in 
lumbering in the woods, and in manufacturing at their mill in the Cove 
in Brunswick. This connection continued until 1850. 

In 1848, General Humphreys, as he was then universally called, 
bought the Dunning farm, at the Narrows, and transferred his business 
to that location, building a steam saw-mill and a ship-yard. Here, in 
connection with his sons John H, and Charles C, he carried on the 
manufacture of lumber, and from the ship-^'ard were launched, in suc- 
cessive 3'ears, the ships Ophir, J. C. Humphreys^ Singapore, Mareny-'', 
and the bark Annie Kimball. 

In politics General Humphre3'S was a Democrat, and he held many 
offices of importance. He was a senator in the State legislature, 
high sheriff of Cumberland Count3' for several 3'ears, and collector of 
the port of Bath under President Polk. 

As a citizen he interested himself in all that related to public and 
town affairs. He took an active part in militar3' matters, and rose to 
the rank of major general of militia. He was chief warden of the fire 
department of Brunswick for many 3'ears. 

It was, however, as a Mason that he was probably most widel}' 
known throughout the State. He earh' took a deep interest in the 
subject of Freemasonr3', and was honored with the highest positions 
of the order in the State. In all his relations as a citizen, politician, 
Mason, and man, to use the words of a contemporar3', " he sustained a 
character above reproach." 

He married Angeliue Whitmore, daughter of John Whitmore, of 
Bath, December 31, 1823, b3' whom he had a large famil3' of children, 
five of whom survived him. 

His health, which had alwa3*s been remarkabl3' robust, failed him in 
18G4, and he died June 18, 1865,'at the age of sixt3'-seven. He was 
buried with Masonic ceremonies, and his funeral was attended b3' a 
large representation of the Masonic order from different parts of the 
State. His wife survived him but a short time, and died October 14, 
1866, at the age of sixt3'-four. 



756 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

HUNTER, AD^M. 

Adam Hunter, a grandson of Captain Adam, and son of James, 
was named for his grandfather. He enlisted in the army in the \\q\- 
olutionar}' war, under Captain, afterwards Colonel, John Keed. He 
was but sixteen ^-ears of age at the time. He is said to have been 
under General John Sullivan when the latter laid waste the country 
of the Six Nations, about 1778 or 1779. The following traditional 
account of his capture at that time, and his subsequent escape, is 
given : — 

" Having been sent out on a scouting party, he was taken captive 
by the Indians. By them he was stripped of all he had, and was left 
with bareh' a blanket, or some such slight clothing. In his captivity 
he was associated with a Dutchman who lived among the Indians and 
was acquainted with their language. The pappooses, or young Indians, 
were in the habit of applying pointed splinters of pitch-wood, prick- 
ing him and tormenting him, and then laughing to see him dodge 
their mock assaults. The Dutchman, having been flogged b}' one of 
the squaws, resolved to attempt his escape, and communicating his 
purpose to Hunter, they contrived to quit them. Hunter carr^'ing his 
hat full of corn, which they had contrived to secrete for this purpose, 
and the Dutchman carrying a hatchet. With these slender means of 
sustenance and defence, after Hunter had been among them about 
three weeks, the}" made their escape. Their only food for eight days 
was the dry corn, about two quarts in quantity, which they took with 
them. At one time in .their wanderings the}' lost their way, and 
heard the ])arking of the Indians' dogs. The Dutchman was for sur- 
rendering himself again to the Indians ; but Hunter, contriving by 
some excuse to get possession of the hatchet, threatened to split his 
brains if he attempted to give himself up ; and at length they suc- 
ceeded in reaching the settlements at Harpersfield, New York, where 
Hunter was supplied with clothes, etc., and again joined the anny. 
At the time of tlieir escape it was in the montli of October, and 
Hunter said there was occasionally to be found some snow in the low 
lands. Hunter served three years and then returned home." 

After his return Adam went to scliool at Bath. While here, after 
much persuasion, he went on board a privateer. Some prizes were 
taken and carried into Salem or Boston, but at length he was cap- 
tured and carried into Halifax. His father and uncle went to Halifax 
to obtain his exchange, but before his arrival Adam, with about five 
hundred other American prisoners, had been put on board a vessel 



BIOGRAPHICAL. Ibl 

called the CormvaUis, to be conve3'ed to Boston. The vessel was lost, 
and Adam was never heard of afterwards. This was in the autumn 
of 1781.1 

HUNTER, JAMES. 

The subject of this sketch, a son of Captain Adam Hunter, was 
one of the selectmen of Topsham in 1767, 1768, 1773, and 1779. He 
was chosen to this office again in 1780, but declined service. He was 
on the committee raised in February, 1781, to see to the procuring of 
seven men for the Continental arm}'. He is st3-led Major in the 
town records. His son John, called "Bald-headed John," stated, 
about 1833, that his father had been a major in the Revolutionary 
war, and that he was made a colonel about the close of the war, and 
that his commission was signed by Hancock. Bald-headed John also 
said that his father was under Colonel North (whom he called Judge 
North) of Augusta. He said that he had heard his father and the 
old soldiers speak of Judge North as colonel, in ridicule ; that they 
used to have a good deal of fun about Colonel North, and that the 
latter was nicknamed " Jo Bunker." 

When his son Adam (see preceding sketch) was carried to Halifax, 
James Hunter, with his brother Robert, procured two prisoners and 
went to Halifax to obtain an exchange. He was there detained and 
imprisoned about a fortnight, it being charged against him that he 
was a sp3'. He was liberated, however, and sent home in a schooner, 
one Captain Powell, master, who landed him at the mouth of the 
Kennebec River. He reached home about Christmas, 1781. 

The father of James Hunter's ^'ife was Thomas Williams, who came 
from England, February' 18, 1717, " when gooseberries were in blow," 
and reached Boston, April 17, 1717, " when the snow was very deep." 
He was employed in teaching Latin in Boston, and subsequently 
i-emoved to the part of Georgetown that is now Bath. It is said that 
he was a physician, and that he often expressed his regrets at having 
ever left England. 

Colonel Hunter died about 1809, at the age of seventj'-four, leaving 
a family whose posterity are still numerous in town. 

KENDALL, ELDER HENRY. 

Elder Henry Kendall was born in Sandford, July 3, 1774. He 
liad ten brothers and sisters. When he was ten years old he went to 
Wells and lived with Captain S. Hatch. When he was about thirteen 

1 Fro]n Woodman's MS. Notes. 



758 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

j'ears old his father deserted the family, and Henrj' went to Centre 
Harbor and was apprenticed to Mr. Marston to learn the tanner's and 
shoemaker's trade. He received only three months' schooling. 

In October, 1801, he began to preach. In 1802 he visited Mt. 
Vernon, Palermo, Belfast, Hallowell, Litchfield, Bowdoinham, An- 
giista, Bowdoin, Sidney, Bloomfield, and Mercer, preaching in each 
place, and returned to Litchfield, where he settled. In 1812 he was 
representative to the legislature from that town. March 18, 1818, he 
moved to Topshani and bought a farm. He was settled over the 
Baptist Church in Topsham for about ten 3-ears, and ever after made 
it his home, though he preached as a missionar3' over almost the entire 
State. Of his style of preaching but little is known, except that he 
was noted for the power and compass of his voice. It was once said 
by Doctor Porter, in reference to Mr, Kendall and one of the other 
ministers, that he could " sta}' at home and hear Elder Kendall, or go 
to the Orthodox Church and hear them both." The Baptist vestry 
was then opposite the present cemetery*, and Doctor Porter lived in 
the Purinton house near. 

KING, HONORABLE WILLIAM. 

"William King, the first governor of the State of Maine, was born in 
Scarboro', February- 9, 1708, and died in Bath, June 17, 1852. 

When nineteen 3'ears old a division of his father's property was 
made, and his share was a yoke of two-year-old steers. "With these 
steers he started east in the spring of the j'ear to seek his fortune. 
It was cold, but having neither shoes nor stockings, he went barefooted. 
He stopped at man}' houses on the wav, offering to work for his 
board. He finalh' reached Topsham and found employment in a 
saw-mill. He was industrious and frugal, and in a year and a half 
had laid by enough to purchase one half a saw, and it was not long- 
before he owned a whole saw, and finalh* a whole mill. After a while 
he formed a copartnership with his brother-in-law, Doctor Benjamin 
Jones Porter, under the name of Porter &King, and opened a store, 
Mr. King devoting his attention chiefly to his lumber interests, and 
Doctor I'orter assuming control of the store This copartnership 
existed for some 3ears after ]Mr. King's removal to Bath, which took 
place in 1800. 

Mr. King was one of the incorporators of the toll-bridge, and also 

one of the incorporators of the first cotton-mill in Brunswick. After 

-his removal to Bath he opened a store there. He was also extensively^ 

engaged in ship-building for manv years. He was at one time a 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 759 

member of the Massachusetts legislature. In 1811 he was major- 
general of militia. In 1812 he was president of the Bath Bank. 

Wliile in the Massachusetts legislature " he was distinguished hy 
his efforts in behalf of religious freedom, and of securing to original 
settlers upon wild lands the benefit of their improvements. He was 
an earl}^ and ardent advocate of the separation of Maine from Massa- 
chusetts, and upon the consummation of that act presided over the 
Convention which met in 1819 to frame the Constitution of the new 
State. He was in 1820 elected the first governor of Maine, and after 
holding office a little more than a year, became one of the United 
States commissioners for the adjustment of Spanish claims. He also 
held other offices of importance under the general and State govern- 
ments, including that of collector of the port of Bath."i He was the 
first grand master of the Grand Lodge of Maine Freemasons. 

LARRABEE, CAPTAIN BENJAMIN. 

Captain Benjamin Larrabee came from Portland, then Falmouth, 
to assume the command of the fort in Brunswick about 1727. In 
December of that 3'ear he petitioned the General Court of Massachu- 
setts " for a recompense for services in going from Boston to Bruns- 
wick, the journej' having consumed one month." He lived in the fort 
for some years, and his children were born there. He afterwards 
lived at New Meadows, where the house of Andrew Thomas now 
stands. He was the agent of the Pejepscot proprietors, and before 
the incorporation of the town he had the principal management of 
the concerns of the township. In 1735 he superintended the building 
of the old WestMeeting-House, purchasing all the materials, attending 
to the transportation, etc. He died in 1748 and was buried in the 
grave^'ard attached to the fort. There are now no traces of this 
bury ing-ground . 

Captain Larrabee was a worthy man, much beloved b}- those inti- 
mately acquainted with him. He was 'considered a good business 
man and was much respected for his integrity and faithfulness to his 
trust. His posterity are numerous and highl}- respectable. His son 
Nathaniel was town clerk for thirty-seven years, from 17G6 to 1802 ; 
selectman from 1783 to 1800, and was otherwise prominent in town 
affairs. 



1 New American Vydopcedia, 10, p. 167. For further particulars see also Popham 
Memorial volume, Maine Historical Collection, pp. 20G to 213. 



760 HISTOBY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 



LARRABEE, CAPTAIN NEHEMIAH. 

Nehemiali Larrabee was born in Brnnswick about 1800, and lived 
for man}' 3-ears on Federal Street. He began life as a sailor and soon 
obtained his title of captain. " Possessing a naturally strong constitu- 
tion, an active mind, an iron will, indomitable energy, and a persever- 
ance nothing could daunt, be won his waj' to a handsome competence. 
As a husband and father he was most indulgent ; as a friend, true as 
steel, and with a heart open as a child to all proper claims upon his time 
or means for the relief of the sick or suffering." He died May G, 1863. 

LEMONT, ADAM. 

Mr. Leraont was born in 1797, and moved from Bath to Brunswick 
about 1835. He was largely engaged in tlie lumber business and in 
trade as a member of the firm of Lemont, Forsaith & Hall. He wa§ 
afterwards president of the Brunswick Maine Insurance Company 
and of the Union National Bank. He was a director of the latter at 
the time of his death. He was a selectman in 1842, 1843, and 1844, 
and representative in 1844 and 1845. He was also largely engaged 
in ship-building. An active, energetic, and well-educated business 
man, he managed his affairs with great shrewdness and accumulated a 
handsome property. He was a most agreeable man in social inter- 
course, well posted in public affairs, an esteemed and valuable citizen. 
He died February 24, 1874. 

LIXCOLN, ISAAC, M. D. 

Doctor Isaac Lincoln was born in Cohasset, Massachusetts, in 1780. 
He fitted for college under the tuition of Reverend Josiah Crocker 
Shaw, of Cohasset, and of Reverend Kilburn Whitman, of Pembroke. 
He graduated at Harvard in 1800, and for two years afterward taught 
a grammar school. He studied medicine with Doctor Thomas Thaxter. 

In 1804 he settled as a physician in Topsham. In 1820 he married 
Maria S., daughter of Captain John Dunlap, and moved to Brunswick. 
In 1831 he received the degree of M. D. from Howdoin College, it 
being bestowed as a compliment. He was a member of the Medical 
Faculty of the Maine Medical School from 1820 to 1867. He was a 
member of the Board of Overseers of Bowdoin College, and it is said 
that he never missed a meeting of that Board for over sixt}' years. 
He was at one time chosen a member of the governor's council, but 
declined the honor. 



^ 




-i^ CC CA^ 



ISAAC LUvXOilsr. 2v[.X). 




C^. Q^^^d^^T^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. "> 761 

Doctor Lincoln was a very pnblic-spirited man, and the result of his 
influence is still to be seen in Brunswick, The prominent traits of his 
character were his individuality and his positiveness. Though firm in 
his opinions, he never objected to hearing and discussing the views of 
those who difl'ered with him. As a man he was generous-hearted, 
kind, genial, and fond of children. He was a member of the F'irst 
Parish Church, and was a sincere Christian. In business matters he 
was upriglit, impulsive but honest, bold and independent. As a phy- 
sician he was very popular and had an extensive practice. It is said 
he particularly excelled in the difficult art of diagnosis. Certain it is 
that few difficult cases of disease occurred in the practice of his pro- 
fessional neighbors without his opinion and advice being invoked.. 

He died March 6, 1868. 

LINCOLN, JOHN D., M. D. 

'• Doctor Lincoln, more generally' spoken of as Doctor John in the 
lifetime of his father, the late Doctor Isaac Lincoln, was born and bred 
in the house in which he lived and died. He entered Bowdoiu College 
in 1839, graduated in 1843, and graduated from the Maine Medical 
School in 1846, and at once went into practice with his father. 

"The doctor won a large measure of success in the practice of his 
profession, working early and late, driving far and near, to meet the 
constant calls for his professional services. Even after his health had 
become seriously impaired, he was found making his daily calls upon 
patients, who comprised every class in the community, for the doctor 
was no respecter of persons. 

" He ranked high in the estimation of his professional brethren, and 
for years has often been called by them in consultation over difficult 
cases. His intercourse with them at such times was marked by cour- 
tesy and a gentlemanl}- regard for the rights of the profession. He 
won success as a practitioner, and he won it as well b}' his loving, 
genial, mirthful wa_ys in the sick-room. In this matter of kindly atten- 
tion to the sick, Doctor Lincoln had few if any superiors. 

"• He was well read in literature outside of his profession, interested 
in the discussion of the political topics of the day ; possessing a reten- 
tive memory and the keenest sense of humor, he was ever a most 
interesting companion in the social circle, enlivening it by his sallies 
of wit, and by the narration of anecdotes of the most vivacious descrip- 
tion. The same characteristics that he manifested in public endeared 
him to his famil}' in the privacy of home. He was greatly interested 
in the development and ornamentation of the village, and to his well- 



702 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

directed efforts, preceded by those of his father, are tlie people largely- 
indebted for the present excellent condition of the Mall. He was 
remarkable for the conservative, peace-preserving element of his char- 
acter and for his great fondness for children. Doctor Lincoln was a 
member of the Snperintending School Conmiittee of Brunswick, a mem- 
ber of the Board of Overseers of the College, and a member of the 
Facultv of the IMaine Medical School. At a meeting of the Medical 
Faculty, resolutions expressive of respect and s^-mpath}- were passed." 
To this tribute to his memory it should be added that he was deeply 
interested in the preparation of this volume, and rendered much valu- 
able assistance, which Avas continued even after he had taken his bed 
in his last sickness. He once said to the writer that he desired to live 
long enough to write his reminiscences of fift3'3'ears' practice in Bruns- 
wick. He died June 3, 1877. 

LUNT, AMOS. 

Amos Lunt came to Brunswick soon after the Revolution, and built 
a grist-mill. At first he lived in the fort, but soon built a two-story 
house on the corner of Mill and Bow Streets, where he resided at the 
time of his death. 

He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, enlisting soon after the 
battle of Bunker Hill. He served in the army eight years, and a part 
of the time was a sergeant. He was at Valley Forge in the memora- 
ble winter of 1777. He was also present at Cherry Valley, at the sur- 
render of Burgoyne, and also at that of Cornwallis, and was with Gen- 
eral Sullivan when he Avent into the Indian country. Mr. Lunt at first 
received no pension, but a few years before his death, the law regard- 
ing pensions having been changed, he received one hundred and fift}' 
dollars a jear. 

Mr. Lnnt was fond of company, especiall\- that of the joung, and 

took delight in rehearsing the stirring scenes of the Revolution, in 

which he had taken part. He was a good citizen, and always took a 

strong interest in public affairs. In politics he was a Whig, and never 

voted any other ticket. When too feeble to walk to the polls, he 

insisted upon being carried there as long as he was able to leave his 

room. 

McKEEN, REV. JOSEPH, D. D. 

The subject of this sketch was graduated at Dartmouth College in 
1774, and immediately opened a school in his native town, London- 
derr}', which he kept for several 3'ears. F'ond of mathematics and 
philosophy, he, in the summer of 1780, pursued a course of study at 



BIOGRAPHICAL. T(i3 

Cambridge, under Professor Williams, who then filled the chair of 
Matlieinatics and riiilosophy in Harvard Universitj-. lie then com- 
menced his theological studies under Reverend Mr. Williams, of Wind- 
ham, New Hampshire, the instructor of his youth. Before completing 
his preparation for the ministr\-, he was, for a while, an assistant 
instructor in the academy at Andover. While a candidate for settle- 
ment in the ministry, he preached with much acceptance to the society 
in Boston, collected by Reverend Mr, Moorhead, and which afterwards 
enjoyed the labors of the distinguished Doctor Belknap. In 1785 he 
was ordained pastor of the church in Beverly, Massachusetts. For 
seventeen years he discharged the duties of the ministerial ofhce, ever 
enjoying the respect, confidence, and atfection of his people, and sus- 
taining the reputation of a sound divine and an impressive preacher. 



{^^^ 



In 1800 he preached the sermon on the anniversary- of the gu1)ernato- 
rial election, a performance which added much to his reputation. 
About this time he was elected a member of the American Academy 
of Arts and Sciences, in whose transactions may be found papers com- 
municated hy him. In 1.S04 he was complimented by his Alma Mater 
with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In 1801 he was elected presi- 
dent of Bowdoin College. 

In the midst of his labors. President McKeen, whose strength ©f 
constitution had given unusual promise of a long life of usefulness, 
perceived the premonitions of a disease which at length, after a pro- 



764 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

tracted illness of nearly two 3'ears, proved fatal. Just after Com- 
mencement, in the autumn of 1806, he took a short excursion to Bev- 
erly, the scene of his former labors, in the hope of removing the 
complaint which was fast wasting his strength ; but while he was there 
it returned with aggravated svmptoms. At first supposed to be a dis- 
ease of the liver, it at last assumed the form of drops}'. The most 
affectionate solicitude of friends and the most enlightened professional 
skill could not arrest its progress. Having waited calmly and patientl}- 
his appointed time, he died suddenly, as he was sitting in his chair, at 
the age of forty-nine years. The event caused deep grief throughout 
the community. 

In regard to the qualifications of President McKeen for the able and 
successful discharge of the duties pertaining to his exalted and respon- 
sible station, there was but one sentiment. His sound, discriminating 
judgment, his cool decision, his equable spirit, his manners, conciliat- 
ing and at the same time dignified, his kind feelings, his moral excel- 
lence, his reputation as a minister of the gospel, and the full possession 
of public confidence, combined with his love of science, fitted him in a 
high degree for the office he was called to fill. ' 

The genealogy of the McKeens may be found in the History of Lon- 
donderr}-. New Hampshire, pages 284-289. 

McKEEN, JOSEPH, ESQUITtE. 

Joseph McKeen, a son of Reverend Joseph McKeen, the first presi- 
dent of Bowdoin College, was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, 1787. 
He was a well-known business man in Brunswick, and was wideh' 
known throughout th(i State. He was a cashier of the first Union 
Bank from 1859 until it closed its affairs, and was a president of the 
second Union Bank for many years. 

For thirty-six years he was treasurer of the college, and his admin- 
istration of the office showed marked ability and thorough rectitude. 
He was also a director and trustee of the Kennebec and Portland 
Railroad Company, and for several years was its treasurer. He was 
a thorough business man, and exact and methodical in his accounts. 
He was well read in common topics and in some special departments 
of literature, including Biblical geograph}' and history'. 

As a compliment to his attainments he had bestowed upon him b}- 
Bowdoin College, in 1843, the honorary title of A. M. He was a 
nian of strong aftections, indulgent in his famil}', and kind and benev- 

^From a Sketch 0/ Bowdoin College, by Reverend A. S. Packard, D. D. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 7 G 5 

olent to all. He was a member of the church of the First Parish, a 
teacher in its Sabbath school, and oftentimes conducted religious 
services on emergencies. 

'' He was a marked man, with a clear, unclouded intellect, of decided 
opinions, with an energy that no difficulties appalled, a determination 
that went straight to its work, and of unquestioned sincerity of pur- 
pose in whatever labor engaged. 

" He possessed a heart read}' to respond to the calls of benevolence 

and friendship, manifested in acts of great liberality and thoughtful- 

ness. The demands of dutj' did not overbear the claims of a common 

manhood." 

McKEEN, JOHN, ESQUIRE. 

John McKeen, a brother of the subject of the preceding sketch, 
was born in Beverl}', Massachusetts, December 21, 1789 ; came to 
Brunswick when about thirteen years old, and lived here for fifty- 
nine 3'ears. He fitted for college with Reverend J. Ellis of Topsham, 
and graduated from Bowdoin in 1811. He was for man}- ^ears a 
secretary of the Board of Overseers of the college. He was engaged 
in general trade for man}' years, and was much interested in the his- 
tor}' and welfare of the town. For twenty-three consecutive ^-ears he 
served as town clerk, and during this period collected many valuable 
papers. He was I)}- nature and training an antiquarian. 

The evidences of his research will be seen by the frequent allusions 
to his name in this volume. 

" He ever manifested a warm interest in whatever related to the 
aflJ"airs of the town, and his action was guided by a liberal judgment 
and a truly catholic spirit. Though devoting himself with untiring 
energy, and a perseverance that no obstacles could arrest, to a stud}' 
of whatever related to the past, he did not bury himself in the dead 
past, but lived in the present, holding, however, as his truest guides 
and safest counsellors, the memory and deeds of men who have long 
since mouldered to dust. At the same time that he proved himself 
the good citizen in the broader sphere of life, he was no less the chari- 
table and kind-hearted gentleman in all that concerned social inter- 
course. Of a hearty, genial nature, his face, always benignant, occa- 
sionally beamed with a smile of peculiar benevolence, and his address 
was always kindly and courteous. 

'' He was one of the founders of the Maine Historical Society, 
and no man has done more to promote the interest and efficiency of 
the institution. For historical investigations he possessed an apt- 
ness, a quickness, a penetration, and an entireness of appreciation 



76() HISTORY OF BRUXSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

quite remarkiible. There Avas no brilliancy of intellect ; perhaps, upon 
ordinary occasions, his mind moved slowh' ; but when investigating 
New ILngland history there was no sluggishness, no inaction, and no 
failure to appreciate the subject in hand, however broadly extended, 
or how intricately related to matters which to the outside observer 
might appear as foreign altogether. The intellect went straight to its 
work, and the result reached never failed to secure respect for the 
man, if it did not alwa3's win the verdict of his opponents. 

" No man was so well acquainted with the records and doings of the 
Pejepscot proprietors, and he was regarded as standard authority in 
all matters of controversy' arising under these records and the deeds 
of these earh' proprietors of Brunswick. 

" In politics he was a "Whig of the strongest sect, a supporter of the 
Constitutional Union ticket of the last campaign, a supporter of 
measures of peace and conciliation until the sword was drawn ; then a 
firm supporter of the government in a vigorous prosecution of the 
war, but always after constitutional forms and in strict accordance 
with law. 

" A Scotch Presbyterian in matters of faith, he adhered with won- 
derful tenacity to the doctrines of his church, but as exemplified in his 
life they were divested of all their rigor and sharpness. His spirit 
was too catholic, his heart too true, his love of his fellow-men too 
earnest, and his charity too broad to bind him, or to lead him to act 
less nobly and earnestly than a Christian gentleman should act." 

He died December 2, 18G1. 

McKEEN, JAMES, M. D. 
Doctor James McKeen, a third son of President McKeen. was grad- 
uated at Bowdoin College in 1817. He entered upon the study of 
medicine under Doctor Matthias Spaulding, of Amherst, New Hamp- 
shire ; finished his course under Doctor John Ware, of Boston ; grad- 
uated at the Harvard Medical School in 1820, and at once commenced 
the practice of his profession in Topsham. In 1825 he was elected 
Professor of Obstetrics in the Medical School of Maine, and served in 
that office until 1839. During the two last years of his office he also 
lectured on the Theory and Practice of Medicine. He kept up a warm 
interest in this school and in the college dui*ing his whole life, and was 
for many years one of the overseers. *' During his college days," says 
an intimate friend of his youth, "• the civilized world was watching 
with deepest interest the movements of Napoleon Bonaparte, and no 
member of college, I am sure, knew so much of those stirring events 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 7G7 

af5 3'onng McKeen, who followed the march of the contending armies 
with tlie best maps he could command ; as then, so ever after, distin- 
guished for his extensive and minute geographical knowledge. He 
took to astronomy when it came in the collegiate course. Late one 
starlit night, President Appleton descried from his window a light on 
the steps of the old college chapel. Apprehending some mischief at 
work at that late hour, he left his house and repaired with cautious 
steps to the spot, and, unnoticed by the supposed culprit, placed his 
hand on the 3'oung man's shoulder. It was McKeen, all alone, with a 
celestial globe and a light, observing the constellations in the heavens, 
' Ah, McKeen,' exclaimed the astonished president, ' I am glad to find 
you so well occupied.' This interest in the science continued through 
life, a comfort and amusement in many a long night drive. 
He was fearless. Some thought him reckless when he crossed Merry- 
meeting Ba}' in earl}' spring, just before the breaking up of the ice, 
sitting up on the back of the sleigh, watching for holes in the ice and 
thus directing his horse on his perilous way. 

'' Doctor McKeen was of the strongest, deepest affections. How he 
loved his college classmates ! We recall, with delightful remembrance, 
his gathering the surviving members of his class to his house, from 
far and near, a few years ago, on the fiftieth anniversary day of their 
graduation, and there spending two days, brightest in their calendar, 
together^ and his inviting friends to sympathize in their gladness. 
With a most direct, downright, at times almost rough exterior of man- 
ner, few men were so easil}- moved to tears. 

" Doctor McKeen was not a mere professional man. No one could 
be conversant with him and not be impressed with the proof of his 
tenacious memor}- of men and events. In modern political history, 
whether of our own or other lands, few surpassed him in general state- 
ment or minute detail. He never made public profession of his relig- 
ious faith. An habitual attendant on public worship when his pro- 
fessional calls and his health would permit, uniformly contributing his 
influence and support to the claims of the sanctuary, he was reserved 
respecting his own personal religious experiences. He never, however, 
swerved from the faith of his fathers. He made the re\ealed word his 
companion, and of late j'ears seemed to be girding himself for the com- 
ing of his Lord, often apprehending the day of His coming to be near 
at hand, and during his last days and his hours of consciousness sup- 
plicating in repeated petitions with agony of spirit for mercy through, 
and solelj' for, the merits of a crucified Redeemer." 

Doctor McKeen, though gentle and kind in the sick-room, possessed 



708 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

a wonderful ph3-sical energy, and had a rough bearing externally. lie 
was of a xGxy nervous temperament, which showed itself in his mode 
of diiving his horses. He has always been called a reckless driver, 
and so he was, as far as danger to pedestrians was concerned, rightly 
judging that the^' would give him a wide berth. So far, however, as 
pertained to the management of his steeds, he had no superior. 

He was a man of uncommon strength, and a lover of fair play. His 
bravery as well as his strength is shown in the following anecdote, 
■vvhich he himself told the writer : Once, soon after settling in Tops- 
ham, he was summoned one dark night to Bath. He went by way of 
Brunswick. When near New Meadows, his horse was suddenlj' seized 
by the bridle and stopped. At the same moment a man stepped up to 
his carriage, presented a pistol, and demanded his mone3\ The doc- 
tor quietly reached out, took the man by the coat-collar, lifted him into 
the carriage, disarmed him, and then, whipping his horse, broke away 
from the man who was holding the bridle, and carried the man he had 
taken to Bath. 

While he w^as a professor in college, Doctor JMcKeen made the tour 
of Europe, studying in the hospitals. While he was at Dublin, it is 
related of him that, being one day on the outskirts of the city, he 
observed a very large man fighting with a small one. Without stop- 
ping to learn the nature or merits of their quarrel, he at once "pitched 
into" the large man, and was busilj^ engaged in the contest when he 
was arrested by an officer, and taken to Dublin. He escaped confine- 
ment by the assistance of the American consul. 

As a physician, Doctor McKeen possessed keen powers of discrimi- 
nation and good judgment, and was alwaj's fertile in expedients. The 
writer recollects, on one occasion, while a student in his office, going 
with him to visit quite a number of patients in the outskirts of Bow- 
doin, Bowdoinham, and Richmond. The doctor left home in haste, 
and forgot to take his medicine-bag with him. The patients were all 
of them far from any druggist, so that to leave a prescription would 
hardl}- have been satisfactory in any of the eases. The doctor was 
not, however, in the least disconcerted when he made the discover}- 
that he had no medicines with him, but proceeded to give the neces- 
sary advice in regard to diet, etc., and then instructed them how to 
obtain and prepare the medicines most appropriate to each case. The 
suggestions thus obtained have never been forgotten, and have often 
proved of service to the writer. 

SurgeiT was, however, the l)ranch in which Doctor IMcKeen partic- 
ularly excelled, and had he lived in a more thickly settled comnumity, 



BIOGRAPniCAL. 769 

M-hero he would have had more frequent opportunities for practice, he 
would prol»ably have become eminent in this direction. As an instruc- 
tor of medical pupils, he had, in the earlier 3'ears of his professional 
life, an excellent reputation. Later, however, he left his stndents 
pretty much to themselves, merely advising them what to read, and in 
the latter part of their course occasionally taking them to see his 
patients. The instruction that he gave at the bedside was, however, 
very thorough. 

Doctor McKeen was, to the close of his life, an earnest student. 
He not onl}' kept up his interest in medical matters, but also in literary 
studies, and the last time the writer saw him he asked in regard to the 
correctness of some classical quotation that he was reading. 

Doctor McKeen had a livel}' sense of both personal and professional 
honor. Quacks and quackery he thoroughly and utterly- detested and 
despised. At the same time he himself, especialh' when he first com- 
menced, did not hesitate to put in practice a little harmless deception, 
such as being called from church when not needed, and especialh' a 
habit he never gave up, of driving furiously when first starting out. 

Among the citizens of Topsham, no one will be longer or more 
dearl}' remembered than he of whom it has been said that " upon his 
good name no stain ever rested." 

lie died in Topsham, November 28, 1873. 

McMANUS, CAPTAIN RICHARD. 

Captain Richard McManus enlisted as a soldier, at the age of eigh- 
teen, in Colonel McCobb's regiment, in the 3'ear 1813, and passed his 
time of service in the woods of Chateaugay (we suppose in New York, 
not far from Plattsburg) until December, 1814, when his term of ser- 
vice expired. Immediately after peace was declared, he shipped as a 
common sailor in Captain John Dunlap's emplo\-, and sailed with 
a Captain Growse. As a seaman he made two voj'ages with Cap- 
tain William Curtis. He then was promated to the office of mate, 
and in 1822 was again promoted to the office of master, and took 
charge of the schooner Exchange. From that time forward he succes- 
sively commanded different vessels, in the emplo}' of various parties, 
in 182G becoming interested as part owner with Messrs Washington 
& Jackson, of Philadelphia. 

Captain McManus made his last vo^-age in 1847, in the ship Mon- 
te reii h-omM6b'\\Q io lA\er\)Oo\ a.x\A back to New York. In 1854 he 
was appointed as agent for Maine for the New York Board of Under- 
writers, — a position of marked responsibility, demanding skill, judg- 
49 



770 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

inent, independence, and honest}' for a faithful discharge of dut}' ; this 
office he held for ten 3-ears, and we may sa}', we believe without a 
fear of contradiction, that the dut^^ was rendered to the entire satis- 
faction of the company, and to the great credit of the deceased. 

During his long and busy life, — for the captain was never idle .when 
work was to be done, — he amassed a handsome propert}', which, how- 
ever, the reverses of later years somewhat diminished. 

A gentleman who knew him well in Liverpool in his younger days, 
declares that he was one of, if not the finest looking ship-master that 
ever sailed out of that port ; he bore a close resemblance to E. K. 
(.ollins of New York, and the mistakes of identit\' were cause of 
merriment to both men. A remarkable thing for a sailor, Captain 
McManus never used tobacco in any form. 

In his long service on the sea, and in his ten 3-ears' work for the 
Board of Underwriters, Captain McManus had become more widel}"^ 
known than any other ship-master in New England, possibly than any 
in the United States. 

The deceased possessed a good knowledge of the common affairs of 
everv-da}- life, of the current politics of the day, and was thoroughl}' up 
in his calling as a ship-master and as a superintendent of the construc- 
tion of ships. Clear-headed, he was methodical in his business, prompt 
to meet his engagements, and honest in his dealings with others ; pru- 
dence and forethought marking his management of his business affairs. 

Captain McManus possessed a fund of animal spirits, proving him- 
self a most companionable man. He was free in his manners, strong 
in his attachments, and strong in his dislikes ; generous and hospitable 
in an eminent degree, his house and table were ever open to friends, 
and that hospitality was bestowed with an ease and cordiality that 
rendered it doubly acceptable to the recipient. 

Pie died in Brunswick, September 3, 1875.^ 

MARTIN, CAPTAIN CLEISIENT. 
Clement Martin was born in 1790. He was one of Brunswick's most 
successful ship-masters. Starting upon life with none of the advantages 
of modern days, he won his way to command and competent fortune 
through the exercise of an untiring energy, a cool judgment, and great 
l)usiness shrewdness and sagacity. Possessing a clear intellect, he 
observed closely, storing up many curious and interesting facts of men 
and things, incidents of his early life. He was a man of strong 



' From the Brunsioick Telegraph. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. "ill 

impulses but of warm feelings, making close friends of those who knew 
him best. He died June 2, 1869. 

MERRILL, JOHX, ESQUIRE. 

Mr. John Merrill was a surveyor. Having been emplojed hy Sir 
William Pepperell to survej- some of his land, Pepperell was so well 
pleased with him that he advised him to move to the District of Maine, 
and it was doubtless through his recommendation that Merrill was 
employed b}' Governor Bowdoin, of Massachusetts, to survey his 
extensive tract of land. 

In 17G0, Mr. Merrill packed up his clothes and tools, and with his 
pack over his shoulder left Arundel, and started on foot for the Andi'os- 
coggin River. At North Yarmouth he met a man who had just arrived 
from Brunswick. He asked the man if there would be an}' trouble in 
finding the waj'. " Oh, no," was the repl}', " the waj' is prett}' well 
spotted out." He then asked him the distance, and the answer was, 
" The}' call it eighteen miles, but I will swear for it you will think it 
twenty-eight miles before you get there." 

After arriving at Topsham he began to look around for a farm, and 
finally made a selection of the old Merrill homestead, where he built 
a log-house in the rear of the sits of the present house. He was after- 
wards rallied by an acquaintancs upon what was deemed his lack of 
judgment in building so far off from the settlement. 

While in the employ of Governor Bowdoin he was accustomed each 
fall, after his season's work was over, to travel on foot, pack on back 
and staff in hand, to Boston, to render an account of his doings to his 
employer and receive his pa}'. 

Mr. Merrill was for many years the principal surveyor in Lincoln 
County. He was very careful and accurate, and showed a good degree 
of skill for those times. He was a public-spirited and patriotic man. 
He was one of the selectmen of Topsham in 1764, at the first organi- 
zation of the town after it was incorporated, and he held that office 
for eighteen years, at various periods prior to 1800. He was one of 
the Committee of Correspondence and Safety in 1776, and was one of 
the principal actors in the affairs of the town during all the period 
above named. At the June term of the Court of General Sessions of 
the Peaca, held at Pownalboro' in 1777, he took his place on the bench 
as one of the justices, and he also officiated as such in 1782 and 1783. 
In 1772 he was Kceused by the court as a retailer, and also in 1778. 
He was licensed as an innholder in 1774. At the town meeting Decem- 
ber 2, 1776, he was chosen as an officer to take recognizance of debts. 



772 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL 

INIr. Merrill was a man of jiulgraent and moral worth. He was an 
ardent lover of books, and collected a large library at a time when 
books were both costly and diflicnlt to obtain. It is said that he bought 
the first Cyclopiiedia owned in the District of Maine. He was an indul- 
gent father, and it is related that on one occasion, when his daughter 
Susannah was onl}^ seventeen years of age, he yielded to her solicita- 
tions and allowed her to make a visit to Boston. She accomplished 
the journey, riding the whole way on horseback, under the escort of 
the different mail-carriers on the route. The sight of a beautiful and 
graceful, as well as daring young damsel, galloping along with her red 
cloak fluttering behind her, created a sensation in all the settlements 
and towns through which she passed, and one ardent swain was so 
smitten by her attractions at that time that he did not rest until he 
made her acquaintance. He at once proposed, was accepted, and the 
next spring the}' were married. 

MERRILL, COLONEL ABEL. 

Colonel Abel Merrill, son of John Merrill, was emphatically a public 
man in this communit}', Saj's one who knew him well : — 

" Endowed with good judgment and a thorough knowledge of human 
nature, superadded to a good education (self-acquired) and a noble 
mien, he stood foremost among his townsmen. During the war of 
1812, and until its close in 1814, he commanded a regiment and did 
good service in the division of General King, who regarded him as one 
of his most efficient and accomplished officers. At the close of the 
war he resigned, and was called into civil service, representing his 
town in the House and his county in the Senate, besides holding other 
offices luitil he declined them altogether. Married 'to an estimable 
lady, and having a ftimiiy of eleven sons anil three daughters, all grown 
up, he, with ample honor and fortune, withdrew from public life to 
enjoy, with the wife of liis youth, a ripe old age in the society of their 
remaining children, near the church of which the}' had been active 
members for over fort}' years, 

•'As a Christian, a member of the Masonic fraternity, a politician, 
a husband and father, he had few equals, while hospitality has ever 
been an • heirloom ' at the Merrill homestead. He could say of his 
children, that some of them had visited ever}' quarter of the earth, 
and that neither absence nor distance ever severed the ties which bound 
them together." 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 773 



MERRILL, CAPTAIN LEONARD P. 

Captain Merrill was graduated at Bowdoin College in 1842. He 
studied law, and practised awhile in Brunswick, He finally went to 
sea, shipping " before the mast." He rapidly rose, however, in his 
new occupation, until he came into the command of a vessel. At the 
time of his death, which occurred in New Orleans, November 1, 1871, 
at the age of fort^-nine ^cars, he was master of the ship Aitiity, of 
Bath. 

Captain Merrill was a good ship-master. He also possessed fine 
talents and a culti^■ated taste, and was a good musician. He was a 
man of thorough integrity of character, and of good judgmen'. and 
discernment. . 

MERRILL, CAPTAIN MOSES EMERY. 

Captain Merrill belonged to the Fifth Regiment, United States Infan- 
try. He was with General Taylor in Mexico, and participated in the 
battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, and the capture of Monte- 
rey. He then joined Scott, and was at the taking of Vera Cruz, at 
Contreras, Cheruljusco, and at Molino del Rey, where he fell. His 
remains were brought to Brunswick for interment. 

" The conscientious, gallant, and noble Merrill was detached with 
the storming party, and fell early in the action, while waving his sword 
above his head, and urging on his men to the charge. He fell too soon 
for his countr}', but covered with glor}' acquired in many battle-fields." 

MILLER, REVEREND JOHN. 

Reverend John IMiller, of Milton, Massachusetts, received a call to 
settle in Brunswick in December, 1761, and was installed over the 
church of the First Parish in September, 1762. He was settled over 
this parish for about twentj'-four j'ears. During the early part of his 
ministry he apparently gave good satisfaction, and the church appears 
to have flourished. Towards the close of his ministry, however, con- 
siderable dissatisfaction was felt, charges were made against him, and 
efforts were several times made to dismiss him. As careful an exami- 
nation as can now be made into the merits of the case appears to 
show that the differences between him and a portion of the parish 
were originallj' owing to a variance of opinion in regard to matters of 
church polity. This was a subject upon which the residents of the 
east and west ends of the town did not harmonize ; the latter favoring 
the Presbyterian, and the former the Congregational form of church 



774 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

gOA-ernment. Mr. Miller could not, of course, satisfy both sides, and 
after a while mutual criminations and recriminations occurred which 
rendered a settlement by an ecclesiastical council necessary'. Before, 
however, the matter was settled, Mr. Miller's death occurred. ScA'cral 
letters of Mr. Miller, and other papers relating to the matter, are 
pi'eserved in the Pejepscot Collection. Concerning Mr. Miller's abili- 
ties as a preacher, and the influence which he exerted, but little can 
now be said. Judging from his own writings, he was a strict believer 
in all the doctrines taught in the Westminster Catechism, and endeav- 
ored conscientiousl}' to act up to his i-eligious views. At the same 
time it is believed that he was charitably" disposed to those who differed 
with him in what he deemed minor matters of faith. 

MINOT, HONORABLE JOHN. 

At what time Judge Minot first came to Brunswick is xinknown. 
As earl}- as 1715 the proprietors voted that " Mr. Watts' discourse 
with Mr. John Minot about his sta3'ing there (Brunswick) this winter, 
if it be needful, to oversee our affairs, to keep our cattle emplo^'cd in 
hailing Timber, &c., and to forward the building of our Houses." 
AV^hether he spent that winter here or not is not known ; but he did 
not, in all probability, take up his permanent residence in the town 
until after the incorporation, as his name does not appear on the 
petition for the same, and for some time previously he had been in 
command of Richmond Fort, and had the control of the truck-house 
there. He appears, however, to have previously owned a farm on 
Mair Point. 

Judge Minot was town clerk of Brunswick in 1744, and that year 
recorded the names and ages of his children in the town records, the 
first entry of the kind that was made. He was a justice of the peace, 
and subsequently Chief Justice of the Court of Sessions. He also 
represented the town at the General Court for two or three years. He 
was chairman of the Board of Selectmen for two ^-ears, and was the 
man authorized b}' the General Court to call the first town meeting in 
Harpswell. 

Tradition describes Judge Minot as being distinguished for the mild- 
ness of his manners, the benevolence of his disposition, and for his 
anxiet}" to promote the peace and happiness of all around him. He 
was a iiseful citizen, and was alwaA'S active in his support of religious 
institutions. In his manner he was kind and courteous, and was highly 
esteemed and beloved b^- all, even by the Indians. It is related ' of 

* McKeen, MS. Lecture. 



BIOGRAPmCAL. 7 75 

him that, as he was once passing Mair Brook, on his way home from 
Fort George, two Indians, concealed behind a tree, were just in the 
act of shooting him, when one of tliem recognized him, and exclaimed, 
" Justice Minot ! me no shoot him — he too good man ! " The account 
goes on to state that not long after, this same Indian came to the judge, 
and wanted some rum for having saved his life on that occasion. 

As regards Minot's judicial career but ver^- little is known. He evi- 
dentl}' kept his court records loosely, as some of them are still extant, 
entered in account books and diaries. From what has been said of 
him as a man, it is fair to presume that his decisions were generally 
equitable, whatever may have been his knowledge of law. 

NEWMAN, PROFESSOR SAMUEL P. 

Samuel Phillips Newman was born in Andover, Massachusetts, in 
1797, was graduated at Harvard College in 1816, and died at Ando- 
ver, February 10, 1842. 

In 1818 he became a tutor at Bowdoin College, and the next year 
was chosen Professor of Ancient Languages. lu 1824 he was trans- 
ferred to the professorship of Rhetoric and Oratory. He resigned his 
office in September, 1839, on account of ill health, and removed to 
Barre, Massachusetts, where he took charge of the Normal School. 

For about three jears Professor Newman discharged the duties of 
the president of the college, during the illness of Appleton, the then 
incumbent. As a professor, he added greatly* to the rei^utation of the 
college, especially bj' the publication of his "Practical System of Rhet- 
oric," which, in this countrj- and England, passed through sixty-seven 
editions, and of his "Elements of Political Economy." 

" The chapter on Taste, in his work on Rhetoric, is the result of 
much reflection, as well as extensive reading, and, though necessarily 
brief, is one of the. most satisfactor}' treatises on this subject in the 
language. Mr. Newman devoted, during the last years of his office, 
much attention to the subject of elocution. He studied the principles 
developed by Sheridan, Rush, and other writers, with much care, and 
conducted this ditHcult and heretofore neglected branch with skill and 
success, 

" As a critic, he was discriminating, of pure taste, well versed in the 
laws of English composition, and apt in the application of them. In 
all his relations to the college he was of a ready apprehension, a 
perspicacious, able teacher, a wise counsellor, and a valuable friend. 

" Mr. Newman was never satisfied with supertieial or indefinite 
views. He was not of that number who gather up scraps of knowledge. 



776 EISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

Heuce be was not discursive in reading. He souglit for principles. 
He investigated patiently and thoronghlj', and was not contented 
unless he had some important subject on hand for such investigation. 
He was endowed by nature in an unusual degree with the elements of 
a fine taste, a quick sensibilit}- to beauty, great simplicit}- of heart 
and character, and a strong aversion to whatever is show}' or affected. 
His writings were characterized by simplicit}^ and naturalness. 

" In tlie relations of private life Professor Newman gained the esteem 
and affection of all who can appreciate worth. His e^'e, ever read}' to 
kindle and to melt with tenderness, was a sure index of the warm 
affections within. How he was regarded as a fellow-citizen and a 
man, may be known from the general interest ever expressed for his 
welfare after his removal from his home of many 3'ears, and espe- 
cially during the progress of his long and distressing disease, by those 
of every condition who had long known him in the various relations of 
public and private life. 

" In 1820, Mr. Newman received a license to preach from the Cum- 
berland Association, and from time to time, as his official duties per- 
mitted, he preached with acceptance. As a Christian, he was ever 
advancing in the divine life. The close of his daj^s afforded a striking 
exemplification of the power of Christian faith to sustain the soul, and 
to impart that peace which passeth all understanding."^ 

O'BRIEN JOHN M., ESQUIRE. 

Mr. O'Brien was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, September 
9, 1786. He graduated at Bowdoin in the first class that ever left 
that college, 180G, and at his death, in 1865, he was the last member. 
After graduation he is beheved to have studied law in the office of 
Chief Justice Parsons, of Newburyport. He practised his profession 
awhile in Boston, but about 1845, perhaps earlier, he removed to 
Brunswick. After coming here he paid little attention to law, but 
devoted himself to literature, science, and the mechanic arts. He 
possessed a remarkable inventive faculty. He had a refined taste, 
was well read in general literature, was a finished writer, possessed 
good conversational powers, and was a remarkably good extempora- 
neous speaker. 

In manner he was modest antl I'ather retiring ; in disposition sensi- 
tive, warm-hearted, and generous ; among his friends companionable 

^Portland Advertiser, March 7, 1842. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 777 

and faithful. His -nife Hannah was born about 1756, and died Octo- 
ber 24, 1826 

Mr. O'Brien died in Brunswick, December 10, 1865. 

'ORE, BENJAMIN, ESQUIUE. 

Honorable Benjamin Orr, the son of John Orr. of Bedford, New 
Hampshire, was born in Bedford, December 1, 1772. He was for 
many years a resident of Topsham, and lived in the Ruth Thomp- 
son house. He was one of the most brilliant and successful advo- 
cates in the State. 

The following sketch is al)ridged from one prepared by Honorable 
William "Willis for another work.i 

When Benjamin Orr ai'rived at years of discretion he expressed a 
desire for a liberal education ; but his father, having eight sons to 
provide for, was not able to comply with his wishes, and apprenticed 
him to a house wright. 

He labored in this capacity for two or three years, when he i)ur- 
chased a release from his indentures, and worked on his own account, 
keeping steadily in view the prominent idea of his life, — to qualif}' him- 
self for a learned profession. With this intent his head and hands 
were constant]}' busy, working at his trade, pursuing a course of 
stud}', and keeping school. B}' keeping steadil}' in view his great 
plan of life, his mind was constant!}' educating itself amidst his daih" 
mechanical toil, by close attention and constant discipline, superior 
far to the mere formula and routine stud}' of schools. When in Port- 
land and other towns in which courts were sitting, he embraced the 
opportunity to spend what time he could spare in listening to their 
proceedings, hearing the arguments of counsel and the rulings of the 
court, and thus increasing his stores for improving the operations of 
his own mind. 

In his studies he received much aid from Paul Langdon, a graduate 
of Harvard, and some time preceptor of Fryeburg Academy, who 
gave direction to his preparatory studies. With such assistance, and 
his own unbending perseverance, he was enabled, in 17*J6, to enter 
the Junior class of Dartmouth college. 

While in college he studied law under the direction of William 
Woodward, Esquire, of Grafton. On taking his degree in 1798, he 
entered the office of Samuel Dinsmore, late governor of New Hamp- 
shire, and continued there something over a year, when, thinking 

^ The Courts and Lawyers of Maine. 



< (ft HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Maine would be the best field for his future labors, he proceeded to 
Hallowell, and placed himself under the tuition of the late Judge 
Wilde. In the autumn of 1801 he was admitted to the bar in Lincoln 
County, and immediately opened an offi3e in Top^him, where Mr. 
Hasey was then the solitar3' practitioner. In 1803 he was admitted 
to practice in the Supreme Court, and from the position he at once 
took at the bar, his practice became very extensive in his own and the 
adjoining county of Cumberland. On one occasion he encountered 
the able and distinguished Jeremiah Mason, of New Hampshire, in a 
bill of equity- before the Circuit Court of the United States. The case 
was of great importance, as may be supposed by the engagement of 
such an advocate as Mason. His success was complete and trium- 
phant, and he was highly complimented hy Mr. Mason for the manner 
and ability with which he conducted the cause. 

In Chancery practice Mr. Orr became quite eminent, and is said to 
have been without a rival in the State. He pursued his lai-ge and 
successful practice without interruption by extraneous employments, 
except for two 3'ears from 1817, when he represented the Lincoln 
district in Congress. During the first session he did not much engage 
in debate. On the thirteenth of March he made an able speech in 
opposition to a resolution which declared that it was the dut3' and in 
the power of Congress to authorize the making of post, military, and 
other roads and canals within the several States. The resolution was, 
however, adopted, b}' a vote of ninet}' to seventy-five. At the next 
session Mr. Orr made a speech on the Massachusetts Claim, and he 
also spoke twice on a bill relating to the coasting trade. His remarks 
were characterized b}' sound sense, conciseness, and entire pertinenc}' 
to the subjects under discussion. Mr. Orr was a useful member, by 
his clear perceptions, his promptness and fidelity- to the duties of his 
station, and the ability with which he treated every subject to which 
he gave his attention. 

This was the last public office which Mr. Orr held. The practice of 
law suited him far better, and M^as better adapted to his powers, his 
education, and his inclinations. He sought it in its highest forms : it 
gave full scope to his clear and comprehensive mind and his severe 
dialectic talent, and he pursued it with elevated aspirations and lofty 
endeavors which would have no fellowship with meanness in any shape. 
As an advocate IMr. Orr was concise, logical, and forcible. He seized 
upon the salient points of a case, and pressed them with a power that 
was invincible. He did not waste his strength in efforts to sustain the 
weak points of his cause, but poured a concentrated light upon its 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 779 

strong features. The manner in which he viewed this style of man- 
aging a cause ma}- be inferred from his repl}' to an anxious cHent, who, 
sitting b}' him as he was closing a splendid argument, in which, with 
conciseness and force peculiar to himself, he had presented his case to 
the jurj-, suggested to him some point w'hich he had not touched upon. 
" I have argued your cause, sir, and cannot stop to pick up the chips." 
As a lawj-er his mind was clear, discriminating, and exact. As he 
grew in experience and reputation, his business rapidlj' increased, and 
his services were called for in all parts of the State. 

Immediately after his death, Chief Justice Mellen, in a charge to 
the grand jiuy, September, 1828, spoke of him as one " who had long 
stood, confessedly, at the head of the profession of our State ; who had 
distinguished himself by the depth and solidit}' of his understanding, 
by his legal acumen and research, bj- the power of his intellect, the 
commanding energy of his reasoning, the uncompromising firmness of 
his principles, and the dignit}' and lofty sense of honor, truth, and jus- 
tice which he uniformlj' displayed in his professional career and in the 
walks of private life." 

Mr. Orr was appointed one of the overseers of Bowdoin College, 
and afterwards, in 1814, was chosen a Trustee, which office he held at 
the time of his death ; and during this time, for one or two years, he 
held the office of treasurer. 

Ills wife formerly' resided in Newburj-port, Massachusetts. She was 
a descendant from John Robinson, the Leyden pilgrim, and venerated 
pastor of the Pl3"mouth Church before its migration. Bj^ her he had 
eleven children. The death of this excellent lady, to whom he was 
most teuderl}' attached, struck a severe blow upon Mr. Orr, from which 
he never recovered. His letters to her, when he was absent in Con- 
gress or upon the circuit, were filled with ex|Dressions of anxious 
solicitude for her health, of deep interest in her comfort, pleasure, and 
welfare ; and when she was taken from him, he ceased to find conso- 
lation or support. 

He died in 1828. 

His sous, John and Hemy, were educated at Bowdoin College. John 
graduated in 1834, and entered the ministry-. Heniy graduated in 
1846, and entered upon the practice of law in Brunswick, where he is 
still settled. 

OWEN, PHILIP. 

Philip Owen was born in Brunswick, in Februar}', 1756, and died 
May 28, 1849.' He was a soldier in the Revolutionar\' war, and a 



780 HISTORY OF BHUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

member of the General Court in 1812 ami 1813. The following 
extract from a letter written b}' him, under date of June 14, 1843, to 
J. T. Buckingham, president of the Bunker Hill Monument Associa- 
tion, in response to an invitation to attend the celebration of the anni- 
versary of the battle of Bunker Hill, will best show his services. He 
was then in his eightj'-eighth 3'ear. and declined the invitation on 
account of his infirmities. 

" In IMay. 1 777, being then twent3'-one years of age, I went wiih the 
army to P'ort Ticonderoga, and was there when General Burgoyne came 
up the lake. Our arm}', three thousand in number, retreated from this 
post to Hubbardston, a distance of twenty-four miles, when General 
Frnzer came up in pursuit. I was in the engagement for a quarter of 
an hour at close quarters ; and when our army was obliged then to 
retreat, with a loss of two hundred and fifty men. Colonel Francis, 
of Beverl}', was shot, close behind me. after a gallant defence. I was 
also present at the battle of Stillwater, when General Frazer attacked 
Colonel Morgan. Tlie latter was reinforced by our soldiers, and the 
fight then became general, from two o'clock till dark. The surrender 
of Burgoyne took place three days after this, on the 17th of October. 
I also guarded the army's stores at Monmouth, New Jersey, in 1 778 ; 
and when the British Colonel Monkton was killed, his body was left 
in my care. 

" I was also a witness of the memorable execution of Major Andre 
on the 2d of October, 1780. Our army, under General Patterson, was 
then stationed at West Point. Having obtained leave of absence, I 
fell in with the guard who were appointed to attend Major Andre on 
that occasion, and thus had an excellent opportunity for witnessing 
the scene. The events of the day are still as fresh in my memory as 
those of yesterday. I saw him remove his stock, and prepare himself 
for his final scene, with as much composure as though attending to his 
usual emplo3'ments." 

pagp:, doctor Jonathan. 
Doctor Page was born in Conway, New Hampshire, in October, 1777. 
He came to Brunswick in the year 1795, and commenced the practice 
of medicine in 1800. His practice soon became extensive, and con- 
tinued increasingly so until the sickness which terminated in his death. 
Among the distinguished men in his profession, he held a highly 
respectable rank. He was well skilled in the principles and practice 
of his art, and was considered an eminently judicious and successful 
practitioner. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 781 

Doctor Page was favoralily and conspicuously known in public life, 
lie was for several j-ears a member of the Senate of Massachusetts, 
before the separation of Maine from that State. When provision was 
made for the separation of IMaine, and when, in connection with the 
assumption of rights of self-government, she was required to form a 
Constitution for herself, he was chosen a member of the convention 
to whom that important duty was assigned. To such an assembly, 
whose business it was to establish the fundamental law which should 
define and secure the rights of succeeding generations, it was no small 
honor to belong. He was subsequent!}' a member of the Senate of 
Maine. 

Intelligent and active, and ever taking a deep interest in what- 
ever came under his examination, he could not be for any length 
of time a member of any public body without leaving the impress 
of his character. He was one of the original members of the Maine 
Medical Society, and for man}' years a member of the Facult}' of 
the Maine Medical School connected with Bowdoin College. He 
was also for more than twenty 3ears a member of the Board of Over- 
seers of the college. 

In his private as well as his public and professional relations, he was 
highl}' esteemed and beloved, frank, sociable, and open-hearted in his 
intercourse with his family and friends, reatly to say and to do wiiat 
he thought was right. He died at Brunswick on Friday, November 
18, 1842, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. 

PATTEN, JOHN. 

John Patten came to America, in company with his father, in 1727 ; 
landed in Boston, and thence came to Saco, Maine, where his father 
settled. He removed to Topsham about 1750, and settled on a tract 
of land, about two hundred acres, which was then a wilderness, but is 
now a fine farm, pleasantly situated in sight of Merrj-meeting Bay. He 
had the character of an honest and industrious man, who was upright 
in all the walks and relations of life. He was a farmer, and had also 
the trade of blacksmith, and had a shop on the farm, where he employed 
a portion of his time, and performed the blacksmith work of the vicin- 
ity. He was also engaged in the lumber business to a certain extent, 
and was a proprietor in the Cathance Mill right, and of one sixteenth 
of the saw-mill and stream. He was somewhat engaged, also, 
in ship-building and navigation, and he, with John Fulton, Adam 
Hunter, and WiUiam Patten, built the first vessel ever launched 



782 nisToiiY OF beunswick, top sham, and ha UPS well. 

al)ove the "Chops," and the second built upon the Kennebec, above 
Bath.i 

By industiy and attention to business, he accumulated considerable 
propert}-, and Avas one of the most inMuential and useful members of 
society in his day, especialh' in town and parish matters. He was a 
man of good appearance, tall and well proportioned, of command- 
ing presence, active and quick in his movements, kind and affec- 
tionate to his famil}-, and to all within the circle of his acquaint- 
ance. He was religious from his youth, having always enjoyed the 
example and instruction of a pious father, and at the time of 
his death was a deacon of the Congregational Church in Topsham. 
He was astrict observer of the Sabbath, and a constant attendant 
upon the services of the day, though residing some miles from the 
place of public worship. He died April 7, 1795, aged seventy-seven 
years. 

PATTEN, CAPTAIN ROBERT. 

Robert Patten was the eldest son of the subject of the preceding 
sketch, and came to Topsham with his fivther while a bo}'. When 
about twenty- five years of age he married and settled on a lot of land 
about a mile from his father's. His farm and residence at that time 
was in Topsham, but by a change of the boundary line his farm after- 
wards came within the limits of Bowdoinham. 

Mr. Patten was an industrious, hard-working man, possessed of a 
great amount of perseverance in the accomplishment of whatever he 
undertook. His chief employment for some time was fanning. Besides 
the management of his farm he built, during his lifetime, a number of 
vessels, and was always more or less engaged in navigation. In his 
business concerns, while he met with much success, he also met with 
many losses. He was interested in six vessels, which were lost in the 
course of his business hfe. Of one of these he was sole owner ; of the 
others, part owner onl}-. Twice he suffered the loss of his dwelling- 
house by fire. Yet notwithstanding these serious checks to his pros- 
perit}', he succeeded in maintaining himself through life in good cir- 
cumstances as to propert}-, and died possessed of a considerable estate. 
The advantages for an education were of course verj- limited at that 
period. A few weeks' schooling was all that was enjoyed b}- the sub- 
ject of this sketch, when A'oung ; yet by his own application, with 
what aid he received from members of the ftimily. he nf(|uii('d a decent 



' See Chapter X, p. 331. 



BIOURAPIIICAL. 783 

education for that daj'. When abont the age of thirty he was chosen 
captain of a miUtia compan}' by bis fellow-citizens. This conntry 
being then under England, his commission was from the king's 
'' Council of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay," and was dated July 
1, 1770, just three days before the declaration of our national 
independence. He was a person of remarkable health. He was never 
confined a da}' by sickness for nearly or quite ninety years, never 
took an}' medicine during that long period, and retained all his teeth, 
fair and sound, until within a short time of his death, in his ninety- 
eighth year. 

PACKARD, REVEREND CHARLES. 

Reverend Charles Packard, a son of Reverend Doctor Hezekiah 
Packard, a graduate and tutor of Harvard College, was born in 
Chelmsford, Massachusetts, April 12, 1801. The following year his 
father became pastor of the Congregational Church at Wiscasset, 
Maine, and there the boy spent his earlj' days and fitted for Bowdoin 
College. He entered, at the age of twelve, the class which was gradu- 
ated in 1<S17, and of which the late Doctor James McKeen was a 
member. 

The next few years were spent in teaching. Later he was a private 
tutor in the famih' of Robert H. Gardiner, Esquire, of Gardiner. In 
the office of Erederick Allen, Esquire, in that town, Mr. Packard 
began the study of law, finishing his legal course with the Honorable 
Benjamin Orr, of Brunswick. Admitted to the bar, he opened an 
office in what is now known as Day's Block, Maine Street. His prac- 
tice was a remunerative one, and a change of profession later on 
involved the forsaking of an opportunit}' for enjoying a ver}' consider- 
able income. The record of his j'ears as a lawyer shows that the con- 
scientiousness, clearness, and strength of subsequent professional 
acts and exercises were but the development of his earl}' characteris- 
tics. As a pupil of the eminent lawyer, Mr. Orr, he gained broad 
ideas of the study and practice of the profession, and he did no dis- 
credit to his teacher. 

In 1834 there was a special interest in religion in the town, and 
together with his intimate friend, Robert P. Dunlap, Mr. Packard 
turned his thought in a new channel and became a communicant of 
the church on the hill. 

In the full career of a successful practice, and with a family gath- 
ered about him in a pleasant home, it was no small thing for him to 
decide to enter the ministry. But he lelt that it was his duty ; and so 



784 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AXD HARPSWELL. 

feeling there was but one thing for him to do : he accordiugly deter- 
mined to begin forthwith a course in tlieology. 

While a citizen of Brunswick Mr. Packard for a few months did 
editorial work on the Androscoggin Free Press and the Brunswick 
Journal. After his marriage his residence was in the house on 
Pleasant Street so long occupied b}- the late William Baker ; and it 
was b}' no means his least title to the name of a good citizen of the 
town that he planted the magnificent elms on the north side of the 
street which now ornament the vicinit}'. 

His studies in divinity began at Andover, where he remained one 
year ; from that place he removed to Lane Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio. 
His first pastoral charge was at Hamilton, Ohio, but the climate proved 
so uncongenial to his family that he was forced to resign and return to 
the East. For the next fifteen years his work was at Lancaster, Mas- 
sachusetts. For man}' years one of the school committee of the town, 
he was devoted to the idea of making the most of the common-school 
sj'stem. In all matters of public reform and morality he was in the 
front rank. The three years from 1854 to 1857 were passed in Cam- 
bridge and North Middleboro', Massachusetts, where his record was, 
" An interesting and able preacher, a most genial Christian and gen- 
tleman." He entered upon his final pastoral engagement in 1857, with 
the Second Congregational Church, Biddcford. Maine. There were 
large accessions to his church. Here, again, he showed himself the good 
citizen. When he died, there was a great company to lament him. 
They came from all social and religious divisions of the inhabitants. 

The burial was on Monda}-, Februar}' 21, 1864, in Brunswick, in the 
grave3'ard on the hill. At the church, Reverend Doctor Adams re- 
viewed, in his own felicitous, frank, and feeling way, the life of his 
former parishioner and constant good friend. That address is author- 
it}' for even more eulogism than the writer of this memorial has used. 
Mr. Packard was a pioneer in the antislavery uprising. He was not 
ashamed to be called an abolitionist. Good men doubted, tempo- 
rizers clamored ; but moved l)y his conscience he would not hold his 
peace. At a time when to be an abolitionist made a preacher a marked 
man, he counted professional success (so far as place and profit are 
concerned) a small thing. He had in him the stuflT of which martyrs 
are made. In his preaching, the habits of the lawj-er were manifest. 
He generalh' used a few notes, and talked as if to a jnry. Plain com- 
mon-sense, Bible phrases, familiar illustrations, simple arguments, 
were the staple of his discourses, but all was delivered as bv authorit}'. 
Of commanding presence, there was in his voice and whole carriage 






^/^O^'^f—4..^..,.^^ (XX^^'^^S*--*^'*^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 1S5 

that which testified to his substantial and uncompromising character. 
" Without fear and without reproach" is no exaggerated summary of 
a life which was obedient to dut}', faithful to the demands of public 
and private morality and charit}', and which was sustained by "the 
comfort of a reasonable, religious, and holy hope." 

PERKINS, MAJOR NAHUM. 

Nahum Perkins was born in Sandford, Maine, April 25, 1787, and 
was one of a famil}' of ten children. He belonged to a \evy athletic 
race.^ He was brought up to hard work and good habits. He had 
nothing with which to commence life but good health and his hands. 

When a boy, he went to live with a farmer, who, having no children, 
wished to adopt him and make him his heir ; but he preferred, with his 
pack on his back and a shilling in his pocket, to seek his own fortune. 
He came to Topsham in 1807. He at first drove a stage from Port- 
land to Augusta, then engaged in monthl}^ labor on the land and at the 
mills, till he accumulated sufficient means to engage in trade and lum- 
bering. During the prostration of business occasioned b}' the war of 
1812, he returned to the farm and, at considerable expense, repaired 
the buildings and put it in order ; but upon the revival of business he 
returned to his cherished pursuits in Topsham. Being of a retirino- 
disposition, he rather avoided than sought public position. He com- 
manded the battalion in this vicinity in the latter part of 1820, and 
was for some time member of a general court-martial, convened on 
the Penobscot. He was a member of the State legislature in 1825, 
and for three subsequent terms. While there, his store, stock of goods, 
and account books were all destroj'ed by fire, causing a large loss of 
propert}', and leaving him considerabl}^ in debt. So strict was his 
sense of obligation to his creditors that he turned over to them all his 
property, even to the famil}' Bible. Such was the regard of the mem- 
bers of the legislature for liim that the}' presented him with fifteen 
hundred dollars. 

He at one time, with other parties, contracted to build a vessel. 
When the vessel was partly completed, she took fire on the stocks and 
was destroyed. The contract with the master builder, who was a poor 
man, was not made in writing, and the parties were not legally held to 
him. Major Perkins, however, and one other gentleman concerned, 
considered themselves morally responsible, and footed the bills. 



^ His father, Jabez Perkins, at the age of ninety-six, cut, sharpened, and carried out of 
the woods on his back, a hundred fence-stakes in one day. 
50 



780 HIST on Y OF bhuxswick, topsiiam, and harpswell. 

INIajor Perkins was a \&v\ industrious man. From sixteen to sev- 
enty-nine he did a man's work, and died of work. He was a generous 
man. No legitimate charity- appealed to him in vain. His generositj- 
was carried to the point of self-denial. His life w-as filled up with 
neighborl}- acts of charit}'. His home was the centre of a large liber- 
alit}' and unstinted benevolence. 

In 1840 he made a public profession of religion, uniting with the 
Congregational Societ}' of Topsham, of which he continued an active 
and useful member until his death, which occurred in October, 1865. 

PERRY, DEACON JOHN. 

Mr, Perr}- was born at Rehoboth, county of Bristol, Massachusetts, 
December 3, 1 772. In 1798 he moved to Brunswick, where he remained 
until 1833, when he removed to Orono. He was married in 1802 to 
Jane, daughter of Colonel William Stanwood, of Brunswick, and had 
seven children. He was the agent of the cotton-mill established in 
Brunswick in 1812, and was engaged in general trade for manj' jears. 
He was a justice of the peace, and was a selectman in 1807 and 1808. 
He was also, it is claimed, the founder of the first Sabbath school in 
Brunswick. 

"As a husband and father he was most devoted, affectionate, aud 
kind. Possessing a warm heart and a mind well stored by extensive 
reading /ind close and judicious observation, he was ever an agreeable 
and instructive companion, and his society' alwaj-s welcome. As a 
citizen he was active and enterprising, and his example and influence 
always on the right side. As a neighbor, always kind and obliging. 
and as cheerful to do good ofiices as to receive them. In the support 
and promotion of the moral and benevolent institutions of the day, he 
was consistent, firm, and liberal. Of the cause of missions, in partic- 
ular, he was an ardent and devoted friend. He made a public profes- 
sion of religion in 1811, and united with the Congregational Church in 
Brunswick. In 1820 he was elected to the office of deacon, and held 
it until his removal to Orono in 1833. He was chosen to fill the same 
oflSce at Orono." i 

He died March 18, 1840. 

PERRY, WILLIAM S. 

The subject of this sketch was a son of Deacon John Perry, of 
Brunswick. He attended the public schools until he was sixteen years 

1 Christian Mirror. 







l/C^cty^^t^ ^ 




e^^j^ 



BIOGRAPllWAL. ISl 

of age, when he went to work. When he became twenty-one 3'ears of 
age he engaged in the himber business in Boston. While a resident 
of Massachusetts he became a director in the Mount Wollaston Bank, 
in Quincy. In 1870 he returned to Brunswick and bought the prop- 
erty- of Professor Boody, on Maine Street. He was a member of the 
Board of Overseers of Bowdoin College, and a director of the Union 
National Bank, of Brunswick. He died in Brunswick, April 8, 1873, 
aged a little more than fifty-six 3'ears. 

Mr. Perry, though not possessed of a collegiate education, was a 
good scholar, and was well versed in Latin, French, and mathematics. 
He was a great reader and fond of historical studies. He was genial 
and loving in his disposition, upright in business, and interested in the 
welfare of the town. 

PORTER, RENJAMIX JONES, M. D. 

Doctor Porter, the son of Major Bill}- Porter, was born in Beverly, 
Massachusetts, September 20, 1763, and died in Camden, Maine, 
August 18, 1847. After completing his academical course at B3-field 
Academy he studied medicine with his uncle. Doctor Jones, a surgeon 
in the Continental army. He was commissioned as surgeon's mate 
in Tupper's (Eleventh) Regiment, April 10, 1780, and in H. Jackson's 
(Fourth) Regiment in 1783. He afterwards practised his profession 
successiveh' in Scarboro', Westbrook, and Portland. 

He settled in Topsham about 1793, and built the house, now 
destroj'ed, nearly opposite Alfred AVhite's, and just east of that for- 
merly occupied by John H. Thompson, Esquire. He went into the 
luml)ering business with William King, afterwards governor of Maine. 
The firm went l)y the name of Porter & King. They were also 
engaged in trade, and their store stood about where Goud's store now 
is. He engaged but \evy little in practice after coming to Topsham. 
He afterwards built the house now owned and occupied by Mrs. Susan 
T. Purinton. He took a prominent part in politics ; was a councillor 
and senator from Lincoln County, before the separation ; was one of 
the commissioners to divide the State property of Maine and Massa- 
chusetts in 1820. 

He accumulated considerable property, but sustained severe losses 
in consequence of the embargo, and also by the freshet on the Andros- 
coggin River, in 1814. He had the honorarj^ degree of A. M. con- 
ferred upon him by Bowdoin College in 1809, and was a fellow and 
treasurer of the college from 1806 to 1815. He removed to Camden 
in 1829, where he spent the remainder of his life. He is said to have 



1 



c 



788 HISTORY OF BRUXSJVICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARFSWELL. 

been a man of rare conversational powers and of great suavity of. 

manners. 

PURCHASE, THOMAS. 

(PIKCHTS OR PEKCHES. ) 

Thomas Purchase, the first settler in Brunswick, was prol)abl3- born 
in England, not far from the 3'ear 1576. His widow, in her petition 
to the Probate Court ^ in 1678, states that he was one hundred and 
one years old at his death. 

Concerning his ancestry nothing whatever is known, and but ver}' 
little as to his connections. There is no known relationship l)etween 
him and Reverend Samuel Purchas, author of the " Pilgrimages." 

There is, however, reason to suppose that there was a relationship 
of some kind between Thomas Purchase and Keverend Robert Jor- 
dan. In a letter from John AVinter, whose daughter Jordan subse- 
quentl3- married, dated Richmond Island, the second of August, 1641, 
occurs the following paragraph : — 

" Heare is on Mr. Robert Jorden a mynister w*^*^ hath bin w"' vs 
this 3 moneths w"*^ is a ver}' honest religious man b}' anything as yett 
I can find in him, I have not yett agreed w"' him for stayinge heare 
but did refer j't tyll I did heare som word from you we weare long 
w'hout a mvnister & weere but in a bad way & so we shall be still iff 
we have not the word of God taught vnto us somtj'mes the plantation 
at pamequid would willingl}^ have him or the[y] desire he might be 
their on halfe of the yeare & the other half to be heare w"^ vs 1 know 
not how we shall accord uppon yt as yett he hath bin heare in the 
country this 2 yeares & hath alwaies lived w"" JMr. Purchase w*^** is a 
kinsman unto him."^ 

What this kinship was does not appear, but it was evidently a blood 
relationship. This fact is of interest, as it connects the Jordans of 
Brunswick and vicinity with the original owner of the I'ejepscot tract. 
Thomas Purchase was twice married. His first wife was the Mary 
GoA-e^ whom Sir Christopher Gardiner called his " cousin," and in 
regard to whose relations with Gardiner there had been some scandal. 
The marriage occurred about 1631. She died in Boston, January 7, 
1656. It is not definitely known that there were any children by this 
marriage. His second marriage was to Elizabeth Williams. The date 

> Probate Records, Lynn. A copy at Salem. 

2 This letter, found among the Trelavmey papers, is noic in the 2JOSsession of J. Win- 
gate Thornton, Esquire. 

3 Third Series, Mass. Hist. Coll., 8, p. 320. — Letter of Thomas Wiggin, of Dover, to 
Emanuel Downing, brother-in-laic of Winthrop, in Dover. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 789 

of this marriage cannot be ascertained with certaintj' ; hut it was prob- 
abl}' ver}' shortly after the death of his first wife, as in 1678 his son. 
in his petition with his mother to the Probate Court, calls himself '' a 
.young man," If his parents were married one 3'ear after the death of 
the first wife, he could only have been, at the time this petition was 
presented, twent^'-one years of age. 

By this second marriage there were five children. > Of these chil- 
dren onl^'the names of three have been preserved, viz., Thomas, 
Jane, and Elizabeth. 

Traditionary accounts place the date of Purchase's immigration all 
the waj- between 1G24 and 1635. The Waiiimbo deed makes it about 
1624 or 1625. Mr. Frederick Kidder, in a letter to the late Rev- 
erend Edward Ballard, places the date at 1626, and refers to the 
" Xan-ath'e of the Plantation of Massachusetts Colony-, 1694, pub- 
lished b}' an Old Planter," pages 17 and 18. In Savage's " Genealogical 
Dictionary" the date is given as 1628, and this date is also given in 
the deed of John Blane}' and Elizabeth. The deed of Eleazer Way, 
however, gives the date as 1635. Folsom makes it about 1630. In 
the deposition of John Cozzen, it is stated that he came to Pejepscot 
in 1628, and that he came from Saco, where Folsom mentions his pres- 
ence, in 1630. 

He probably migrated to this country, ver^- likely coming first to 
Saco, about the 3-ear 1626. There is little doubt but that he came to 
Pejepscot in 1628. There is conclusive evidence that he was at Pejep- 
scot prior to the date of the grant of land that was made to him and 
Way. Probabh^ the four or five 3'ears of his early stay in that region 
caused him to become well acquainted with the value of the tract which 
he afterwards acquired. 

In the proceedings of the Plymouth Council in England, the follow- 
ing minute is entered : — 

"16 June, 1632. 8 Cat. I. The said Councill graunt certaine, 
called the River Bishopscott, unto George Wa}- and Thomas Purchase." 

The action of this Council in relation to the assignment of the terri- 
tory in question was also dated June 16, 1632, and is as follows : — 

" A Gi-aunt part to George Way and Thomas Purchase of certaine 
Lands in New England, called the River Bishopscotte, and all that 
Bounds and Liinitts of the Maine Land, adjoining to the said River to 
extend two myles : from the said River Northwards four myles, and 

1 In 1741 the Pejepscot proprietors reserved seven hundred acres of land for the hevs 
of Thomas Purchase, i. e., "Elizabeth and her five children bij Mr. Purchase, and her 
son, Samuel Pike." 



790 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

from the house ^ there to the Ocean sea with all other Profitts and Com- 
modities whatsoever, pa3'ing to the King one fifth part of gold and sil=- 
ver oare, and another fifth part to the President and Conncill, also 
paying twelve pense to the said President and Councill for every hnn- 
dred Acres of Ground in use, to the rent-gatherer for the time being, 
as b}' the same Graunt may appeare." - 

The location of Thomas Purchase's residence at Pejepscot is still a 
matter of doubt, notwithstanding that there are in the Pejepscot Papers 
over one hundred depositions in regard to it. The probabilities are 
greatly in favor of the supposition that he changed his abode several 
times. 

Both the late John McKeen, Esquire, and Reverend Doctor Ballard 
were of the opinion that his earliest residence was at ' ' Fish-IIouse 
Hill" in the present village of Brunswick. Joshua Fillbrook, who 
moved to Bath in 1738, has, however, left on record a statement to 
the effect that Purchase lived near the head of Stevens, or New Mead- 
ows River.-' 

Williamson ^ and Sewall ^ make similar statements. No attempt 
has been made to decide the question by making a count of the various 
depositions preserved in the Pejepscot Papers, for the reason that a 
mere numerical preponderance of testimon}' would have no weight 
unless those who composed the majorit}' of deponents could be shown 
to have more trustworthy sources of information than the others. 
Moreover, these depositions were probably not given to determine the 
exact abode of Purchase, but to put bej'ond cavil the fact that he had 
actually occupied the territory. Tiie}^ do, however, settle be3"ond a 
reasonable doubt the fact that he did, at different periods of his sta}' 
at Pejepscot, reside in two separate places. 

It is not, perhaps, possible, at the present day, to determine with 
certainty whether his earliest residence was at Fish-House Hill or at 
New ]\Ieadows. We incline, however, to the opinion that ]\IcKeen 
and Ballard were right in supposing it to be at the former locality, for 
the reason that ver^- early after his coining to the place, he engaged in 
the salmon fisher}', which was of course carried on at the falls, and he 
undoubtedly had his residence near. The evidence that he at some 
time resided at the Ten-Mile or Lisbon Falls is entirely traditional, but 
is not altogether improbable. 

Considerable confusion and uncertain tj' have existed in regard to the 

1 The italics are ours. ^Sainsburi/, Colonial Papers, 1, No. 52, p. 7. 

^ James Curtis' s Journal in Historical Library. 

* Hist, of Maine, 1, p. 33, iiote, and p. 69J. ^ Pophain -Memorial Vohime, p- ui2. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



791 



date of Purchase's death, and some have even supposed that there 
were more than two of that name at Pejepscot. 

AV. Neale and several others depose that he died about 1654. Sav- 
age, referring to other authorities, gives the date as 1678. The will 
on record in Probate Court gives it at 1677. A Thomas Purchase is 
mentioned in Savage's " Genealogical Dictionar}'" as having sailed on a 
voyage in 1681, and never after being heard from. R. Collicutt de- 
posed that he went to England about 1677. 

The recoi'd of the will is evidently more authoritative than all else. 
It is onl}^ necessary to show that it is the will of Thomas Purchase of 
Pejepscot, and not that of his son or of some other Thomas. The fol- 
lowing is a s3'nopsis of the statements in the will, which is preserved at 
Lynn, and a copy of which is in the Probate Office at Salem. Thomas 
Purchase, Senior, died in Lj'nn, May 11, 1676-7, aged one hundred and 
one years. Left a wife, Elizabeth, and five children. His son Thomas 
was appointed executor of his will. The overseers of the will were Mr. 
Henry Josselin, Cozen, Mr. Oliver Purchase, of the firm of Hamersmith 
& Co., and Mr. Edward Allen, of Boston. The widow, who was admin- 
istratrix, made oath to the foregoing in 1678. In November of that 
3'ears he married John Blane}". The date of her death is not known. 
In an account of Samuel Pike against the estate he charged for board 
of Mr. Purchase for seven months, of two children for a year and a 
half, of one child for one year, and of one child for fifteen months. 

This will was without doubt that of Thomas Purchase, of Pejepscot. 
There is, however, in the same probate office, to be found the follow- 
ing document : — 

AX IXVEXTORY OF THK GOODS AND ESTATE OF THOMAS PURCHASE, DECEASED, 
TAKEN THE TWENTY-SEVENTH OF JUNE, 1685, AS FOLLOWS. 

Imp. to one fetlier bed and all the furniture belonging to it 

To 3 pillow Cases, 12 napkins, 3 table Cloths, 6 towels, . 

To 1 wasswl (wash bowl?) 10/ one cb cloth 5/ 1 pr. shelves 

3/ is 

In plate apprised at 

To 1 pr. andirons, flreshovel and tongs .... 

To 1 Iron pot, brass Skillet & Iron hake at . 

To 3 pewter platters, 3 basins, 3 porenges & 2 Sases 

To earthen ware at 

To 1 pine table, 1 jug nd stove & G charge at . 

To 2 chests, 1 trunk, and 2 boxes at .... 

To 1 gun, 1 sword and belt at 

To one warming pan, small one, at 

To 1 mare and mare colt, 3 sheep and a lamb at 

To money and goods of Mr. Wharton .... 

44 



£7 


18s. 


Qd. 


1 


%s. 


Od. 





18.S. 


Of?. 


C 


10 


0. 





13 


0. 





U 


6. 





13 


6. 





3 


0. 





15 


0. 


1 





0. 


2 





0. 





7 


0. 


3 





0. 


18 


8 


0. 



792 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 
To 1000 acres of vacant land at eastward. 

[The value of which is not assigned.] 

Debts due out of the Estate is £2 13s. M. 

Debts due to the estate 2 50 Od. 

Elizabeth Purchase, Administratrix, presented this | Inventory of y« Estate 
of her husband, Thomas Purchase, deceased, Henry Skkxey, Jun'. 

with her oath | to itt & if anymore come John Blaxey. 

to her knowledge | to give accouutt of y^ same at Salem Court holden I June 
30th 1685. 

Attest JoHX Appleton, Hm'^ of Court | 

On the outside of the schedule was written, in parenthesis, 
" Purchis Thomas to Elizabeth Williams, Thomas b. Jan. 29, 1G79." 

This inventory was, in all probabilit}', that of the estate of Thomas 
Purchase, Jr., who, it is to be presumed, went to England to obtain a 
copy of the patent, and was lost at sea. The inventory, it will be 
noticed, states the amount of land at Pejepscot at 1000 acres, which 
would be a reasonable amount of land for the son to own, but would 
be only a small part of the tract belonging to the father. 

The depositions of Neale and CoUicutt — the first that he died about 
1654, and the second that he went to England in 1677 — are easil}' dis- 
posed of. Neale's testimon}' was only hearsay', and the mistake ma}' 
have occurred in consequence of the death of Mary, the first wife, 
which took place in 1656. Collicutt's testimony was to the effect that 
Thomas Purchase, Senior, told him, in 1677, that he was going to Eug- 
land to obtaiu a copy of his patent, and that he took him '' from the 
eastward to Boston," for that purpose. He says, moreover, that Pur- 
chase "took passage quickly after." There is nothing in this state- 
ment inconsistent with the supposition that Thomas Purchase, the first, 
of Pejepscot, died in 1766, and that his son was the one to whom Col- 
licutt referred, and who may have been lost at sea on his way back 
from England, in 1681, or who may have then been on his way 
thither. 

The ground taken in this sketch is further corroborated by a deed 
from Thomas Purchase, the grandson, to Samuel AValdo, in which he 
states that he is the only son of the Thomas Purchase who was the eld- 
est son of Thomas Purchase who occupied Pejepscot from the third 
year of King Charles the First until 1675. This deed i is dated 1734, and 
must have been of part of the land set off by the Pejepscot proprietors. 

Purchase, during his residence at Pejepscot, was probablj- engaged 

' York Co. Records, Vol. 16, p. 1G2. 



BIOGRAPHICA L. 793 

in different pursuits at different times. He is mentioned as a hunter, 
and trader witli the Indians, as being engaged in the sahuon fishery, 
and as a planter. The causes that led to his emigration can never be 
known ; but there is everj' reason for supposing that he came to Pejep- 
scot in pursuit of furs and peltr}', which he acquired partly by his 
own exertions in the chase and partly by traffic Avith the natives. He 
was also engaged for the whole period of his residence in obtaining 
salmon and sturgeon, and packing them for exportation to London, ^ 
and probabl}' collected a number of settlers near him. 

He also cultivated the soil, and at the time of the attack upon liis 
house by the Indians, in 167G, he was possessed of stock, and proba- 
bly had what in those days would be considered a respectable farm. 

His first house was destroyed by fire, and " by this disaster he lost 
in the flames the onlj' cop}' of the patent by which he held his prop- 
ert}'. The original had been left with Mr. Francis Ashley, in Eng- 
land." 2 It was ver}' likel}' soon after this fire that he changed his 
place of abode. At all events, he soon after erected " a small cottage 
for a present shelter," and it was while here that he was visited by Mr. 
Edward Rishworth.^ This structure was afterwards superseded by " a 
fair stone house," in which he is supposed to have lived during the 
remainder of his residence at Pejepscot. 

Thomas Purchase must have been a man well known in the colony. 
He not only held at different times offices of trust and responsibility, 
but also made, it would seem, a frequent appearance in court. 

The first account of him after his immigration to this countrj' is of 
his appearance at Saco in 1630. 

On June 25 of that year he was present with Isaac Allerton, Cap- 
tain Thomas Wiggen, and others, and saw Richard Vines take legal 
possession of the land granted him and John Oldham, on tjie south- 
west side of Saco River."* 

In 1631 he was at Pejepscot, where he was visited in July b}' Sir 
Christopher Gardiner, who remained with him about a year.^ 

In 1636 he was present as one of the commissioners, on March 25, 
at the house of Captain R. Boynthon, in Saco. His associates were 
Captain Bo^aithon, Captain W. Gorges, Captain Cammock, Messrs. 
PI. Jocelyn, E. Godfrey and T. Lewis. ^ 



1 Doucjlass, Histonj. 2 Maine Hist. Coll. , 3, p. 330. 

^Pejepscot Papers. ^ Folsom, History of Saco, etc., p. 30. 

^Wivthrop, 1, p. (18. 3fassaclmsttts Historic al Colkctiov, Third iSeries, 8, p. 320. 
^Folsom, Opus cit.,p. 49. 



794 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

This was the first organized court within the limits of the present 
State of Maine. 1 

On August 22, 1639, he made legal conveyance to John Winthrop, 
governor of Massachusetts, of all his land, and put himself under the 
power and jurisdiction of that colon}'. He reserved, however, such a 
claim to the ownership of the land as practically annulled that part of 
the contract.- 

In 1640, l*urchase again appears in court at Saco, but this time not 
on the bench but before the bar, and also as a jur3-man. There were 
five indictments against him at this court. On Jul}' 14 of this 3'ear he 
was summoned to appear at court on the eighth of September follow- 
ing, and an order was at the same time issued to Robert Sanke}' of 
Saco, the provost marshal, to bring him before the court on Septem- 
ber 8, to answer to divers complaints not specified, and particularly 
that credible information had been given that he had conve3'ed the 
greater part of his goods and chattels out of the province, in conse- 
quence of his indebtedness to divers persons ; or to take sufficient 
security for his appearance at the session of the council established 
for the province. On his refusal his property was to be attached and 
brought to Saco. The first complaint was brought b}' Giles Elbridge, 
of Pemaquid, in an action of debt. Purchase made his appearance, 
but for some reason the case was not tried. 

The second complaint against him was by Richard Vines in a simi- 
lar action. This case also was not tried. 

The third complaint was l)y Richard Tucker, of Casco, and was to 
the effect that nine years previously Sir Christopher Gardiner had 
borrowed a warming-pan of him in Purchase's name, which was worth 
twelve shillings and sixpence, and had kept it. Also that six months 
afterwards he had bought a fowling-piece for fort}' shillings, and 
would not pa}^ for the same, though often requested. The damages 
were placed at five pounds. Purchase denied that Gardiner did these 
things in his name, and declared that if he did he was not authorized 
to do so. Purchase further declared that the above facts were unknown 
to him, and that he had no recollection of any demand being made as 
alleged. " But Mr. George Cleaves had asked him causelessly for 
these articles ; but he being a partner with the defendant, had acquitted 
him from all causes of action whatever." 

The issue was joined, the trial took place, and the jur}' decided that 
Purchase should pa}' two pounds twelve shillings and sixpence for 

1 Williamson, 1, p. 2fi5. "^ Folsom, 2^. 45. Williamson, l,p. 2!!0. 



BIOGRAPHIC A L. 795 

the articles claimed, antl twelve shillings and sixpenee as costs of 
couit. Judgment was given and execution ordered by the whole 
court. Whatever became of the warming-pan is not known, but it 
will be noticed that there was one mentioned among the articles 
embraced in the inventor^' of 1685. 

The fourth complaint was a declaration of Arthur Browne, mer- 
eliant, accusing Purchase of falsely charging him with perjury and 
briber}'. Purchase denied the whole thing, but the jury brought in a 
verdict against him and fined him five pounds sterling, and twelve shil- 
lings for costs. 

The fifth complaint is not given, but it is stated that he was required, 
on the third da}' of August preceding, to enter into a recognizance with 
Reverend Robert Jordan, and that he appeared at conrt to answer to 
Captain Thomas Young, Messrs. Abraham Shurte, George Davis, 
Richard Tucker, and others. At this same court Purchase also served 
as a juryman in the case of Mar}- Purington of Agamenticus. 

In 1G45 he signed a letter addressed to Governor Winthrop, the 
deput}' governor, and court of assistants of Massachusetts Ba}', and 
was also the one chosen to present the same. This letter was in regard 
to trouble between the inhabitants of Rngbj^'s Province of L3'gonia, 
and Jocelyn and others, and was dated " Casco Bay, this 18th ftebr ; 
1G45." William R3'all, Richard Tucker, and George Cleeve were the 
other signers. 1 

In 1653 he was sued b}' the colony government, " as appears by a 
record of the General Court of that .year, and styled Of Pejepscot." 
What this suit was for we have not ascertained. At one time, date 
nnknown, his children were required b}' the council to be brought for- 
ward for baptism, and on neglect of the same he was to be summoned 
before the General Court. 

In 1654 he was chosen assistant to Prince, the commissioner at the 
first court ever held upon the Kennebec. There is no evidence, how- 
ever, that he ever held an assistant's court. 

In 1657 he was called to answer before the count}' court of York- 
shire, to an action brought against him by the Widow Elizabeth Wa}' 
for the purpose of determining whether Pejepscot was under the juris- 
diction of that court. 

After the restoration of Charles II to the throne of England in 
1660, probabl}' in the year 1662, Purchase was commissioned as a 
magistrate under Gorges, or, at least, Mr. J. Archdale, agent of 
Gorges, oftcred him such a commission. ^ 

1 Maine Historical Collection 1, pp 540, 550. 2 Williamson, 1, p. 403. 



796 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

In September, 1675, his house was attacked by the Indians, an ac- 
count of which was given in Part I. 

The foregoing enumeration of the various events in the life of Pur- 
chase embrace a nearlj' continuous connection from the time of his 
migration to his death. It embraces a period of forty-seven years. 
During this long time the onl}' intervals of anj- length, in which we 
have no accounts of him, are between 1645 and 1654, and 1660 and 
1675. It is possible that these gaps ma}- even 3-et be shortened. 

Whether Purchase was a man of much propert}" can only be sur- 
mised. It would seem that his opportunities of acquiring wealth 
were unusually good. He possessed a good field for traffic with the 
Indians, and had the monopoly of the best salmon and sturgeon 
fishery in New England. Notwithstanding this, the frequent suits 
brought against him show not onl}' " the litigious temper of the times," 
but also that he was deepl}' in debt, and that his creditors were uneas}'. 

Of his real character nothing is known more than may be gathered 
from what has already been stated. That he was a man of consider- 
able enterprise is^ evident. That he failed to wholly conciliate the 
Indians is evident not only from the fact that his house was selected 
as the first one to be visited by them, but also that he was deemed 
unfair in his dealings with them, one of them remarking that he had 
paid a hundred pounds for water " from Purchase his well." This 
water was, however, presumabl}' flavored with some alcoholic ingre- 
dient. 

Notwithstanding these facts, the Indians could not have been 
entirely at enmity with him. or they would not have let him off with 
the mere robber}- of his house when they had some of its inmates in 
their power. 

Thomas Purchase must have been a man of considerable ability, or 
he would not have held the offices he did. Williamson says of him 
that '• he was one of those flexible patriots who could accommodate 
his politics to the changes of the times. "^ This, it appears to us, is 
rather a- harsh judgment. To which administration did he owe alle- 
giance? The question may be easy to answer now, but was it so 
easy for him to answer it? It must be remembered that it was not 
until the present centurj' that the claim of the Plymouth Colon}- on 
the Kennebec to his tract of land was finally settled adversely'. 

That he did hold office under di9"erent and opposing governments is 
not to be denied ; A'et Robert Jordan, Henry Joscel3'n, and Edwaixl 

1 Vol. 1, p. 690. 




d^^i 



(U^ 



f^ » t) t-AJuc^vXxrC^^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 797 

Rishwortli did so likewise, though the author referred to does not 
speak of them in anj' such doubtful terms. ^ Considering the unquiet 
times in which lie lived and the little that is known against him, it is 
fair to presume that he was a man whose character was full}'^ equal to 
that of the great majority of his associates and neighbors. 

PURINTON, HUMPHREY. 

" Humphrey Purinton," sa^'s the writer of an obituary notice, " was 
one of our most useful and substantial citizens. As a man of business 
his conduct was alwa^'s marked b}^ the most scrupulous uprightness 
and integrity. With himself a verbal promise was as binding as a 
written obligation, and to others his word was as good as his bond. 
Occupied chiefly with his own affairs, and seeking his greatest happi- 
ness where he was accustomed to find it, — at home, — he mingled but 
little in general society, and concerned himself but little with political 
and other exciting topics of the day. 

" Yet he was b}' no means indifferent to the welfare of others. His 
loss will be very sensibly felt in the community, and severely felt in 
the immediate circle of his family connections, friends, and acquaint- 
ance. Correct in all his habits, unassuming in his deportment, benev- 
olent and kind in his feelings, sincere and conscientious in the discharge 
of his duties, a constant attendant upon public worship, and a liberal 
supporter of religious institutions, his meraor}' is one which the}" will 
all delight to cherish ; and his example in all these respects is one 
which may well be presented for general imitation." He died in Tops- 
ham, December 31, 1841, aged sixty-seven years. 

PURIXTON, FRANCIS T. 

The subject of this sketch was a native of Topsham, and a son of 
Humphrey Purinton. Though interested in various business pursuits, 
he had a particular fondness for agriculture, and did all he could to 
promote it. He was chosen president of the Sagadahoc Agricultural 
and Horticultural Society in 1855, and the following notice of him 
appeared in the report of that society next succeeding the date of his 
death, which occurred May 21, 1857 : ■ — 

" At the time he was chosen president of the society he was nearly 
forty-two years old, in the vigor and prime of his life. He had been, 
well educated for the time, had in his 3'oiith attended the academy at 
Farmington, and afterwards the seminar}- at Gorham. He early com- 

1 Williamson, l,pp. 680, 682, C91. 



798 HISTORY OF DRUXSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AKD HARPaWKLL. 

menced an active business life, however, and acquired the hirger part 
of his education in the discharge of its duties. He was first a trader ; 
then with his l>rother, Woodbury- B. Pui'inton, Esquire, succeeded his 
father in the hunber, ship-building, and general commercial business. 
He built the Topsham flour-mill, at the time one of the best in New 
England. In 1843 he purchased of Governor King the fine residence 
and estate of the late Doctor Porter, which became his home the 
remainder of his days. In 1853 he was president of the Lewiston and 
Topsham Railroad Company-, which led to the building of the Andros- 
coggin Road. 

'' After he was chosen president of the Sagadahoc Agricultural and 
Horticultural Society', he took a deep and lasting interest in agricnl- 
ture, — in the cultivation and improvement of his own farm, as well as 
of all othei's within the limits of the society. He was a friend to the 
farmer everywhere, and to improved farming. At the time of his 
death he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Maine State 
Agricultural Society. His name, influence, and assistance were sought 
in various directions, and seldom or never did he withhold th jm from a 
good cause when he thought he could perform any real service. He 
was called away from this world in the prime of life, when he was only 
fort3'-four jears of age. He left a beloved wife and a large family of 
children. He was beloved and esteemed by all who knew him, for his 
indomitable energy, his inflexible integrity', and his large-hearted 
beneA'olence. He was one of the most public-spirited men of his 
town. He was a man of religious character, full of good works, free 
from bigotry, from env^', and self-love. He was a good citi/:en, and in 
the true sense an honest man. Frank and social in liis intercourse 
with others, he was fond of society, strong in his attachments to his 
friends, a good neighbor, an affectionate husband and kind father, a 
true and sincere man." 

PURINTON, NATHANIEL. 

Nathaniel Purinton was a son of Humphrey Purinton, of Georgetown, 
now Bath, and married Priscilla Woodbury, of Portland, about 1756, 
and about the same time moved to Harpswell Island. His occupation 
was farming and milling. He was a part owner in the saw-mills at Tops- 
ham. He is said to have built the first grist-mill and saw-mill in Harps- 
well, in the cove of his lot, which was the farm now owned b}- Stephen 
Purinton. He was a prominent man in town affairs, and was a select- 
man from 17G6 to 1769 inclusive, in 1778, in 1780, and from 1783 to 
1787, inclusive. He died suddenly at Topsham, Fel)ruary U, 1788. 



niOGRAPIIICAL. 799 



PURINTON, STEPHEN. 

Stephen Purinton, a son of Nathaniel Purinton, was born in Ilarps- 
well, Mji3' 7, 1764. He succeeded to his father's business of farming 
and mining, and also erected a tanner}-. He was also engaged in the 
West India business. It is said that when twent3'-one years of age, he 
went with tlie first team that ever entered the town of Bethel, hauling 
logs to the river to see if the}' would reach Brunswick. February 26, 
1 789, he married Mar}-, daughter of John Merrill, Esquire, of Topsham. 
In 1816 he professed religion, and assisted in forming the first Free- 
will Baptist Church in Ilai'pswell. He was chosen deacon and church 
clerk, and held both offices until 1840. He was a representative in 
1810, 1813, 1814, 1816, 1820, 1824. He was a man very generally 
esteemed in the community in which he lived. His wife died May 25, 
1836. He died November 10, 1843. 

EEED, JOHN. 

John Keed was born in Ireland in 1747, and was married to Rachel, 
daughter of William Thorne, in March, 1769. He came to this coun- 
try with his father, and settled in Topsham. He went into the Revo- 
lutionary war as an ensign, in a company commanded by Captain 
Blaisdell, of Portland. He went to Ticonderoga, where Hammond, 
Ihe lieutenant, died, and was succeeded by him. He afterwards 
received a captain's commission, and served with reputation till 
obliged to retire in consequence of a wound received in an action a 
little preceding the capture of General Burgo3-ne's arm 3' (in 1777). 

He so far recovered his health and activit}' that he was elected to 
and sustained the oflflce of lieutenant-colonel till his death. He was 
lieutenant-colonel of the First Regiment, First Brigade, Fourth Divi- 
sion of the Massachusetts militia which mustered in Bath in 1788. 
He died October 20, 1797, and was buried with military honors. The 
Bath artillery with their guns, two companies of infantr3-, and a troop 
of horse attended the funeral. 

ROBBINS, AUGUSTUS C, ESQUIRE. 

Mr. Robbins was born in Union, Maine, in 1815, and was a promi- 
nent business man of Brunswick. He was appointed cashier of the 
Brunswick Bank on November 1, 1841, and served in that capacitv 
in the different banks in the town for eighteen years, with an interval 
of onl3- thirt3'-four daA's between his resignation in the Union and his 
taking charge of the Maine Bank. Durins all this time he never lost 



800 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

a day b}' sickness, and was absent oul}' eighty days in the whole 
time. 

Mr. Robbins was a prompt, faithful, s3-stematic, and energetic 
bank oflicer, and was well liked In' the community. He was a man of 
fine education (a graduate of Bowdoin in 1835), and possessed a 
remarkabl}^ clear and logical mind. He was for several years one of 
the Board of Overseers of the college, and was alwa3's interested in its 
welfare. Common-sense was his predominating mental characteristic. 
Mr. Robbins was deeply interested in all town affairs, and especially 
in the welfare of the public schools. His efforts for the establishment 
of the high school and the grading of the village schools entitle him 
to the remembrance of the community. 

He had a fund of humor and read}' wit, and was fond of children. 
He was a member of the Congregational Church for twenty-eight 
years, and was held in general esteem for his integrity, industr}', and 
kindliness of character. He died December 31, 1868. 

IIOGERS, HONOKABLE GEORGE. 
Mr. Rogers was born in Topsham, November 18, 1785. He was a 
son of Alexander, and the father of the late George A, Rogers. He 
was educated in the common schools of the town, but made good use 
of such advantages as he had. He was a man of quick perception 
and inquiring mind, and steadily advanced with the times in which he 
lived. He took a warm interest in the public matters of the town and 
State. He served on the Board of Selectmen of Topsham for four- 
teen years, between 1836 and 1857. In 1819 he was chosen to repre- 
sent his town in the legislature, and in 1837 he was elected to the State 
Senate. In politics he was a Democrat, but he was oftentimes elected 
to office by the votes of those who affiliated with the opposite part}'. 
In his religious views he was a Baptist. 

"Although a man of rigid principles and soundness of judgment, 
his kind and genial manners won for him the respect of all who knew 
him. In early life he was twice married, but each of his wives died 
at an earl}' age. Of his family but one son survived him, the late 
George A. Rogers. 

"At nearly fourscore years, after a long and serene evening to a life 
of usefulness, devoted to the happiness of others, he passed away qui- 
etly at the old homestead where he had always resided." 

ROGERS, GEORGE A. 
The subject of this sketch was a native of Topsham. His education 
was obtained in the common schools and at the Maine Weslevan Som- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 801 

inar^- at Readfield, Maine. At the age of twenty he made a sea- voy- 
age to New Orleans, and thence to Europe. Receiving so much bene- 
fit from these voyages, he was tempted to become a sailor, and accord- 
ingly made one voyage " before the mast." His father discouraged 
his inclination towards a sea-faring life, and induced him to remain at 
home and turn his attention to agricultural pursuits. 

As a practical farmer, enlightened, and looking into the most essen- 
tial matters of the business of farming, he did much to promote its 
interests, both at home and abroad. He was long identified with the 
interests of the town, serving for many years as a member of the 
Board of Selectmen. Perhaps no more fitting tribute can be paid to 
his memory than that found in the recent " Historical Review " of the 
Sagadahoc County Agricultural Society, — he having been one of its 
earliest friends, serving in almost every capacity in which he could ren- 
der valuable assistance, 

" He represented the societ}' as a member of the Board of Agricul- 
ture for a period of seven years, and was one of the most useful mem- 
bers of that Board. For three years he was president of the Sagada- 
hoc Society, afterwards he was recording secretar}'. 'Yo the close of 
liis life on earth he was one of the most valuable members of the soci- 
ety. The society as well as the community needs more such men, — men 
who work from sincere regard for the interests of others. Possessed 
of a high moral, as well as a much religious character, Mr. Rogers was 
a true friend, a sincere and honest man. He served faithfullv the com- 
munity- in wliich he lived ; its interests were his interests, its welfare 
ever had his watchful care. Well may the societ}' long hold his name 
in remembrance and honor." 

He died June 30, 1874. 

ROSS, WILLIAM. 

William Ross lived, prior to 1749, at Sheepscot. He afterwards 
moved to Brunswick, where he built a house, bullet-proof, near the 
old meeting-house. Prior to his coming to Brunswick, he, with his 
two sons, John and Robert, was taken captive by the Indians and 
carried to Canada. He and Robert were soon liberated and returned 
home. John was such a favorite with the Indians that he was retained. 
Mr, Ross was subsequently captured again and carried to Quebec, 
AVhile there he became interested in a 3'oung man whom he met at a 
public place, the resort of those who desired to be exchanged. He 
volunteered to intercede for his release, inquired his name, and found 
him to be his son. The}' eflfected their release and returned home. 



802 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

John was afterwards killed, or died, in war. Mr. Ross was a lame 
man. His disability was caused in the following manner. On one 
occasion, Avhile he was engaged in cutting wood west of Mair Brook, 
he disco A'ered a wounded bear making towards him. He at once com- 
menced to retreat backwards, defending himself with his axe, but was 
so unfortunate as to fall back over a log and hurt himself. The bear, 
unable to get over, reached under the log and bit him in the knee. 
Mr. Anthony Woodside, who had fired and wounded the bear, finall}' 
came up and killed it. 

RUTHERFORD, REVEREND ROBERT, 

Was a native of Ireland, and a Presbyterian. He came over with 
Colonel Dunbar, the celebrated surveyor of the king's woods in 1729, 
and preached at Pemaquid for four or five years. When Dunbar went 
to Portsmouth in 1 734, his house and farm were left in the care of Mr. 
Rutherford. In 1735 he was emploj'cd by the First Parish of Bruns- 
wick, and continued to preach there till 1742. After this he was 
engaged for a short time at Georgetown, and probabl}- returned to 
Pemaquid. From thence, on the marriage of Dunbar's widow with 
Captain Henderson of St. Georges, he removed to that place. It does 
not appear that he had a distinct pastoral charge, or that an}' church 
was gathered there during his life. He was a man of respectable lit- 
erary' attainments, and bore the character of a pious Orthodox minis- 
ter. He died in 1756, at the age of sixtj'-eight years, and was buried 
at the fort at Saint George's. His wife survived him twentj^-three 
years, and was buried in the same place. They left a family of seven 
daughters, whose posterity are numerous in the vicinity. ^ 

SKOLFIELD, THOMAS. 

Thomas Skolfield was a son of Thomas Skolfield, of England, who 
was an officer in King William's army in 1G90, when King James was 
driven from Ireland. The son, Thomas, received a liberal education 
at Dublin University, and shortly* after graduating emigrated to Amer- 
ica with the Orr family' earlj' in the last centuiy. 

Thomas remained in Boston with the Orr famil}' and taught a Latin 
school until the Orrs removed to the District of Maine, about the 
3'ear 1742, when he and Susaa came with them. 

Thomas mariied Mar}' Orr, and settled in Brunswick near where 
Peter Woodard now lives (1876). He and the Orrs bought about 

1 Annals of Tl a?Te?i and Greenleaf's Ecclesiastical Sketches. 





I ^^''^' 




^p^^s^myu^. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 803 

three hundred and fifty acres of land, on which Thomas Skolfield 
settled. They paid for the land £85 old tenor. Mr. Skolfield 
was a very prominent man in town affairs. He was chosen, Ma}' 
22, 1777, as an officer empowered to receive recognizances. In 
1779 he was on the committee to aflfix the price of commodities sold 
in the town. He was on many committees to draw up resolutions, 
etc., during the Revolutionary war. He was town clerk from 1752 
to 1 761, and again in 176-3 and 1765. He was on the Board of Select- 
men, and a great part of the time was chairman, for twent3--three 
years, — from 1744 to 1749, 1752 to 1754, 1756 to 1762, 1765 to 1767, 
1772 to 1775, and again in 1782. 

His wife died August 1, 1771, aged fifty-seven j'ears. He died 
January 6, 1796. 

SKOLFIELD, GEORGE. 

" Master" George Skolfield was born July, 1780, in Harpswell, in 
an oM house standing upon the site of the one now occupied by Mr. 
George R. Skolfield, his eldest son. 

He began to build vessels when about twenty-one years old, and during 
his lifetime built nearly if not quite sixty vessels, all first-class, of the 
best quality of material and workmanship. At the time of his death he 
was one of the wealthiest men in Brunswick, and his wealtii was all 
earned through his own exertions and by his own business ability. 

He was kind in his famil}' and to his friends, and of a very hospi- 
table nature. 

" It was the delight of Master George to have the house full, and 
he was never in better spirits than when his friends fairly overran his 
rooms. A man of strong impulses, of prejudices, if you will, he never 
meant to be unjust. He was decided, firm in his convictions, and 
sternly resolute in the discharge of what he deemed his dutj'. That 
dut}' was done with a singleness of purpose worthy of all imitation. 
"VVe make no claim to perfection for the deceased ; but we record as the 
crowning glory of his long and active life, diversified by an intercourse 
with all classes and manner of men, his passing awa}', with never a 
man to question his scrupulous honesty in all his dealings with his fel- 
low men." 

He died March 13, 1866. 

SMYTH, WILLIAM, D. D. 

Professor Smyth was born in Pittston, February 2, 1797, and in his 
childliood his parents removed to Wiseasset, which was his home until 
about the time of his entering college. At the age of eighteen he 



804 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

was bereft of both fiither and mother, and was left with a yovnig 
sister and bi'othor, and nothing but kind friends and himself to depend 
upon. He was for a time clerk for a Wiscasset merchant, but his 
ambition at that time was to qualify himself to teach school, and all 
his Sparc time was spent in hard study. He taught school for a few 
years, at the same time fitting himself for Bovvdoin College, the Junior 
class of which he entered in 1820. Such an example of student-life 
as was then exhibited is rare and worthy of record. He occupied, 
witli a townsman and classmate, Bo3'nton, a room in the building, 
afterwards burned down, which stood on the site of Mr. Henr}' C. 
Martin's residence, opposite the college halls. 

As the result of his former hard study, while in college he w;is com- 
pelled to wear a green shade and to study by another's e^-es. His 
room-mate read his lessons to him, he occasionally raising his blinder 
to glance for a moment at a mathematical formula or a diagram or a 
phrase. After getting settled in college life his independent, self- 
denying spirit led him to bring to his side his young brother, and sus- 
tain both as he might. This self-sacrificing college student often 
deprived himself of a dinner for the sake of that brother ; lived da}' 
after day on bread and water ; not unfrequently did not know one 
day where the next day's meals were to come from ; and thus, study- 
ing with the e3"es of another, often at his wits' end for supi)ort, with 
tliat care of the brother upon him part of the time, he soon took the 
lead of an able class and held it to the end, graduating with the 
I-Cnglish valedictor}' in 1822. 

After graduating, Mr. Snij^th taught a school for a short time in 
what used to be called President Allen's Academy, and then spent a 
3^ear in the Andover Seminary. 

In 1823 he received an appointment from his Alma Mater as proc- 
tor and instructor in Greek ; then became tutor in mathematics and 
natural philosophy ; and in 1828 he was made professor in full of 
mathematics and natural philosophy. 

The first edition of his algebra, from the press of Mr. Griffin, of 
this town, appe;ired in 1830, received warm commendation from Doctor 
Bowditch, and was adopted as a text-book at Harvard and other insti- 
tutions. It passed through several editions, and then gave place to 
two separate works, the elementary and the larger algebra. Then 
followed an enlarged edition of the trigonometrj' and its applications 
to surveying and navigation, and treatises on analytic geometry', and 
on the calculus, the last being so clearly' and satisfactorily developed, 
and with so much originality', as to receive emphatic approval in high 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 805 

quarters, particularly from the late Professor Baclie, and constituting, 
as has been said, quite an era in the means of instruction in this pro- 
found branch. 

When the project of graded schools for the large Central District of 
Brunswick was proposed, it engaged his earnest co-operation. He 
was chosen on the Board of Agents successively for seventeen 3'ears ; 
most of the time was chairman, and exercised vigilant supervision of 
the schools. The amount of liibor he performed in securing and per- 
fecting the system, in building the large brick school-house for which 
he furnislied the working plan, and in general superintendence, few 
can conceive ; and all with no other remuneration than the conscious- 
ness of rendering an important public service. He was for many 
years one of the trustees of the First Parish fund, and for forty 
3'ears or more an active member of the Congregational Church and 
Society in Brunswick and a teacher in the Sabbath school. AVhen the 
present church edifice was erected he was the working member of the 
building committee, giving important counsel in its plan, even to 
the framing of the building, and constantly supervising the work. 
He also furnished the working plans for a spire which, for grace and 
beaut}', was not surpassed. 

The last public work of his life was the measures for erecting a 
Memorial Hall for the college. 

One even most conversant with him, and who had most free access 
to his thoughts, purposes, and plans, can scarcely enumerate the 
extent of his correspondence on the subject ; his journe3'ings to and 
fro from Bangor to New York for subscriptions, his long walks in 
Brunswick and its neighborhood to obtain contributions, to consult 
mechanics and contractors, or to engage hands for the work ; his 
visits to other towns to examine public buildings or to inspect quar- 
ries of building stone ; or his careful stud}' of architectural designs, 
sketches, and plans in the college library ; or liis personal labor in 
meditating and drawing plans himself, that architects might readily 
conceive the idea and object of the proposed structure. For the last 
two 3'ears of his life his mind and thoughts were intent on what he 
often said was to be his last labor. 

E\er3' dollar of the thirt}' thousand on his subscription book he soli- 
cited, and he collected nearl3' twenty thousand of the amount in person. 

Professor Smyth was among the first members of the temperance 
societ}' formed in Brunswick when Reverend Doctor Justin P^dwards 
promulgated and advocated with so much effect the doctrine of total 
abstinence from intoxicatinc; drinks. 



806 inSTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

A debate in the Brunswick L3'ceiim made of him an anti-slavery 
man, or rather turned his thoughts to that subject, and inspired a 
sentiment and opinions whicli he maintained his life through. He 
never swerved, — no, not for an hour, — from his allegiance to the 
cause of human freedom and the rights of man. 

Though exposed to reproach and annoyances, to hard speeches 
and harder looks, he was not a man to be deterred from his pur- 
pose or to quail in whatever he regarded a matter of right, truth, and 
duty. 

His ability as a teacher was never called in question. In explana- 
tion he was precise, simple, and clear. He had great power of inspir- 
ing interest ; his own enthusiasm, which often kindled, especially in 
certain branches of his department, at the black-board, being communi- 
cated to his class. 

His mind was quick to kindle, and his powers to arouse themselves 
to seize on some engrossing subject, and while the occasion demanded, 
he was totus m illis. He was a whole-souled, large-hearted man. 
Personal interests occupied with him an inferior place. Any real 
object of philantlirop}-, of national or of town interest, anything that 
touched the life of the college, was sure to find one mind and heart 
read}^ to respond to its demands. 

Of the qualities of his mind no one conversant with him could doubt 
that his Creator endowed him with a power of intense application, of 
wide compass and great clearness of thought, of strong grasp of 
principles, and of exhibiting truth, often massive truth, with great 
precision and force. He had a peculiar facult}' of seizing on the 
salient points and the fundamental elements of any subject he 
api)roached. 

One could not but give him the credit of childlike simplicity. He 
was simple in his tastes, in his manners, and in his desires. There 
was no pretence or affectation in his nature. No charge of insincerity 
or false-heartedness was ever laid upon him. 

The facts of Professor Smyth's life reveal most clearly a singularly 
self-sacrificing spirit. What reward or remuneration, what personal 
advantage could he have expected from his labors for schools or for 
the church or for the Memorial Hall ? What self-interest could have 
prompted him to furnish working plans for school-house or church 
spire, — or to rise from his bed and go down to the school-house in a 
drenching storm to see that the rain did not undermine the wall or flood 
the cellar, — or at midnight, in a driving southeaster, to go over to the 
church, tlien in building, to make more fast an ill-secured transept 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 807 

window, — or to serve as a tender to the mason who was putting up a 
chimney in the tower? 

His nature was profoundly sympathetic, and he was blessed with a 
genial, buoyant spirit. He never betraj'ed a moody or sullen temper. 
There was in him a vein of fine humor. He enjoyed it in others, and 
no one could turn a witticism or conve}" a compliment with more deli- 
cac3" or grace. It remains to bear testimom' to Professor Smyth as a 
Christian man. In this character he left the record of nearlj' fifty 
years in his daily life, in the free intercourse of friends, in the social 
meetings of the church, in college halls, in his relations to public phil- 
anthropic movements of his time, and in the pulpit of the sanctuar}'. 

Earlv in life he took his stand as a Christian young man, and became 
connected with the Congregational Church in Gorham. He seized with 
the strong grasp of his intellect and heart on what are termed the 
doctrines of grace. In 1825 he received license from the Cumberland 
Association, and for several 3'ears preached with acceptance in Bruns- 
wick and neighboring towns. His discourses were marked by weighty 
thought, clear exhibition of truth, simplicity and vigor of stj'le, and 
earnest and eloquent enforcement of the motives of the gospel and the 
issues of life and death. He died April 4, 1868. 

The foregoing sketch of this trul}' remarkable man is condensed from 
Professor Packard's discourse commemorative of Professor Smyth. 

ST AN WOOD, DAVID. 

David Stanwood, son of Ebenezer, was in the expedition to Louis- 
burg. While the army was there, some twenty or thirty men were 
desirous of taking boats and crossing to the opposite shore, where the}' 
expected to plunder some of the French settlers. The}' landed with- 
out molestation, went to one house not far distant, entered it, and 
brought the plunder to their boats. Not sufficient)}' satisfied with what 
they had obtained, they returned, without their guns, and while strip- 
ping the house still further they were surrounded and taken prisoners 
by the Indians, who had been on the watch for them. They were at 
once stripped, and severely tortured with spears. Mr. Stanwood 
attempted to escape, but a well-directed spear hit him on the shoulder, 
and so disabled him that he surrendered, and was again submitted to 
torture. He fled again and was pursued, fired at, and a ball hit him 
in the arm and broke it. He succeeded, however, in his escape, hid 
himself until search was ov^er, and when all was quiet, went to the 
shore opposite the army, and hoisted a handkerchief as a signal. It 
was seen, and, though fearful of a decoy, some of the men were at 



808 HISTORY OF BliVNSWlCK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

length alloTved to go over for him, and he was rescued. Another 
account ' states that after he escaped the second time he came to a 
river and was shot while swimming across. His arm was afterwards 
amputated. 

STANWOOD, COLONEL WILLIAM. 

William Stanwood was the son of David Stanwood, of Brunswick, 
and was born in 1752. In his early da^'s he learned the trade of a 
blacksmith. He entered the Revolutionary army and was in the bat- 
tles of IMonmouth and White Plains. After the war he was made a 
colonel of the militia. After leaving the army he went to work at his 
trade, and afterwards engaged in the lumbering business and in ship- 
building in connection with Captain John Dunlap. He accumulated 
wealth, and owned three large farms, besides other real estate, but 
afterwards met with heavy losses in his shipping business. He built 
and lived in the house now owned by the heirs of the late A. C. Rob- 
bins, Esquire, on Maine Street. He was a prominent man in Bruns- 
wick, and was selectman for a number of jears, and a representative 
in 1794 and 1795. He was also a member of the Board of Overseers 
of Bowdoin College. He had three wives ; the first was Mary Orr, 
the second Hannah Thompson, and the third Ruth Thompson. He 
had eleven children. He died June, 1829. 

STETSON, REVEREND SETH. 

" Father" Stetson, as he was called, lived until he was seventeen 
j'ears of age in his native town of Kingston, Massachusetts. He then 
spent one summer in Bristol, Maine, one in Boston, and two in 
Charlestown, Massachusetts. He spent his winters during this time 
at home. He gives the following account of his life in a letter to the 
Gospel Banner in 1864 : — 

" Seventy years ago [1794] I first came to Bristol with m}- master 
ship-joiner. When free I came again. I wounded m^- ankle-joint, 
which laid me up many months, and gave me time to read and pra}'. 
Reverend Mr. Riddle invited me to stud}' for the ministry. 1 kept 
school in Alna, New Castle, and Bristol, and studied with Reverend 
Jonathan A^'ard, of New Milford. 1 was approbated to preach in the 
town of Winthrop, at Revei'end Mr. Bolden's, by the Lincoln Associ- 
ation of Congregational ministers. 

" I preached two j'ears in Norridgewock and other towns. In 1804 

i Fejepscot Papi rs. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 809 

I had a call, and was ordained in South Plymouth, Massachusetts, ten 
miles from my native place. There I preached Hopkinsianism sixteen 
years. Then for four j^ears I was a AYorsterian. Then I became a 
Universalist, and preached in jCharlestown and Salem three j'ears, and 
in Boston a few months. Then in Brunswick, Bath, and Bowdoinham 
two 3'ears, and ever since all round the State, and in other States. 
The last year I have not tried to preach. 

" I grow deaf, and forgetful of names. M}' health is good. M3' wife 
is eighty-four years old. We have had twelve children, 'i'he three 
youngest onl}^ are living in this world." 

Mr. Stetson was born in 1776, and died in 1867. He was at his 
death, therefore, ninety-one years of age, lacking five daj'S. He was 
at that time the oldest Universalist minister in Maine. From a diary 
that he left, it appears that he came to Brunswick in a packet to 
Maquoit (Captain Simpson's) in 1828. He brought with him his 
wife and five children and household goods, paying for passage and 
freight, sixteen dollars to Maquoit, and four dollars from the latter 
place to his house. 

Mr. Stetson was well known throughout this entire community, and 
was much beloved by his parishioners, and esteemed bj' all for the 
purity of his life and character. 

STONE, COLONEL ALFEED J. 

The subject of this sketch was a son of James Stone, and was a 
native of Topsham. He settled in Brunswick, and lived and died in 
the dwelling on Mill Street which stands nearly on the site of the old 
Stone mansion which was erected by Benjamin Stone, the ancestor of 
the family in Brunswick. It is worth}- of mention that the property 
on and near the corner of Maine and Mill Streets, known as Stone's 
Corner, has been retained in the family for four generations. Colonel 
Stone was largel}- engaged in the lumbering business, owning a mill 
on the upper dam, and for many 3'ears did an extensive business. He 
was a colonel in the militia, and held various public offices, among 
them that of postmaster. He was a representative to the legislature 
in 1836. He was an influential and public-spirited citizen. 

SYLVESTEK, MARLBOROUGH. 

Marlborough Sylvester, of Harpswell, was a son of William Sylves- 
ter, and was born in Hanover, Massachusetts, in 1753. He was a man 
prominent in the affairs of the town, and held town offices for many 
years. He was town clerk from 1794: to 1799, inclusive, and in 1813, 



810 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

selectman from 1797 to 1808, inclusive, and in 1815, and representa- 
tive in 1809. 

THOMPSON, GENEEAL ABNER B. 

Mr. Thompson was born in Middleboro', Massachusetts, September 
22, 1797, whence in his youth he moved to Boston, and from that 
cit}', in 1817, to Brunswiclc, where he spent the rest of his life, en- 
gaged for a long series of years in the active pursuits of mercantile 
life, manifesting an energy and a' directness of application that con- 
stituted him a marked man among his fellow-men. General Thomp- 
son from his j'outh manifested a fondness for military life. As earl}^ as 
1821 he received an officer's commission and held various positions in 
the militia, from lieutenant to that of major-general. In February, 
1847, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Ninth Regiment, 
United States Infantry. 

From 1834 until 1841, General Thompson held the office of adjutant 
and quartermaster-general of the State, and was in command of the 
troops called into service on the eastern frontier. For three 3'ears he 
was State agent for the prosecution of the militar}- claim of Maine 
against the Federal government for expenses incurred in protecting 
ber northeastern frontier, and in prosecution of the business he 
passed a considerable portion of his time in Washington. He was in 
1831 and 1832 State treasurer, and in 1856 a senator in the legisla- 
ture. 

As a politician, a Democrat of the old school, he was firm in the 
maintenance of the principles of the part}' in which he believed, 
swerving neither to the right nor the left, as party fancies might dic- 
tate, but always courteous and considerate to the views of an oppo- 
nent. His wonderful clearness of intellect, his ready power of expla- 
nation, his thorough knowledge of business details, gave him command 
over the minds of others which few men untrained to the professional 
arena possess. He had a wealth of determination, or power of will, 
which led him straigiit on in the path which he had marked out for 
himself. As a citizen, he held large and liberal views of public affairs, 
and his aid was always sought and granted in the carrying out of 
projects to promote the growth and prosperity of the town. 

He was a Freemason of high rank. He died August 4, 1871, and 
was buried with Masonic honors. 

THOMPSON, CHARLES. 

Mr. Thompson was a native of Topsham. When nine years of 
age he removed with his parents to the neighboring town of Lisbon. 




j e^^^ a, 



sl^4.jUJl uJiL. 



^yflX^^s^t-j} J ( Vuxl V Ju) iA^ . 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 811 

At the age of twentj'-one he returned to Topshara and engaged him- 
self as a clerk in a store. Economical and industrious, he soon 
acquired a sufficient sum of money to enable him to make an invest- 
ment in navigation, and, succeeding in his venture, he continued ever 
after to invest his funds in the same line of business, and generally' 
with a corresponding degree of success. When the Androscoggin 
Bank was organized, in 1834, Mr. Thompson, being one of the princi- 
pal stockholders, was elected president, and was continued in that 
position until the charter, by its own limitation, expired. 

Mr. Thompson was an ardent patriot, and served in the war of 1812. 
From 1812 to 1820 he filled the office of adjutant of the Third Regi- 
ment, First Brigade, Eleventh Division of State Militia. He was con- 
sidered so worth}^ of trust that, in 1814, the Circuit Court of Common 
Pleas, by an order issued at the August term, placed the entire control 
of the Court House in his hands, with authority to grant its nse for 
other purposes whenever he might deem it advisable. In 1831 he was 
elected as a representative to the legislature, and could have held the 
position longer had he so desired. 

Mr. Thompson was a man of strict integrity. He was a kind man 
in his family, and a lover of hospitalit}'. He was also a good neigh- 
bor and a wise counsellor. He was faithful to his engagements ; and 
masters of vessels, and others in his employ, if proving themselves 
worthy, were long retained. Though he never made any religious pro- 
fessious, he was a decided friend to the cause of religion and a liberal 
supporter of its institutions. He was warml}' interested in educa- 
tional matters, and was one of the chief supporters of the Topsham 
Academ}'. He also sent two of his sons to Bowdoin College. 

He had a clear and comprehensive intellect, was well informed in all 
ordinary matters, possessed sagacity and perseverance, was shrewd 
and calculating, had a large business experience, and was thoroughly 
posted in commercial matters. He was, at the time of his death, 
undoubtedly the wealthiest man in Topsham. He died October 4 , 1866. 

" He was a man of quick perceptions and a clear insight in regard 
to men and things, and one who often uttered his convictions in strong 
and decided language. He adhered to them, also, with pertinacity, 
even though they were sometimes formed upon insufficient data." 

THOMPSON, BRIGADIER SAMUEL. 

Samuel Thompson was born March 22, 1 735. He resided in Bruns- 
wick until after the close of the Revolutionarj^ war. He served on 
the Board of Selectmen of Brunswick in the years 1768, 1770, and 



812 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

1771. He was a member of the Provincial Congress, and about the 
year 1774 he was appointed or chosen lieutenant-colonel of militia. 
He Avas afterwards colonel, and on Februar}' 8, 1776, he was chosen 
by the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachu- 
setts as a brigadier-general of the Cumberland Count}' troops. He was 
about this time at the head of the Committee of Safet}- for the district. 
He was elected, also, the same year, as representative to the General 
Court. About the 3'ear 1783, possibly in 1784, General Thompson 
moved to Topsham, where he afterwards resided. He was chosen 
as a representative from Topsham to the General Court for twelve 
terms, — each year from 1784 to 1788, from 1790 to 1794, and in 
1797 and 1798. In 1797 he was also chosen senator to the General 
Court. 

Brigadier Thompson died in 1797, and was buried in an old burying- 
ground at Ferry Point, in Topsham. His remains were afterwards 
removed and placed in the same grave with those of Humphrey 
Thompson, his son, in the village burying-ground. 

Samuel Thompson was a man of some wealth, for the times. He 
was worth, according to the inventory of his property, some over 
$35,000. A little less than half of this amount was in real estate, of 
which he owned the most in Topsham, though he possessed consid- 
erable in Bowdoin, some in Bath, and an inconsiderable amount in 
Brunswick. 

In regard to his character, it is hardly possilile to render Brigadier 
Thompson exact justice. Nothing has Ijeen learned as to his private 
and social life. It is known, however, that his wife was, at times, 
insane, and it is said that on one occasion she killed an adopted son., 
of some five or six years of age, with a pair of steelyards. One of 
his children was also an imbecile. Under such circumstances, it is 
hardly probable that his home life could have been a happy one. 

In regard to his public life, it is not so difficult to form an opinion, 
though even here, owing to his outspoken and vehement manner, he. 
made so many enemies that it is difficult to know the truth of some 
statements made in regard to him. One thing is sure, that he was 
one of the leading men of his day, running over with zeal and patri- 
otism. The late Judge Freeman says of him, " He was a portly 
man, not of very tall stature, but somewhat corpulent, and appar- 
ently of a robust constitution, but not supposed to be possessed of 
much real courage. Nature had furnished him with strong mental 
powers and a capacity which, if it ha(J been rightly' directed and 
employed, might have rendered him a useful member of society, but 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 813 

his mind needed cultivation." He was strictly a " self-made " man, and 
was particularly remarkable for his firmness of opinion — often amount- 
ing to obstinacy — and for his ready wit, which, when he was in the 
House of Representatives, often excited the mirth of his brother 
members. 

In his religious views Samuel Thompson was a Universalist, or 
rather a Winchesterian. He believed in the Trinity, in a day of gen- 
eral judgment for all mankind, and in the punishment of the wicked 
in a literal hell-fire, but he also believed in the final salvation of all. 
Tradition saj's that the brigadier died in great agony of mind, expect- 
ing to suffer for his sins in fire and brimstone for 50,000 3'ears. He 
also evidently believed in the doctrine of foreordination, as he was 
accustomed whenever anything went wi'ong to console himself with 
the reflection that " it is all right in the great plan." It is said that 
on one occasion, as he was going from Topsham to the General Court, 
he stopped at Nichols's in Brunswick for a pair of new boots. Not 
being so well suited with them as he desired, he complained to Nich- 
ols, who replied, " It is all right in the great plan." " N-n-nichols," 
said the brigadier, stuttering, ''the great plan has nothing to do 
with these boots." 

Samuel Thompson was a zealous Whig or Anti-Federalist. He 
was a delegate from Topsham to the convention that " convened at 
Boston, January 9, 1788, and continued until February 7, following, 
for the purpose of assenting to and ratifying the Constitution recom- 
mended by the Grand Federal Convention." On the question of rati- 
fication he voted na}^ A letter to Madison, quoted in a letter to 
Washington, February 3, 1788, contains the following: " The leaders 
of this party [Anti-Federalists] are Mr. Widgery, Mv. 'I'hompson^ 
and Mr. Nassow, from the province of Maine." As throwing some 
light upon the probable reasons for Mr. Thompson's negative vote, 
we quote the following extract from a letter of General Knox, bear- 
ing date New York, January 14 [1788?] : — 

" The second part}' in the State are in the province of Maine. This 
party are chiefly looking towards the erection of a new State, and the 
majority of them will adopt or reject the new Constitution, as it may 
facilitate or retard their designs, without regarding the merits of the 
great question." 

On this question of the adoption of the Constitution, Mr. Thompson 
made several speeches. His longest one was against the paragraph 
providing for a standing army. His remarks, especially those begin- 
ning, "O my country!" called out replies from the opposite side. 



814 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSEAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

While discussing the fourth section in regard to elections, General 
Thompson said : — • 

"Mr. President, I have frequently heard of the abilities and fame 
of the learned and reverend gentleman [Reverend Mr. West] last speak- 
ing, and now I am witness to them. But, sir, one thing surprises me : 
it is to hear the worthy gentleman insinuate that our federal rulers 
will undoubtedly ))e good men, and that therefore we have little to 
fear from their being intrusted with all power. This, sir, is quite con- 
trary to the common language of the clerg}-, who are continuallj'^ rep- 
resenting mankind as reprobate and deceitful, and that we reall}' grow 
worse and worse da}^ after day. I really believe we do, sir, and I 
make no doubt to prove it before I sit down, from the Old Testament." 

On the question of considering the Constitution as a whole instead 
of by paragraphs, he remarked that, in his opinion, " the Constitution, 
and the reasons which induced gentlemen to frame it, ought to have 
been sent to the several towns, to be considered by them. M3' town 
considered it seven hours, and after this there was not one in favor of 
it. It is strange," he continued, " that a S3'stem which its planners 
say is so plain that he that runs ma}* read it, should want so much 
explanation." 

While the question of slavery was discussed, General Thompson 
exclaimed, " Mr. President, shall it be said, that after we have estab- 
lished our own independence and freedom, we make slaves of others? 
O Washington, what a name has he had ! How he has immortalized 
himself ! but he holds those in slaver}' who have as good right to be free 
as he has. He is still for self, and in my opinion his character has 
sunk fift}' per cent." 

When the paragraph in regard to the writ of habeas corpus was read, 
General Thompson asked the president to please to proceed. " We 
have," said he, " read the book often enough. It is a consistent piece 
of inconsistency." 

These extracts from his speeches show that though the brigadier 
was a bitter opposer of the Constitution, he possessed no mean power 
of debate, and could express himself tersely and vigorously. 

As a public speaker, we cannot with fairness judge Mr. Thompson 
by his harangues to the populace. In these he was impetuous, noisy, 
and sometimes even furious. The late Doctor James McKeen de- 
scribed his speech on one occasion in the following words : — 

" The brigadier was of too fiery a temperament to be either appeased 
or softened, but went on continually hurling his gall-bladder invec- 
tives against all who failed to come up to his measure of vehement 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 815 

demonstrations." It is to be presumed that his manner in the House 
of Representatives was cahner and his speech more considerate. 

General Thompson, though perhaps not haugiity or overbearing in 
his manner, had a good deal of pride in his position as a public man 
and an officer. It is related that once, when a member of the Gen- 
eral Court, he tvas crossing a toll-bridge leading into Boston, when the 
toUman demanded toll. Toll not being required from members of the 
legislature at that time, the brigadier replied, with great dignit}', " I 
belong to the House, sir." " Belong to the House ! I should think 3-ou 
belonged to the ham" was the reply of the tollman, evidently induced 
b}^ his rustic appearance. 

As regards his military qualifications, Williamson describes the 
brigadier as bold and courageous, but as not possessing sufficient 
coolness, consistency, foresight, or intelligence to qualify him for a 
leader. In regard to his bravery there seem to be conflicting opinions. 
His exploit in regard to the capture of Mowatt has already been men- 
tioned, and some other facts connected with his military career would 
seem to show that he was not deficient in courage. The following 
anecdote, however, if true, would seem to indicate both cowardice and 
stinginess. 

It is related that on one occasion Captain John Ross, of Sebasco- 
digan, the master of a coasting vessel, was in Boston and ready to 
sail for home with'onl}^ two hands (Robert Gorden and William 
Coombs) with him. Just before the time for sailing the brigadier 
came on board and bespoke a passage. He brought with him a pil- 
low-case full of gingerbread and some molasses for his rations. They 
set sail and started on their homeward vo3'age. The bay was full of 
cruisers. When abreast of the Isle of Shoals Xhcy discovered a small 
vessel, apparently' a fisherman, inside. She soon, however, hoisted 
her canvas in pursuit. Captain Ross ordered the two swivels to be 
fixed on the windlass bits, loaded with powder and ball. Coombs was 
stationed at one, and Gorden at the other. The hostile vessel ap- 
proached rapidly, passed b}' the bows of the coaster, saw the swivels 
and the two men swinging their lighted ropes to keep them alive, and 
passed on her way and left them. All this time the brigadier, " ex- 
pecting death would be his portion, stood in the companion-way, out 
of sight, trembling with fear and suflEering the horrors of despair." 
When the privateer had passed by, the brigadier made his appearance 
in good spirits, and exulted that he had saved his gingerbread. 

Notwithstanding the anecdotes tending to throw ridicule upon him, 
and the animadversions of his enemies, it is evident that General 



816 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HAEPSWELL. 

Thompson must have been in some respects a remarkable man, or he 
could not for so long a period have possessed the confidence of a 
majorit}^ of his fellow-citizens and have filled the responsible stations 
which he did. At all events, the strength of his patriotism ought to 
overshadow man}' minor defects of character. 

TITCOMB, REVEREND BENJAMIN. 

Benjamin Titcomb, fourth son of Deacon Benjamin and Anne Tit- 
comb, was born in Portland, July 26, 1761. He was educated at 
Dummer Academy', Newliurj', Massachusetts, and afterward at New- 
buryport ; served an apprenticeship in the art of priuting, establishing 
himself in the printing business at Portland. On the first day of Janu- 
ar}^, 1785, he "struck off" with his own hands the first sheet ever 
printed in Maine. 

About 1798 he left printing, and with no other preparation than that 
which the grace of God gives, began to preach to the small Baptist 
society then recently gathered in Portland, the first meetings of which' 
were at Mr. Titcomb's house. In 1804 he removed to Brunswick, and 
became pastor of the Baptist Church which had been gathered here by 
Elders Case and Williams. The meetings of this society' for several 
3'ears were held at Maquoit, in the meeting-house wdiich was built by 
the society in the latter part of the last century-. 

In 1829 the meeting-house on Federal Street, ^vhich is now occupied 
by tlie Catholics, was built ; and in this Elder Titcomb finished his pub- 
lic labors, retiring from the pulpit at the age of eightj'-three, after a 
fort}' 3ears' ministry in Brunswick. 

In 1820, Elder Titcomb was elected a delegate to the convention 
that formed the Constitution of JNIaine ; and at the request of General 
King, opened the convention with praj'er. Not fond of political pre- 
ferment, he afterward declined office, which was several times oflTered 
him. He was one of the ofiginal trustees of Waterville College, now 
Colby University, and took great interest in that institution. He was 
a man of decision, " strong in faith," a ready speaker, preaching with- 
out notes. He retained his mental faculties in a good degree to the 
last, dying at his residence on Federal Street, September 30, 1848. ^ 

UPHAM, THOMAS C, D. D. 

Professor Upham was born in Deerfield, N. H., January 20, 1799. 
He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1818. He then went through 

^From Griffin's Press of Maine, p. 34. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 817 

three 3-ears of theological study at Andover, in which lie gained such 
distinction by his indefatigable stud}', his scholarship and attain- 
ments, that, after completing the course, he was selected by Profes- 
sor Stuart to assist him in the Greek and Hebrew instruction of the 
seminar}'. 

He subsequently became pastor over tlie church of his Rochester 
home, where he labored a 3'ear with characteristic ?eal and energ}', 
and to the great contentment of his people, until 1824, when he was 
chosen to the professorship of Moral Philosophy' and Metaphysics in 
Bowdoin College. 

In 1852, Professor Uphara spent a ^-ear in European and P^astern 
travel, visiting England and Scotland, France, Switzerland, Germany, 
and Ital}', Egypt and the Hoh' Land, his companion of travel being 
Reverend Mr. Thompson, then of the Broadway- Tabernacle, New 
York. One result of his tour was a volume, in which we have the 
impressions made on an observing, contemplative, highly- cultured, and 
poetic mind of the people and scenes he visited. This volume, of 
which a third edition has been printed, ranks high among the most 
thoughtful and instructive works of that class. He was a voluminous 
writer. A collection of his works would make at least twenty vol- 
umes. Among the better known of his writings are his treatises on 
mental philosophy and on the will. He also published a volume of 
minor poems, under the title, " American Cottage Life," which went 
through six editions. 

The variety and extent of the literary labors of Doctor Upham 
afford proof of the varied character of his erudition. He was indeed 
a devourer of books. He explored all the libraries of the college and 
visited those of other institutions. He read all works in his own 
department and biographies and books of travel, from which to draw 
manifold illustrations. " He was deeply read in European history. 
Probably the State could not have produced a man more conversant 
with the politics of Europe. Occasionally during the first two or 
three years of his professorship, he occupied the pulpit of the Bruns- 
wick church to the great gratification of his hearers. He supplied 
the pulpit in Harpswell for a season or two, and his active interes, 
and personal effort in encouraging that people and the jDeople of 
Topsham in maintaining the ordinances of God's house are held in 
grateful remembrance. In person he solicited contributions among 
the people of Harpswell toward their new church, and with success 
surprising to themselves. 

"■ All questions of public moment, whether regarding religion or 
52 



818 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND II ART SWELL. 

morals and mannevs, found him a vigilant observer and active partici- 
pant in all good measures. 

"Professor Upham's whole life was that of a true philanthropist. 
The famous line of Terence, Homo stim, humani nihil a me alienum 
puto, was illustrated in him as fully as in any human being. There 
was a fountain of kindness and good-will within him, ever full and 
overflowing. His domestic affections were deep and abiding Noth- 
ing could show more strikingly the love that was in him, seeking for 
objects on which to fasten, than the fact that, not being blessed with 
children of his own, he adopted children and loved and did for them 
as if they were his own. 

"■ The oppressed and down-trodden found in him a sympathizing, 
active friend. He was an earl}- and liberal patron of colonization, 
constituting himself a life meml)er of the societ}' b}' a contribution of 
$1,000. His name stands on the first roll of signers to the temper- 
ance pledge in Brunswick, drawn up immediately after the visit of the 
eminent Doctor Edwards. He watched with eager e^'e every move- 
ment for the ends of civil and religious liberty in Eui'ope or on this 
continent. He labored earnesth' in the cause of peace, and yet when 
the cloud of civil war hung over our land, his heart was stirred 
within him for the salvation and integrit}* of his bleeding country. 
To crown all, he was instant in season and out of season, in college, 
in the street, and from house to house, in the cause of his Master. 
No one was more sensitive to an^-thing which promised good or threat- 
ened evil to the interests of moral or of vital godliness. 

" There was not the shade of self-exaltation in anything he said or 
did. He was far as one could be from the appearance of being 
puffed up b}' his attainments or his wide reputation. His manner 
and bearing were not even what might have been excused in one who 
could not but be aware that he could sustain elegant and learned dis- 
course with any of the philosophers or statesmen or men of letters of 
the world. On the contrar}^ he could take the level of the most 
humble and illiterate, with no appearance of condescension, readil}- 
adapting himself to their apprehension, their prejudices, or their 
humors, thus in the best sense becoming all things to all men if he 
might therel)y win them to the right and the true." 

He died in 1872. 

VEAZIE, GENERAL SAMUEL. 

General Vcazie was born in Portland, Maine, April 22, 1787, and 
came to Topsham when about twent3'-one years of age, without cupi- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 819 

tal, and established himself in a smnll business. He afterwards en- 
gaged in the limiber Inisiness on the Androscoggin, and in ship-build- 
ing. He built a dozen or more vessels, equipped them, freighted 
them with his own lumber, and carried on a direct trade with the 
AVest Indies. 

In the war of 1812 he took an active part. In 1812 he was chosen 
ensign, and in 1819 captain of a Topsham company in the mihtia. 
He was afterwards promoted rapidl}*, until he filled the office of 
general. He is said to have been, though a strict disciplinarian, an 
efficient and beloved commander. 

" Identified with all the social, religious, and political interests of 
Topsham, General Veazie became one of its leading citizens. His 
liber 1 lit}' towards the church where he worshipped, the trees which he 
planted, and the good taste and improvements displayed, will not be 
forgotten in coming generations. 

" In 1826 the inducements of a larger field for operations, on the 
Penobscot, called his attention there, when he made valuable pur- 
chases in Oldtown, which became so important that he closed his 
business at Topsham, and moved to Bangor, in 1832. 

"The loss of such a citizen to Topsham was soon apparent in his 
operations at Oldtown and Bangor. 

" His comprehensive mind made him master of the situation, and 
while he continued to build ships and give employment to his old 
mechanical friends who followed him, his manifold lumbering inter- 
ests, at Oldtown and Stillwater, proved the wisdom of his invest- 
ments. Superadded to these he became noted as a banker, founding 
the Bank of Bangor, which was merged into the Veazie Bank, l)oth 
institutions ever having the confidence of the pulilic, based upon his 
capital and management. 

" The Bangor, Oldtown, and Milford Railroad becoming unprofitable 
to its proprietors, was sold to him, when, as if \>j magic, it recuper- 
ated, and became one of the leading arteries of Bangor. In 1855, 
having lost his wife, he moved to the then village of North Bangor, 
where he afterwards married. The citizens of that village petitioned 
the legislature to be incoi*porated as a town under the name of Veazie, 
which was granted, and here, some three miles from Bangor, he ever 
after resided. 

" General Veazie was a Je3ers3nian Democrat, a mm of great 
executive abilit}^ and financial capacity, had an iron will, accompa- 
nied by a resolute energ}' and inflexible integrity". He was a good 
husband, devoted parent, and an excellent neighbor. His word, like 



820 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

the bills that bore his name, was never ' below par,' and he was 
always the 3'oung man's friend. Wielding a large influence, and 
although often solicited, he would never accept office, nor ever held 
one, as the writer believes, except that of councillor to the governor 
of the State. His life was one of incessant activity and usefulness to 
the day of his death, March 12, 1868, when, in the full possession of 
his faculties, surrounded b}' his family, he bequeathed to them a good 
name, and probabl}' the largest fortune in the State." 

WALKER, MAJOR NATHANIEL. 

Nathaniel Walker was born in Arundel, now Kennebunk, Septem- 
ber 25, 1781, and while a boy came with his father to Topsham, in 
which town he passed the greater part of his life. 

He was a warm-hearted patriot, and served in the war of 1812. 
He was captain of the Topsham artillerj' compan}- in 1814, when it 
was called out and ordered to Bath for the defence of that town, and 
was subsequently promoted to the office of major. He filled various 
public positions. He was town clerk for a series of 3-ears and post- 
master for some length of time. Major Walker was also a justice of 
the peace and an efficient member of the Citizens' Fire Company, in 
which he always kept up an interest. His chief occupation was that 
of surveyor of lumber, and he was also interested in the lumber busi- 
ness. He was an energetic and able business man. He had a strong 
constitution and was very healthy, never having been sick up to the 
time of his death. He built, in 1809, the AValker homestead, where 
he'lived until his death, whicli took place August 17, 1851. 

WHEELER, REVEREND AMOS DEAN, D. D. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Woodstock, Vermont, Decem- 
ber 13, 1803, and was the son of Amos Wheeler, Jr., and Lydia [Ran- 
dall] Wheeler. His father dying when he was three 3'ears old, he was 
adopted b}' James Udall, Esquire, of Hartland, Vermont, with whom 
he lived, until seventeen years of age, receiving instruction in the com- 
mon schools and at Thetford Academy. In 1820 he went to Leices- 
ter, jMassachu setts, where his relatives resided, and attended Leicester 
Academy- for a wliile, subsequently teaching school until he entered 
Williams College, from which he graduated in 1827. He then taught 
the academ}!- at Marlboro' foi* two 3-ears, at the expiration of which 
time he was elected principal of the Latin Grammar School in Salem. 
He remained in that position for three 3'ears, studying theology, mean- 
time, with the Reverend Charles Upham, D. D., who was then pastor 




■J^' 



.MW<y^uL.^I^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 821 

of the First Church in Salem. Resigning his school in 1832, he spent 
a year at Harvard Divinity School, graduating therefrom in 1833. 
From Cambridge he went to Meadville, Pennsylvania, to supply the 
pulpit of the Unitarian Societ}', and remained there seven or eight 
months. While at Meadville he received a call to settle over that par- 
ish, but declined on account of the distance from his relatives and 
friends. In 1834 he was invited to and was settled over the Unitarian 
Society in Standish, Maine. He continued iu that place until 1839, 
when he received a call to settle in Topsham, where he ever after lived. 
For fourteen years he preached in the Unitarian Meeting-IIouse in 
Topsham. At the end of that time the Unitarian Society of Topsham 
and the Universalist Society of Brunswick were united under the name 
of " The Mason Street Religious Society," of Brunswick, and Mr. 
. Wheeler was invited to become pastor of the new organization. He 
preached to this society until 18G5, when he resigned and was soon 
after appointed missionary for the American Unitarian Association to 
the State of Maine, and at about the same time he was elected secre- 
tar3- of the Maine Conference of Unitarian churches. He died June 
28, 1876. 

The following obituary- notices by life-long friends undoubtedly give 
a correct estimate of his character and abilities. 

" Soon after Doctor Wheeler made Topsham his home he became 
known to the college. Three of his sons were graduated from it. He 
was for j-ears uniformly on its committee of examination. I doubt 
whether the late Professor Smyth thought he could have an examina- 
tion in the higher mathematics without him. But he was at home in 
any department of the course. The doors of the college were always 
wide open to him, and she bestowed on him her highest honors. ^ 

" Interested in education, he was for years on the superintending 
school committee of his town, and I think there was not a child in the 
town who was not glad to see him enter the school-room on his official 
visits He was interested in young men ; fitted several for the col- 
lege, received undergraduates as pupils, and they respected and loved 
him as a father. 

" He was for man}' 3'ears on the standing committee of the Maine 
Historical Society, and much esteemed and respected for counsel and 
encouragement." 

"Doctor Wheeler was a man of unquestioned abilit}^, of cultivated 
and literar}' tastes, an easy, graceful writer, ready in extempore 

1 The degree of D. D. was bestowed upon him in 1860. 



822 HISTOIiY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

iiddress, of singular purity of life and conversation, possessing a heart 
as tender and true as that of a child. Scorning all equivocations, pur- 
suing the right with untlinehing inn-pose, leading the life of the luun- 
ble and devoted Christian, he won the love of the people of his own 
denomination, and the esteem of all others who knew and appreciated 
his wortli." 

"■ Doctor Wheeler was a man of strong con\ictions. of decided opin- 
ions, of a gentle, genial spirit, generous impulses and synii)athies for 
every good o)>Ject, of high-toned character. He was not a man to 
kindle unkind emotions in any hreast. I do not believe he left an hos- 
tile or unfriendly feeling in an}' one, and 'we cannot help exclaiming 
with the Psalmist, ' Help, Lord, for the faithful fail from among the 
children of nien ! ' " 

Sa3"s a writer in the Christian R gister, " He was a man of larger 
natural endowment and more varied attainments than was generally 
known. Few of his contemporaries excelled him in mathematical 
scholarship. He kept well up with the college curriculum in all its 
departments. For man}' years he was a regular contributor of able 
articles to a journal of mathematical science. He had a poetic taste 
and faculty beyond the average of cultivated men. Few surpassed 
him in critical and thorough knowledge of the Bible, and in ready abil- 
ity to maintain his position by exact verbal quotations therefrom. Of 
clear mental vision and acute argumentative powers, he was strong as 
he was also fair and good-natured in general debate. 

" Calm habitually, even to sedateness, self-governed and judicious, 
the man of all around you to whom you would intrust any matter 
requiring sober and unbiassed deliberation, he could yet nuike merry 
with the gaN'est within the bounds of right and reason, was as tender 
in his feelings as a child, and his religious emotions were easily 
excited." 

His children will be pardoned if, from a filial regard to his memor}', 
they have allowed a disproportionate space to this sketch. 

AyiLSON, CAPTAIN THOMAS. 

Thomas "Wilson came from Ireland when he was about fifteen years 
of age, arrived in Boston, afterwards came to Topsham, and when the 
Indian war commenced returned to Boston again. On the return of 
peace he moved back to Topsham, and remained during the last French 
and Indian war, and until his decease. He was buried in the grave- 
3'ard near the old meeting-house. He was the only one of his family 
who came to this country. He was a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 823 

He was a noted hunter, and was one of the early explorers of what 
is now the town of Farmington. His house, a l^lock-house, stood a lit- 
tle west of where Mr. James Wilson's house now stands. His third 
son, I'hoinas, was in the English navy in the Revolution, and died in 
consequenee of wounds received in action. He \nw\ have l>een im- 
pressed into the British service, but the belief has always prevailed in 
the family that he entered it voluntarily. 

WOODSIDE, REVEREND JAMES. 

Reverend James AV'oodside was a clerg3'man of the Church of Eng- 
land. According to a statement in the Pejepscot Papers, he, with his 
son William, arrived in this country prior to the j'ear 1714. He 
remained at Falmouth with his family, and his son came to this town 
and took charge of the block-house at Maquoit in 1714. If the fore- 
going statement is correct, he must have returned to Ireland again, as 
he certainly left the latter country in 1718, as is shown b}' the follow- 
ing cop3' 1 of a petition of James Woodside to the king, 2oth June, 
1723.: — 

"To THi: KiN'os Most Exci-.i.lkvt Majksty ix Couxcicl : — 

"THE HLTMULE MEMORIAL & PETITION OF .TAMES WOODSIDE, 

LATE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT BRUNSWICK IN NEW 

ENGLAND 

"SlIEWETH, 

" That he with 40 Famil3-s, consisting of above IGO persons did in 
the year 1718 einbarque on a ship at Deny Lough, in Ireland, in 
order to ICrect a Colony at Casco Bay, in 3'our Maj't^'s Province of 
Main in Xew England. 

" That being arrived they made a settlement at a place called b}'' 
the Indians Pejipscot, but b^' them Brunswick, within 4 miles from 
Fort George, where (after he had laid out a considerable sum upon a 
Garrison House, fortifyed with Palisadoes & two large Bastions, had 
also made great improvements & laid out considerabh* for the benefit 
of that Infant Colony) the Inhabitants were surprised b}' tlie Indians 
who in the month of Jul}' 1722 came down in great numbers to mur- 
der j-our ^Majesty's good subjects there. 

" That upon this surprise the Inhabitants naked & destitute of pro- 
visions run for shelter into your Pet'rs House (which is still defended 
by his sons) where thej' were kindl}' received, provided for & pro- 
tected from the Rebel Indians. 

* Obtained by Reverend Doctor Woods from the Rolls Office in London. 



824 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 

" That the sd. Indinns being happih' prevented from murdering 
3-our Majesty's good subjects (in revenge to your Pet'r) presently 
kiil'd all his Cattel, destroying all the moveables & provisions the}' 
could come at, & as ^'our Pet'r had a very considerable stock of Cattel 
he & his family were great sufferers thereby, as may appear 1iy a Cer- 
tificate of the Governour of that Province, a cop}- whereof is hereunto 
annexed. Your Pet'f therefore most humbly begs that, in regard to 
his great undertaking, his great losses & sufferings, the service done 
to the publick in saving the lives of many of Your Maj'tys subjects, 
the unshaken loyalty & undaunted courage of his sons, who still 
defend the sd. Garrison, Your Majesty in Councel will be pleased to 
provide for him, his Wife & Daughter, here, or grant him the post of 
Mr. Cummins, a searcher of ships in the Harbour of Boston, N. 
England, latel}' deceas'd, so that his family reduc'd to very low cir- 
cumstances may be resettled & his losses repair'd where they were 
sustain'd. 

" & Your Pet'r shall ever pray &c. 

" I do hereb}' certifie that the Rev'd Mr. Woodside went over from 
Ireland to New England with a considerable number of people, that 
he & they sate down to plant in a place called Brunswick in the East- 
ern Parts of New England, where he built a Garrison House, which 
was the means of saving the lives of many of his people in the late 
Insurrection of the Indians in July last That his generosity' is taken 
notice of by both Doctors Mathers &, that the Indians cutt off all his 
Cattle, whereby he & his family are great sufferers. 

" Copia vera. 

" Samuel Siiute. 
"London, June 25, 1723." 

In 1719 the proprietors united with the inhabitants, and in a joint 
letter in\ited him to preach six mouths on probation. The proprietors 
also provided that the house of Mr Baxter should be made habitable 
for Mr. Woodside. This house was on lot number six, on the south- 
east corner of Maine and Green Streets. During his period of 
probation Mr. Woodside did not give perfect satisfaction, although he 
had some strong friends. At the expiration of the six months, how- 
ever, the town voted •'• to continue him the same length of time again, 
provided those who were dissatisfied with his conversation can, by 
treating him as becomes Christians, receive such satisfaction from him 
as that they will hear him preach." The majority of the settlers were 
opposed to him. however, aud he only preached three months longer, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 825 

not being, it is said, puritanical enough. He returned to England 
soon after leaving this town, and it is thought that his son James fol- 
lowed him. Soon after his return he sent his portrait over to his son 
Wilham. It bears date "1726, by Gibson." Mr. Woodside corre- 
sponded with his son William for some j^ears afterwards, though the 
latest date is now unknown, as is also (to the writer) the date of his 
death. 

WOODSIDE, CAPTAIN" WILLIAM. 

Captain Woodside obtained command of the Block House at Maquoit 
in 1714, according to one account, but not until 1726 according to 
another statement.^ He was commissioned as lieutenant, but after- 
wards was made a captain. He bought a lot on what is called Whar- 
ton's Point, from its original owner, Thomas Wharton. He afterwards 
purchased the first of the regular lots laid out by the proprietors, 
towards the falls. 

He was a large, well-built, though somewhat corpulent, stout, active, 
and energetic man. The Indians, it is said, stood in fear of him. He 
was a trader with the Indians, and, it is alleged, usually got the best 
of a bargain with them. 

Esquire Woodside, as he was usually called, was with the expedi- 
tion to Louisburg in 1750. He received a commission as chaplain 
from Lord Loudoun. There are many anecdotes concerning him, 
which are current to this day. He had a number of encounters with 
the Indians, but always managed to escape, and sometimes inflicted 
a severe punishment upon those who attempted to molest him. He 
wore, as was the fashion at that time, a large three-cornered hat. 

" Early one Sunday morning he went, against the remonstrance of 
a number in the garrison, to a turnip-yard which he had a short dis- 
tance north from his house, on the road. The people in the garrison 
were suspicious that there were Indians about, because the dogs had 
been barking all night. When he got to the turnip-3'ard he put his 
hand on the fence and jumped over, and there were a number of In- 
dians concealed under the fence upon the lookout for him. He got back 
over the fence as quick as he could. The Indians pursued him, but he 
outran them, and when they found they could not catch him they fired 
at him, but his life was preserved while he received two or three balls 
through his hat. 

" Another time, when the Indians appeared friendly, he went into the 
wood to cut timber. Darkness overtook him before his return. When 

^ " Gleanings," in Brunswick Telegraph, by McKeen. 



826 HISIORY OF BRUNHWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

he arrived near home he came upon some Indians by surprise. They 
professed to be \qyj glad to see him, and tried to detain him so ear- 
nesth" that he was suspicious that there was some mischief going on. 
He went to the garrison and found all well. He then went to his barn 
and there found an Indian setting fire to his hay-mow. He caught 
him, gave him man}' severe blows on the side of the head with his fist, 
and left him, as he supposed, dead. In the morning he went out, and 
found that b3' some means he had been taken awaj'." ^ 

Captain Woodside died in 17G4. His will was written by Master 
George Harwood, and his son-in-law, Deacon Samuel Stanwood, was 
the executor. 

1 Pejepscot Papers. 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 827 



CHAPTER II. 

FAMILY HISTORIES. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE. 

In the following pages will be found a brief account of the origin and 
settlement here of some of the older families of these towns. 

Nothing further than this has been attempted. To bring the gene- 
alogy of so many families down to the present generation would involve 
a vast amount of labor, and would, of itself, make a volume. For the 
same reason it has been found necessaiy to limit the number of fami- 
lies mentioned by including those onl}' who settled somewhere in these 
towns prior to the year 1800, and whose descendants are still living in 
this immediate vicinit}'. The list of families mentioned does not, how- 
ever, include all who came here previous to l.SOO, as there are some 
such families concerning which sufficient information could not be 
obtained without the devotion of more time and labor to the work than 
the authors could afford. In some cases the omission is clue to the 
fact that members of the family, to whom application for information 
was made, have failed to make any response to the request. 

The following abbreviations are used : — 

abt. — about. dan. — daughter. 

b. — born. m. — married. 

d. — died. s. — single. 

ch. — child or children. (Biog.) — see Biographical sketch. 

bap. — baptized. wf. — wife. 

ANDERSON. 

Accordiug to traditiouary accoimls, Jacob Anderson came from Dimgan- 
uou, the home of the O'Neils, iu Ulster County, of Tyroue, Ireland. He 
emigrated to this country somewhere about the year 1710. He settled for a 
short time near Old Orchard, but soon moved to that portion of Freeport 
known as Flying Point. He built a block-house there and became a farmer, 
and somewhat noted Indian fighter during the French war. The Cumberland 
Registry of Deeds shows the sale to him of portions of the Dummer claim 



828 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

iu (then) North Yarmouth, and the adjacent islands' off Flj'ing Point by Jere 
Powell, Epes Sargent, Tiniothj' Prout, and Abraham Pettengill, at various 
dates from March, 1759, to March, 17G4. 

Jacob Anderson, son of the above Jacob, was b. in Freeport. He left there 
to join Washington's army at Cambridge the next morning after the news of 
the battle of Lexington readied Maine. After the close of the war of the 
Revolution, he removed to Brunswick, and cleared a farm lying between the 
Woodside and Ross farms, on the main road from Brunswick to Freeport. 
His son, Martin Anderson, was born on the farm above mentioned in 1789. 
Subsequently to 1812 he removed to Freeport, and from there to Bath. He 
died at the house of his son, Reverend M. B. Anderson, D. D., Rochester, 
N. Y., Dec, 7, 1875. 

BABBIDGE or BARBIDGE. 

James Barbidge, orBABBiDGE, a husbandman residing at North Yarmouth, 
was born about 1G97, at Uft'culme, Devonshire, England, and was a son of 
James and Prudence Babbidge, wliose other children Avere a dau., Tampson, 
who m. John Brumfield, and sons Peter, Courtney, and William. ( From "Dep- 
osition of James Barbidge, of North Yarmouth, Maine, 1730.) (N. E. H. & G. 
Reg. Vol. 13.) 

The Harpswell town records contain the record of the death of a James 
Babbidge, August 11, 17G4, aged 78. He was therefore born 1686. It is not 
improbable that he is the James alluded to as haviug been born in 1697, and 
that a mistake has been made in one or the other statement. 

A CouRTNKV Babbidge m. 1st, Sai'ah, dau. of James Bibber, abt. 1754. 
They had ch. Sarah, h. No. Yarmouth, 1756; WiUiam,h. Harpswell, 1758; 
Stephen, b. 1760; Conrtney, b. 1761; Betty, b. 1763; Susanna, b. 1766. 

He m. 2d, Abigail, dau of Wm. Booker; ch., WiViam, b. 1769. 

BAILEY. 

Deacon Timothy Bailey, of Hanover, Mass., was a descendant in the 3d 
generation of John, of Scituate. He m. 1st, Sarah Buck, May 27, 1731, who 
d. Oct. 9, 1740 He m. 2d, Hannah Curtis, June 9, 1742, and with his 
wife was recommended to the church in North Yarmouth He settled on 
Bailey's Island, then a part of North Yarmouth. Ch. — Olive, b. May, 1735, 
d. May 26, 1736; Timothy, b. June, 1737, d. young; Sarah, b. March 13, 
1739; ch. by second wife were : — Delight, h. June 12, 1745; Olive, bap May 
15, 1748: Timothy, bap. Oct. 13, 1757. 

BARST0W.2 

" Barstow, — Naburn Hall, York, Ermine on a ferre sable, three crescents, 
or, crest, a horse's head, couped or." 

This family came from the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. Four 
Ijrothers of this name came early to this country and settled at Cambridge, 
Watertown, and Dedham. Their names were George, Michael, John, and 

' These islands are the Middle Brother, UpperBrother, and Sow and Pigs. 
"^See History of Hanover, pp. 208 to 227. 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 829 

William. Of the male dcsceuclauts but one (James) is known to have settled 
in this vicinity. Mary, dau. of Joshua, b. in Hanover, Mass., in 1743, m. 
a Curtis, and settled at Harpswell Neck. 

James Barstow, son of Joshua, was b. in Hanover, Mass., Oct. 8, 1744, and 
ni. Agnes, daughter of Wm. Wyer, of Boston, and settled in Harpswell, and 
was the ancestor of all of that name in this vicinity, and d. Feb. 17, 1827. 

Ch. were: — Elizabeth, b. 1777; Joshua, b. 1781; Willinm, b. 1784; Eob' rt, 
b. 1785 ; Agnes, b. 1788. 

BERRY. 

Joseph Berry was b. at New Meadows, Brunswick, Sept. 26, 1740. His 
parents had previously resided at "Berry's Mills" in Bath, then called 
Georgetown. Nothing has been obtained as regards his ancestors. He m. 
1st, Feb. 17G7, Jane, the second dau. of Capt. Adam Hunter, of Topsham ; 
2d, Jennett, a dau. of Deacon James Henry, the cooper of Topsham. 
Ch. were by first wife, — Adam, b. Jan. 25, 1769, unmarried. Was lost 
at sea, date unknown; Jostph, b. about 1772, unmari'ied, d. in 1810. By 2d 

wife: — Jenny , m. CrLspus Graves, date of birth and death unknown; 

John, b. , ra. a Simpson, d. in Demerara, March IS, 1803 ; Hannah, d. in 

infancy; Bohert, b. April 28, 1786, single; was drowned at Cathauce, May 17, 
18.j5; liiifas, b. May 25, 1789, — nothing else known; Josiah, b. March 22, 
1792; single, drowned near Seguin, Sept. 27, 1817, as he was coming from 
Portland in a small boat; Harvey, b. Sept. 19, 1798, — nothing else known. 

Joseph Beriy, either prior to or after his marriage, settled in Topsham. 
During the last Indian war he is said to have been captured by the Indians 
and carried to Canada It appears from an entry in the office of the Registry 
of Deeds that Dec. 28, 1768, he received of James Hunter one hundred acres 
of the N. W. parts of lots Nos 30 and 31 in Topsham. He was one of the 
Committee of Correspondence and Safety in 1785. 

BISBEE.i 

The common ancestor of all of this family in New England was Thomas 
Besbidge, as the name was formerlj^ called and spelled. He came from 
England in the spring of 1634. He is known to have had three children, viz. : 
Elisha ; Alice, who m. John Bourne ; Mary, who m. William Brown of Sudbury. 

Oliver Bisbee, of the sixth generation from Thomas, was b. in Duxbury, 
Mass., June 10, 1762 He was a ship-carpenter. He m. 1st, Huldah Simmons, 
of Duxbury, and, prior to 1790, he moved to Brunswick and settled at 
New Meadows. His ch. was, by 1st wf. : — Huldah, b. Oct 4, 1791, m. 
Edward Mclutire. 

He m. for 2d wife. Persis Simmons, a sister of his 1st wf., Sept. 22, 1792. 
Ch. were : — Bufus, b. Jan. 12, 1792 ; Studley, b. July 10, 1795 ; Hannah, b. April 
18, 1797, single; William, b. July 4, 1799, m. Hannah Prior; Aaron, b. Oct. 
10, 1802, m. Nancy Conley ; Seth, b. Sept. 27, 1804, m. Maria Larrabee ; Sarah, 
b. Aug. 3, 1806, m. James Tebbetts. 

Charles Blsbee, Jr., of the sixth generation from Thomas, was b. in 1757, 
and m. Desire Diugley, of Marshfleld. He was a jeweller and watch repairer, 

' For full genealogy see Bisbee Family Records. 



830 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

and worked some time at his trade in Brunswick. He subsequent!}' moved 
witli his family to Indiana, wliere he d. June 11, 1833. 

BOOKER. 

This famil)' is of English origin, the name being quite common in England. 

John Booker came from England about 1707 and settled at York. It is 
probable that he was accompanied by a brother who settled further east. He 
m. Hester, dau. of Thomas Adams of York, by whom he had eight ch., in 
York, between the years 1713 and 1728. 

James Booker, the sixth ch. of John of York, was b. Dec. 18, 1723. He 
m., in York, Mercy Young, dau. of Benaiah Young, Nov. 11, 1747, and settled 
on Harpswell JS'eck, near the old meeting-house, soon after his maiTiage. He 
was a deacon of the Congregational Church and was a selectman in 17G2. He 
ran a freighting vessel from Harpswell to Boston and the intermediate ports, 
carrying largel^^ wood and bringing east general merchandise. Pie was the 
progenitor of the Bookers now residing in Brunswick and vicinity. Ch. 
were: — James, h.DQC. 2o, 1748 0. S. ; Jotham, b. Julj^ 3, 1750 O. S. ; Buth 
and Joseph, b. May 27, 1753, N. S. ; Miriam, b. June 23, 1755; Daniel, b. Nov. 
14, 1756; Mercy, b. May G, 1758; Daniel, b. Feb. 25, 17G0; Isaiah, b. Jan. 5, 
17G2; William, b. Oct. 9, 1763; Ester, b. Nov. 21, 1765. 

CHASE. 

The first of this name to whom reference has been found was Ji'dah Chase, 
who settled in Brunswick a])out 1752. He was the ancestor of the Brunswick 
family of that name. His wife's name was Margaret. He d. in 1804. Ch. 
were : — Anne, b. Mch. 3, 1753 ; James, b. Mch. 23, 1755 ; 3Iari/, b. Aug. 5, 1757 ; 
Isaac, b. Aug. 27, 1759; William Vincent, b. Nov. 2, 1761; Anthony, b. Oct. 2, 
17G3; Judah, b. Nov. IG, 1765; Margaret, b. Nov. 7, 1767; Nathaniel, b. Jan. 

17, 1770; Jean, b. Apr. 18, 1772. 

CLARK. 

Samuel Clark and his wife Martha were both born in Ireland, but may have 
been m. in Boston. He settled at Middle Bay, Brunswick, about 1739. He 
was a deacon in the First Parish Church in BrunsAvick. 

Ch. were: — Jo/in, b. Dec. 11, 1730; 31ary, b. Nov. 1, 1732; liobert, b. April 

18, 1735; iSamuel, b. May 22, 1737; Nathan, b. July 2, 1739; Margaret, b. Aug. 
1, 1741; James, b. May 19, 1745; David, b. Mch. 29, 1748; Nathan, b. Feb. 5, 
1751 ; John, b. Oct. 27, 1754. 

COOMBS. 

The name of the fother of the first of the family who came to this vicinity 
has not lieeu ascertained ; but he was a Frenchman, who settled first in Plym- 
outh County, and subsequently lived in Newburj'port. He is known to have 
had children, — Peter, Anthony, and John. 

Peter Coombs came to Bruuswick about 1730, and settled first on Howard's 
Point, a short distance below the Bartlett Adams place. He afterwards moved 
to the Freeman Gross Place (near Harding's Station), where he remained to 
his death. Ch. : — George, Peter, Samuel, and Caleb. 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 831 

Conceruing Anthony Coombs nothing- is known, except that he settled on 
the James Larrabee Place. 

John Coombs settled on Great Island, Harpswell, and was the grandfather 
of Elisha, Anthony, John, and Isaac. 

CURTIS.i 

Arms : Arg. a chev. sa. betw. thi'ee bulls' heads, cabossed, gu. 

Crest : A unicorn pass or betw. four trees ppr. 

The Curtis family are descended from an ancient English family settled in 
the counties of Kent and Sussex. William Curtis, the ancestor of nearly all 
of that name in New England, came over in the Lion in 1632. 

David Curtis, of the third generation from William, m. Bethia Sprague, of j^<' 

Duxbury, Dec. 14, 1732. Moved to Harpswell about 1744. He was the ances-""^' -^ 

tor of all the name in this vicinity. Ch. were (b. in Hanover, Mass.) : — Nelie- 

miah, b. 1733; Eztkiel, b. 1735; Paul, b. 1737; 3Iichael, b. 1739; David, b. 

1741; liuth, b. 1743. 

GUSHING. 

The ancestor of all of this name in this vicinity was Matthew, who, with 
his wife Nazareth, his sons Daniel, Jeremiah, Matthew, and John, his daughter 
Deborah, and his wife's sister, Francis Ricroft, widow, sailed from Grave- 
send, April 26, 1638, in the ship Diligent, and arrived in Boston, Aug. 10. 

Caleb Cushing (see Biog.), s. of Timothy, was b. in Cohasset, Mass., April 
2, 1777; came to Brunswick in Sept., 1797. He m. in 1801, Mary Dunning, 
dau. of John Dunning. She d. Nov. 13, 1808. He m. again, Dec. 5, 1814, 
Dolly Owen, dau. of Philip Owen. She d. in Augusta, April 29, 1865, aged 78 
yrs. He d. April 14, 1838. Ch. were : — Buf us lung, b. July 23, 1802; Louis 
TiU'ston, b. .Tune 24, 1804; Francis Dunning, b. Jan. 20, 1807; John Schicartkin, 
b. Sept 12, 1808. 

It is said to be a curious fact that through the whole genealogic line of the 
Cushing family a strict adherence to Scripture Christian names has been 
observed, and that the first middle name occurring since 1638 was that of the 
oldest son of Caleb. 

DOUGLAS. 

" In the year of our Lord 770, in the reign of Solvathious, king of Scotts, 
one Donald Bane of the Western Isles, having invaded the Scotch territories 
and routed the royal army, a man of rank and figure came seasonably with his 
friends and followers to the king's assistance; he renewed the battle, and 
obtained a complete victory over tlie invader. The king, being desirous to 
see the man who had done him so signal a piece of service, he was pointed 
out to him, by his color or complexion in these words of the old Gallic or 
Celtic language, — SholtoDu Glas, in English " Behold that black or swarthy 
colored man," from which he was named Sholto the Douglas. The king 
royally rewarded his great services, and gave him a grant of several lauds and 
large possessions in the County of Lanark, which were called Douglas ; and 
from hence came the surname of the family." (From " Scottish Peerage.") 

1 he first of the name in New England is said to have been John Douglas, 
who was b. in Scotland about 1695. At the age of 12 he was kidnapped by the 

' See History of Hanover, Mass. 



832 HISTOEY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPS WELL. 

crew of a man-of-war, aud brought to Boston. He m. and settled iu Middle- 
borough, Mass. Children were: — Elijah, John, and Oi'orge. 

Elijah Douglas, s. of the above-named John, was b. in Middleborough in 
1720. He married (1st) April 27, 1742, Phebe Taylor, she died about 1749. 
He m. (2tl) Elizabeth, dan. of Edward and Patience Estes, of Harpswell. 
Soon after the death of his first wife, in 1750, Elijah, with two sons, moved 
to Maine, and bought with Benj. Wiuslow one lialf of New Damariscove 
Island, iu Casco Bay, then a part of North Yarmouth, but now belonging to 
the town of Harpswell. The deed bears date Jan. 30, 1750-1. He subse- 
quently bought a fivrni of Mary Hais, on Merriconeag, and built a log-house 
near what is known as Hais Brook. The farm is now owned by Henry Merry- 
man. He engaged in shipping wood from Birch Island to Boston. He is said 
to have been the first of the name to join the society of Friends, having 
united with them at Falmouth, June 29, 1754. 

In 1775 he removed to Royalsborough, now Durham. He d. iu 1814, aged 
94. Ch. by first wife were: — Daniel, b. 1747; and Cornelius, b. Middle- 
borough, Mass., Sept. 12, 1749. Ch. by second wife were : — Joseph, b. in Harps- 
well, April 8, 1753, — an eminent minister of the Friends, — d. in Durham, Dec. 
22, 1821; Job, b Oct. 9, 1754; Israel, b. July 17, 1756; Sarah, b June 13, 
1759, m. Benj. Doughty, of Brunswick; Patience, b. Mch 24, 17G1; Mary, b. 
July 10, 17(;3, m David Booker, of Harpswell; Elijah, b. June 23, 17C8; John, 

b. Nov. 8, 1774. 

DUNLAP. 

Rkv. Robert Duxlap (see Biog. ), the ancestor of all the Brunswick Dun- 
laps, Avas b. in Ireland, in the county of Antrim, Aug. 1715, came to America, 
173G, aud to Brunswick, 1747. He m. Jane Allison, who was b. 1711, and d. 
in Brunswick, Mch 31, 1797. His mother's maiden name was Nelson. The 
family is of Scotch-Irish descent. Ch. were: — John, b. in Dracut, June 19, 
1737; Elizabeth, b. in Nobleboro', in 1742, m Deacon Andrew Dunning; 
Samuel, b. iu Boothbay, in 1745, d. in Brunswick, July 28, 183G; Robert, b. 
in Newcastle, in 1747, was shipwrecked and lost on Hampton Reach, Dec. 25, 
1776; Jane, b. in Brunswick, in 1749; Hugh, b. in 1751. 

Robert Dunlap, the ancestor of the Topsham Dunlaps, came from Ireland 

aliout 1730, when his son John, his only son, was nine years of age. Other 

ch. were: — Jane, m Daniel Eaton, Brunswick; Margaret, m. James Potter, 

the eldest. 

DUNNING. 

Andrew Dunning, the ancestor of all the Dunnings in this vicinity, and, 
it is believed, of all the family in the State of Maine, came from Ashburton, 
county of Devonshire, England, in 1717. He landed at Georgetown, Maine, 
where he remained a short time, and came to Brunswick the same year aud 
settled at Maquoit on the lot recently occupied by master Samuel Dunning 
and now owned by Patrick McManus. He brought with him his wife, whose 
maiden name was Susan Bond, antl five sons, who wei'e all b. before he emi- 
grated to this country. Ch. were : — William, settled in Yoi-k, Me ; David, b. 
1705, settled iu Brunswick Village; Andreio, b. abt. 1702 and Robert, who 
were killed l)y Indians while crossing Androscoggin River; James, b. 1691, 
lived in the homestead at Maquoit. 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 833 

The Harp.swell Dnnuings descended from William of York, whose sons 
Andrew and Benjamin moved to Harpswcll a short time previous to the 
incorporation of the town. 

Some members of the Dunning family claim that Andrew left a son in 
England named John, Avho had a son John, who became a celebrated lawyer 
and was made Lokd Ashbukton. Others say that there is no evidence that 
Andrew left a son in England. There is some probability, however, that 
Lord Ashburtou belonged to the same English family, and it is not at all 
unlikely that he was a grandson of a brother of Andijew. He left a large 
estate, supposed to be valued at .$50,000,000, which, it is said, still awaits an 
heir male. 

EATOK 

This family is of English origin, but the connection with the first settlers of 
the name, in this country, has not been traced. 

Reveukxd Elisha E.vtox (Biog ) was b. in 1702. He m. Mrs. Catharine 
[Belcher] Clough, moved to Harpswcll, and was settled as pastor of the church 
in that place in 1754. He d. in Harpswcll, .\pril 22, 1764. Ch wei'e : — Elisha, 
b. Sept. 12, 1732, d. in Boston; Samuel (Biog.) b. in Randolph, Apr. 3, 1737; 
3Ianj, b. Dec. 1, 1738; Elizabeth, b. May 9, 1740; Hmnah, b. May 30, 1742; 
Thadd'Vf!, b. Apr. 1, 1744, d. in infancy. The daughters lived and died in 
Harpswell. The Harpswell family of Eatons is a distinct family, or at least 
a distinct branch from the Brunswick family. 

SAi\ruEL Eaton, the ancestor of the Brunswick family of this name, came to 
Brunswick from Salisbury, Mass., early in tlie last century, and built a house 
on what is now the southern corner of Bank and Maine Streets, where the 
billiard saloon stands. He had two ch. and perhaps more. One of his ch., 
Samuel, was a soldier in Fort George in 1722. He was the one sent to George- 
town with a letter to Capts. Harmon and Moody. The letter was tied in his 
hair. When it was not safe by land he took to the water and swam. The 
other son, Moses, was taken prisoner in June, 1722, cruelly mutilated, and 
carried to Pleasant Point, where the Indians killed him. 

ELLIS. 

This family is of English origin, but we are unable to trace its connection 
with the first settler of the name in this country. 

Caleb Elt.is, of Cambridge, Mass., was the father of John, who was b. in 
Cambi'idge in 1727. 

Rev. John' Ellis, son of Caleb, was graduated at Harv. Coll. in 1750. He 
was ordained at Norwich (Franklin), Conn., Sept. 5, 1755. He was a chap- 
lain in the Revolutionary armj'- all through the war. He was installed at 
Rehoboth, Mass., Mch. 30, 1785. He Avas dismissed in 179G, and returned to 
Norwich, whei'e he d. Oct. 19, 1805. 

Rev. Jonathan Ellis, son of Rev. John, was b. in Franklin, Conn., April 
11, 1762, settled in Topsham in 1784. He m. in 1790 Mary, dau. of Robert 
Fulton, of Topsham. She d. in Upper Stillwater, Maine, Mch. 11, 1860, aged 
91 years less one week. The date and place of his death are both unknown. 
Ch. were : — Samuel Deane, b. Aug. 17, 1791, sailed from Bath in 1810, 
53 



834 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

entered British navy and was never heard from; Mary, b. April 9, 1703, 
m. Charles White in 1839, d. Oct. 26, 185G; Bethiah, b. Feb. 24, 1795, m. in 
1^21 to Chas. White, d. Dec. 20, 183(J ; John, b. Feb. 10, 1797, sailed from 
Boston, Oct. 2, 1815, and was never heard from; Dani<l, b. Feb. 9, 1799, m. 
in 1826 to Susan D. Hilton, d. Sept. 8, 1841 ; William, b. April 14, 1801, ra. in 
1825 to Miranda Potter; Ashor, b. June 4, 1803, m. in 1836 to Clarissa Shep- 
herd, lives in Brunswick; Ahnira, b. Oct. 30, 1805, m. in 1826, to James Pray, 
d. in 1855; Benjamin, b. Sept. 21, 1807, lost at sea, Sept. 2, 1830; Robert 
Fulton, b. Oct. 16, 1809, m. in 1839 to Mary Child, d. July 24, 1854. 

FA UK. 

The earliest member of this family to whom we have found any reference 
was Thomas Farr, who was in Harpswell before the Kevolution. Whether 
his ancestors resided there before him or not, we have no knowledge. He m. 
adau. of John Bray and had ch. ■. — Michael, b. 1760; John, b. 1762; Thomas, 
b. 1764; Elizabeth, b. 1766; Isaac, b. 1770; Jenny, b. 1772; Noah, b. 1774; 
Henry, b. 1776; Loraney, b. 1780; 3Iary, b. 1784. 

FARRIN OR FERRIN. 

The father of the first settler of this name in Brunswick was born in Ire- 
land. He came to this country from Dublin, and settled in Ipswich, Mass. 

John Faruix, son of the above, and ancestor of all of the name in this 
vicinity, was b. in Ipswich. He m. Hannah Newman, of Lynn, Mass. Soon 
after his marriage he went to Mystic, where he taught school for about six 
years. About 1755 he moved to BruusAvick, where he taught school for many 
years. 

Ch. were: — William, b. Aug. 24, 1758; Bichard, b. Oct. 9, 1760; Winthrop, 
b. Feb. 27, 1763; Ebenezer, b. Nov. 23, 1764; David, b. Feb. 8, 1767. 

FULTON. 

Gowen Fulton, with his wife and one child, came into this country with 
Actor Patten and family, about the year 1730. He lived in Coleraine, the mar- 
ket town of Derry County, Ireland, and Avas a journeyman weaver of linen. 
His- wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Caswell, was born in Glasgow, 
Scotland, whore she lived until she was twelve years of age, then went over 
to Ireland and lived with Actor Patten till she married. 

They first landed in Boston, and after living in several places they moved to 
Topsham about the year 1750, and settled in the eastern part of the town. He 
was the ancestor of all of the name, in this vicinity, at least. He lived to be 96 
years of age, and died about 1791. His wife died fourteen or fifteen years 
previous. Both were buried on their farm. 

He had ch. : — John, b. in Ireland, m. Hannah Maxwell, of Scarboro', lived 
and d. in Topsham; James, b. in Scarboro'. June 2, 1732, ra. in 1764 Mary Fer- 
guson, of Eastou, Mass. (she b. Mch. 9, 1738). He d. Feb. 4, 1820. He was 
the first representative from Topsham to the General Court; Robert, b. Mch. 
27, 1745, ra. in 1764 Sarah Patten. He d. Jan. 13, 1777. 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 835 

GATCHELL ok GETCHELL. 

This family is said to be of AVelsli origin. 

Capt. Joiin^ Getchell (see Biog.) caine to Brunswick from Spurwinlc 

about tlio year 173G. He m. 1st, Elizabeth , and had ch. : — Abigail, b. iu 

Brunswick, May 10, 1737 ; William, b. Sept. 6, 1740. He m. 2d, Mary , and 

had ch. : — Dorcas, b. Feb. 25, 1743 ; Samuel, b. Aug. 15, 1745 ; John, b. Dec. 3, 
1748; Marij, b. March 23, 1750; Ilui/h, b. Dec. 20, 1752; Bobert, h. Sept. 21, 
1754; Jude, b. Aug. 18, 1756; Susanna, b. June 21, 1757; Nathaniel, b. May 
14, 1759. He is said to have been the ancestor of all of the name now resid- 
ing in this vicinity. 

Moses Getchell was a settler on Harpswell Neck in 1731. What relation 
he -was, if any, to Capt. John Getchell is not known, and no record of his 
children has been found. 

GIVEEN OK GIVEN. 

David Giveen, the ancestor of all of the name in this vicinity, with his 
wife and three sons came from Coleraine, county of Londonderry, Ireland. 
He came to Brunswick about 1710. He first settled at Mair Point. In 1730 
he applied to the Pejepscot proprietors for land on the Maquoit road for his 
son David and his sous-in-Iaw Samuel Clapp and James Campbell. In his 
petition to the proprietors, he signed his name Giveeu, and some of his 
descendants still spell it so, while others spell the word with but one e. 

In 1735 he purchased three hundred acres of land at Middle Bay, for forty- 
eight dollars, and soon after moved thei'e.' He was held iu considerable 
esteem, and was a deacon of the old Presbyterian Church. The name of his 
w-ife is not known, nor the date of his or her death. Ch. were : — David, who 
moved to Sheepscot ; John and Bobert, twins ; Martha, m. Samuel Clarke ; 
Jane, ra. Hugh White, who was afterwards drowned in Middle Bay. She 
afterwards m. Dr. William Spear; a dau. who m. James Campbell; a dau.^ 
Avho m. Samuel Clapp. 

GO WEE. 

Robert Gower came to Topsham from Kent, England, about the year 1766. 
He m. 1st, Margaret, a sister of Robert Alexander. He m. 2d, Mary Henry, 
a sister of James Wilson's Avife, Ann. His intention of marriage to Mar}^ 
dau. of James Henry, "y« Cooper," was recorded Nov. 17, 1770. He removed 
to Farmington, Me., of which town he was one of the first settlers, and where 
he d. Ch. by first wife were : — Edward, h. ¥ch. 12, 1701; William, h. Nov. 
30, 1702. By second wife: — James, b. Feb. 2, 1772; John, who afterwards 
lived in Industry, Me. ; Samuel, who lived in Waterville, Me. ; George, who 
lived in New Sharon, Me. 

GRAVES OR GREAVES. 

Four brothers of this name came to Topsham at different dates, but about 
the year 1762. They came from Falmouth. In the latter part of the seven- 
teenth century John Graves removed from Kittery to Falmouth, and m. 



' Pejepscot Papers. ^ McKeen, MS. Lecture. 



836 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWFLL. 

Martlia, dau. of Michael Mittoii. The Topshain families are probably 
descended from him, though the connection has not been trace^l. 

JoriNSOX Graves was b. Feb., 1732. He m. 1st, in Falmouth, Sarah, a 
sister of Stephen and Samuel Staples. He m. 2d, June 23, 1803, Mrs. Susanna 
[Hobbs] Staples, formerlj' of Falmouth. He d. Jan. 18, 1824. Ch. by Istwf. 
were : — Daniel, who d. in Falmouth in infancy ; Elizabeth, b. April 19, 1759 or 
17(50; John, b. in Falmouth July -1, 17C2; William, b. in Topsham, Aujr. 4, 
1765; Crispns, b. Oct. 20, 17(57. 

John Graves, a brother of Johnson, m. in 17G9, Sarah Boynton, of Fal- 
mouth. They were published April 10, and the certificate of marriage was 
recorded Aug. 29. Children were: — Daniel, b. June 16, 1770; Sarah, b. 
Oct. 12, 1771; Johnston, b. Feb. 21, 1774; Elizabeth, b. Jan. 18, 1778; John, b. 
September 26, 1780, ni. Margaret Gray; Esther, b. Mch. 24, 1788; Levi, b. 
Nov. 10, 1790. 

Samuel Graves, a brother of John and Johnston, had his intention of mar- 
riage to Mary Gooding, of Topsham, recorded Xov. 29, 1770. He was one of 
the selectmen in 1773. He d. Aug. 23, 1792. Cliildreu Avere : — Ebenezer, b. 
Aug. 21, 1775, d. Aug. 14, 1832; Jacob; Thomas; Jabez, supposed to have m. 
in New BrunsAvick; Susan, who m. Joseph Jack, of Bowdoinham; Molly, wlio 
m. Ephraim Marriuer; Ann, who m. Isaac Jaquis, of Bowdoin. 

Of Joseph Graves, a brother of Johnston, John, and Samuel, nothing is 
known except that he was one of the selectmen in 1770, and was a grantee, 
with Samuel, of half of 1,000 acres to be laid out near and convenient to the 
two branches of the western stream of Cathance River. The deed Avas 
recorded Mch. 16, 1758. 

GEAFFAM. 

Jacob Graff am, who Avas among the eai-ly settlers of BrnnsAA'ick, is the 
first of the name of Avhom we find any record. His AA'ife's name AA'as Mary. 
Ch. were : — J/(0-?/, b. Dec. 2, 1735; Joseph, b. Feb. 14, 1738; Rebecca, b. July 
8, 1741. 

HALEY. 

Pelatiah Haley (see Biog.) was b. in Kittery, Oct 8, 1740 He m. Eliza- 
abeth Le\A'is, Avho AA-as b. April 9, 1743, and d. Feb. 19, 1836. They came to 
Topsham in May, 1761. He d. in Topsham, Oct. 29, 1819. Ch. Avere : — Pela- 
tiah; Susannah, m. Lemuel Thompson, Sept. 27, 1792; Elizabeth, m. AudreAV 
Whitehouse, Aprils, 1795; 3Iary, ra David Alexander, Nov. 30, 1800; John, 
m. Nancy Higgins, Sept. 1827, and d., without issue, Oct. 23, 1832. 

Joseph Haley, probably a brother of Felatiah, Avas b. in Kittery in 1788. 
He m. Mary, sister of Samuel Goodwin, of Wells. He lived on the fifty-acre 
lot Avhich Avas conveyed to Jolm Merrill by the proprietors, Aug. 5, 1768 It 
AA'as near the first or " old yellow " Baptist Meeting-House, Avhich Avas built in 
great part by him. He A\'as one of the signers of a remonstrance ])y the 
*' fathers " of the toAvn protesting against unequal taxes for the support of 
the minister and for other tovA'n charges. Avhich bears date May 4, 1768. He 
d. in Topsham, May, 180). Ch. AAere : — Susannah; Joseph, moved to Lewis- 
ton; M'lrif, m a Goodwin, of Wells; Joshua, moved to Lisbon; John, b. in 
1777; Samuel, moved to LeAviston ; Moses, a joiner, movgd to Bath. 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 837 

Joseph Haley was b. . He m. Esther Towns, of Keuuebunk. This 

Joseph is a difl'erent person from the preceding one. He was a clothier, and 
was often called •'Fuller" Haley, on account of his occupation and to dis- 
tinguish him from his namesake. He is recorded as a grantee, for £14, of a 
two-acre lot on the road from John Duulap's, on Aug. 18, 1790.^ He d. Sept. 
29. 1832. Ch. were: — Jolin, b. May 4, 1777, m. a Milliken, of Scarboro'; 
Olive, b. Jan. 22. 1779, m. May 19, 1796, to Obed Burnham ; Jesse., b. Sept. 8, 
1780, never married; Susannah, b. Oct. 8, 1783, m. David Foster; Sarah, b. 
July 22, 1784, m. Actor AVilsou; Joseph, b. Dec. 6, 1785, m. a Towns, of Keu- 
nebunk; Esther b. May 6, 1787, m. Timothy Foster; Rebecca, b. Dec. 1, 1788, 
d. single; James, b. Oct. 2G, 1790, ra. Lois Durell, of Woodstock; Abigail, b. 
Aug. 2, 1793, d. single; Abner, b. Mch. 30, 1795; Ruth, b. Nov. 4, 1796, d. 
single. 

HALL, 

Joiix Hall was b. in England in 1617. Came to America about 1633. His 
son John was owner in 1652 of a lot of land in Dover, N. H., and afterwards 
bouiiht numerous other lots in the same town. He was quite prominent in 
town affairs for a number of years. 

Hatevil Hall, son of Juhn, of Dover, lived in Dover; had but one ch., 
Hatevil. 

Hatevil Hall, son of Hatevil, ra. Sarah Furbish, of Kittery, April 1, 1733. 
Settled in Dover. Removed to Falmouth (now Portland) in 1753. He was 
a large laud-owner in that place, and in Windham. He was a Quaker. He d. 
Nov. 28, 1797, aged 90 years, and leaving four hundred and sevent}'-tive 
descendants. He lived to see some of his posterity of the tifth generation. 
His wife d. Mch. 2, 1790. He had ten sous and tliree dan., all married. Of these 
children Paul was the eighth son. He was b. in Falmouth, Dec. 15, 1755. He 
m. Jan. 27, 1782, Sarah Neal. Moved to Brunswick previous to 1798. He d. 
April, 1841. His descendants are numerous, and manj^ of them are living in 
this vicinity at the present time (Biog.). 

HAM. 

Tobias Ham, the ancestor of all of the name in this vicinity, was a sou of 
John Ham, of Newington, N. H., whose father was born in the Isle of Man, 
and emigrated from England to Portsmouth, N. H., with the first settlers. 
Tobias came to Brunswick iu 1740, and settled at New Meadows, and erected 
his house on what has since been known as Ham's Hill. He Avas a tanner 
aud shoemaker as well as farmer. His tan-pits were in the low land, east of 
his house. It is related of him that as he was going to his tan-pits oue morn- 
ing before sunrise he discovered, by his dog's peculiar growl, that Indians 
were in ambush among the cedars near the pits. He therefore walked back- 
wards to the house with his gun pointed toward the cedars. The Indians 
dared not fire, for it would have been certain death to them had they missed 
him, as " Old Long Gun," as they called him, was a dead shot they well knew. 
He m. Abigail Smith, whose fiither lived on Lines' Island, in the Kennebec. 

^Lincoln County Registry Deeds, Vol. 39, p. 3. 



838 HISTOR Y OF BR UNS WICK, TOPSTI,: M, A ND HARPS WELL. 

Cli. were : — Benjamin, b. Juue 2, 1742, settled in Bath; JoJin, b. Sept. 1, 1744, 
settled iu Bath; Josejyh, b. Dec. 30, 174G, settled on the homestead; Judith, b. 
April 18, 1749, m. a Mr. Aruo ; Tobias and Thomas, twins, b. July 2, 1751, 
settled in Lisbon; Nathaniel, b. Feb. 17, 1756, settled on the homestead; 
another sou, lieuben, whose birth is not recorded, settled either in Lisbon or 
Wales. 

HARMON. 

Col. Johnson Harmon came from York or its immediate vicinity and set- 
tled in Harpswell in 1727. Reference has already been made to his military 
services and exploits, and but little else is known concerning him. He m. 
Mary, dau. of Jeremiah Moulton, of York. Ch. were: — Zebulon, b. Nov. 2, 
1702 ; 3Iarii, b. Mch. 28, 1704, m. Lieut. Richard Jaques ; Miriam, b. July 7, 
1707; Johnson, b. July 2, 1710; Joseph, b. Mch. 1, 1712; Hannah, b. Feb. 19, 
1715; Martha, b. April 13, 1720. He was the ancestor of many, if not of all, 
the Harmons of this vicinity. 

HENRY. 

James Henhy came from Providence, R. I., about 17G1 or 1762, to Harps- 
well, where he intended to reside ; but having 1)eeu disappointed in the pur- 
chase of a tract of land he had contemplated buying, he soon removed to 
Topsham, to the lot, probably, that he bought of Adam'aud James Hunter. 
For some years before coming to Topsham he had been a farmer ; before that 
he had been a mariner, l)ut he experienced so many disasters and encountered 
so many dangers, that he abandoned the sea. He was called "the cooper," 
but was not, it is said, a cooper by trade, but he acquired the appellation 
from the fact that his early sea-faring life had made him somewhat familiar 
with that busii.ess. He was one of the selectmen of Topsham in 1766 and 
in 1769. He m. a McNess. She was the sister of Col. Samuel Winchell's 
wife, and came to this country when eighteen years of age. It was two years 
subsequent to the time of her parents' arrival. It is believed that there was 
no other family of Henrys in this section of the State.' Ch.were •.—James,\\\\o 
was probably m. Feb. 15, 1776, to Mercy Beveridge; Mary, m. Jan. 17, 1771, to 
Robert Gower; Ann, b. in 1748, m. James Wilson; Betty, m. July 28, 1776, to 
Stephen Titcomb; Jennett, b. Sept. 25, 1751, m. Joseph Berry; Sarah, m. a 
Sewall, of Bath. 

HINCKLEY OR HINKLEY. 

This name, variously spelt Hinciielie, Hynckeley, Hingel, Hynkeley, 
HiNCKELEY, Hynekkle, Hinklky, was an ancient one before the Conquest. 
At the grand survey, begun by direction of William the Conqueror 1080, and 
completed 1086, Hinckley Avas returned a part of the possessions of Comus 
All)ericus (Aubrey de Vere), Lord High Chamberlain. Soon after it became 
the property of Hugo de Grentsmainell, and was called the Honour or Barony 
of Hinckley. In 1303, Simon de Ilynkley was vicar at Hinckley. 

S.^MUEL Hinckley, said to be the ancestor of all of the name in the United 
States, came from Teuterdeu, Kent, England, with his wafe Sarah and four 
children, in March, 1634. He landed in Boston on Sept. 18, and settled in 
Scituate that same year. He was one of the associates of Rev. Mr. Lothrop. 

' Woodman, MS. Hist. 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 839 

He moved with his family to Barnstable in 1G39. His wife Sarah d. Aug. 18, 
1656. He m. for his second wife, Bridget Bodtish, Doc. 15, 1657. He d. at 
Barnstable, Mass., Oct. 31, 1662. His will was dated Oct. 8, 1662. He left 
the use of his house and garden, and some land, to his wife Bridget, dur- 
ing her widowhood, and also gave her "all the household stuff she brought 
with her," and his two cows "Prosper "and " Thrivewell," but his landed 
property, and the rest of his live stock, which was considerable, he divided 
chiefly among his sons. He left to each of his daughters, and to each of their 
ch. the nominal sura of one shilling, by which it is presumed the daughters 
Avere all married and well provided for. He bequeathed some of his live 
stock to his grandchildren, sous of Thomas and Samuel, and to Mary and 
Bathsheba, daughters of Thomas, and to Henry Cobb's sons, Samuel and 
Jonathan. In Freeman's History of Cape Cod, Samuel Hinkley is described as 
having been a verj' prominent man in public affairs. 

One of his sons (Thomas) was governor of Plymouth Colony from 1681 to 
1692 (except during Audross' rule), and was otherwise very prominent in the 
affixirs of the colony. 

Samuel Hinckley (see Biog.), of the third generation from Samuel, was 
b. Sept. 24, 1684; m. Mary, dau. of Edmond Freeman of Easthara. He moved 
to Brunswick al)out 1739, having by the way made a few years' stay at Bidde- 
ford, where the York County records say he bought thirty-three acres of laud 
Aug. 29, 1735, of James Kent, for £115. He had ch. -. — Seth, b. in Harwich, 
Dec. 25, 1707; Shubael, b. Harwich, March 25, 1709; Samuel and 3Iarij, b. 
Harwich, Feb. 7, 1711; Eclmond,h. Harwich, Nov. 20, 1712; Beliance, b. Har- 
wich, Nov. 21, 1714; Aaron, b. in Truro, Sept. 13, 1715 (see Biog.) i MehitahU, 
b. in Truro, Dec. 25, 1718; Experience, b. in Truro, Jan. 16, 1720. Of these 
sons Shubael, when about 75 years old, moved to the eastern part of the 
State and married his flfth wife in Machias, by whom he had 4 ch., whose 
descendants are to be found in that part of the State. The other sous of 
Samuel settled in Brunswick. 

HOLBROOK. 

Jonathan Holbiiook is said to have been the ancestor of all of the name in 
this vicinity. Settled in Harpswell, at what time is not known. He m. 
Rebecca, dau. of Rev. Samuel Veazie, of Harpswell. Ch. were ;,^— Israel, b. 
1773; Deborah, h. 1775, d. young; Deborah, b. 1778; Abizer, b. 1779, d. in 
infancy; Abizer, b. 1780; Jonathan, h. 1783; liebecca, b. 1785; Deborah, b. 
1788; Hannah, b, 1790; Polly, b. 1792; Priscilla, b. 1795. 

HUMPHREYS. 

Lawiience Humphreys, the ancestor of the Humphreys famil.y of Bruns- 
wick, was born in the Cove of Cork (now Queeustowu), Ireland! in 1757. Of 
his early life but little is known, except that he received a gooVl mercantile 
education, and after the death of his father went to one of the West Indies, 
probably Jamaica, where his first employment was as secretary tq the widow 
of a wealthy planter. \ 

He remained at Jamaica several years, returuing to Ireland o^ce during 
that time, until the close of our Revolutionary war, when he was ^ent by an 



840 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, '10I\^JIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

uucle, supercargo of a vessel laden Avith molasses from Jamaica for George- 
town, Me. This vessel, just at the close of her voj'age, was wrecked on Par- 
ker's Island (now Georgetown), and with her cargo was a total loss. 

Humphreys landed penniless among strangers, but soon found friends, and 
decided to remain in Georgetown. In 1788 he m. Elizabeth, dau. of John 
Campbell, one of the principal men of the town, whose father, Alexander 
Campbell, emigrated from Scotland to Georgetown in 1729 with his young 
bride, Frances Drummoud 

After residing several jears in Georgetown, Humphreys removed with his 
family to Topsham, wliere he d. 1835. His widow removed to Brunswick, 
where she d. in 1859, aged 92 years. 

Their ch. were : — Mart/, b. 1790, m. liev. David James, d. Newburg, N. Y., 
1844; Sally, b. Sept. 15, 1792, ra. Benjamin Mason, d. 1843; Xancy, b. June 
22, 1795, ra. Thomas N. Thacker; John CampheU, b. Feb. 22, 1798 (see 
Blog.); Daniel, b. 1800, m. Lydia Clark, d. 1821; Eliza, b. 1806, m. Thomas 
U. Thacker, d 1828; William, b. 1808, d. 1810; Margaret, p. 1810, ra. Daniel 
Hara, living at Great Falls in 1877. 

HUNT, 

Several persons of tliis narae settled in this countr\-, at various places and 
times, in the seventeenth century. The Bi'unswick Hunts are descended from 
Edward Hunt, who was of Amesbury iii 1677. He had a sou John, who also 
had a son John. The latter was b. in 1718. 

John Hxtnt, the first of the narae in Brunswick, carae frora Newbui-yport 
or Amesbury in 1752, and settled at the west end. He was probably of the 
third generation frora Edward. No record of his ch. has been found. The 
earliest records of the family, in this town, which we have seen, are the 
following : — 

Epiiraim Hunt had ch. by wife Martha: — Martha, h. Nov. 20, 1779; John, 
b. Mch. 27, 1780; Jeremiah, b. Jan. 11, 1782; James, b. Sept. 10, 1783; Jennet, 
b. Aug. 8, 1785; Lydia, b. Oct. 9, 1787; William, b. July 19, 1789; Sarah, b. 
Nov. IG, 1791; Ephraim, b. Nov. 17, 1793; Hannah, b. Nov. 12, 1795; Ebene- 
zer, b. Mch. 11, 1798; Charles, b. Oct. 4, 1800; Clarisse, b. Nov. 13, 1802; 
James, b July 16, 1805. 

WiLLLV-M Hunt, ra. Elizabeth; ch. were: — William, b. Oct. 25, 1774; Mary, 
b. July 8, 1776; Martha, b. Dec. 11, 1777. 

Daniel Hunt ni. Januet. They had one ch., David, b. Sept. 18, 1783. 

HUNTER. 

Adam Hunteu, the ancestor of all the Hunters in this vicinity, settled in 
Topshara in 1718, at which time he purchased of the Pejepscot proprietors 
two lots of land of one hundred acres each, at £5 each. He was also one of 
the proprietors of the Cathance Mill right, owning one hundred and twenty- 
five acres of land and one eighth of the double saw-mill. He su))seqMently 
raade other purchases of land. He was evidently a man of wealth for those 
days. His house Avas deemed the best in town, and to it strangers were 
directed for accommodation. He was a captain in the last Indian war, and a 
selectman in 17G6. His wife was of Irish descent, and carae to this country 



FA ^J^^ Y HISTORIES. 841 

Tvhen ten jears of atce. Their ch. were: — Elizabeth, b. Sept. 13, 1733, m. 
William Wood.side of Brunswick ; James, b. April 15, 1735; Susannah, h. Yah. 
9, 1737, m. Benjamin Lemont, of Bath; Mary, b. Dec. 6, 1738, ra. James Le- 
mont; Jane, b. Feb. 28, 1740, m. Joseph Berrj' ; WiUlam, b. Dec. 2, 1741; 
John, b. July 13, 1743; Robert, b. June 15, 1745; Margaret, b. June 28, 1747, 
m. Robert Patten, d. July, 1831 ; Arthur, h. April 5, 1749. 

JAQUES OR JAQUISH. 

Lieut. Eichard Jaques m. Mary, dau. of Col. Johnson Harmon, and came 
Avith Col. Harmon, or soon after, from York (about 1727/ and settled in 
Harpswell. He was conspicuous in the Indian wars. Among other exploits 
he killed Ralle at Xorridgewock. His descendants, though not numerous, 
still reside in this vicinity. Ch. were: — Miriam, b. June 24, 1725; Susanna, 
b. June 15, 172G; Benjamin, b. Oct. 17, 1731. 

JOE© AN. 

Eev. Egbert Jordan was b. in the West of England in IGIO. It is not im- 
probable that he graduated at Oxford, as " a Robert Jordan matriculated at 
Oxford, 15 .June, 1632, aged 19, as son of Edward Jordan of Worcester, county 
of Worcester."! In 1G40 he came to America and settled at Spnrwiuk. He 
was a kinsman of Thomas Purchase, and resided with the latter for some 
time, either previous to or subsequent to his residence at Spurwink. In 1642 
he m. Sarah, dau. of John Winter. He subsequently removed to Newcastle 
and afterwards to Portsmouth, N. H., whei'e he d. in 1678. He Avas an Epis- 
copal clergyman. (For further particulars concerning him, see Williamson's 
Hist, of Me., Vol. I, p. 680.) Ch. were: — John, Hubert, Dominicus, Jedediah, 
Samuel, and Jeremiah. 

John Jordan, son of John and grandson of Rev. Robert Jordan, Avas b. at 
Cape Elizabeth about 1709. He moved to BruusAvick in 1739, and thence to 
Harpswell, Avhere he died about 1795. He was the ancestor of all the Jordans 
now living in Brunswick. Ch. Avere : — Fields, b. at Cape Elizabeth; Peter 
and John, b. in BrunsAvick. 

LARRABEE. 

This is said to be a French family of Huguenot extraction. 

Benjamin Larrabee, of Falmouth (Portland), a son of Isaac, a military 
man, recovered the property of his father, who Avith his family had been 
forced to fly from the war. He m. Deborah, dau. of John IngersoU, and had 
a son, Benjamin, b. 1700. 

Bex.tamin Larrabee, the ancestor of the Brunswick family of that name, 
is said by tradition to have been b. in Falmouth. He came to BrunsAvick 
about 1727, and was commander of Fort George for some years. He Avas also 
agent for the Pejepscot px-oprietors. He maA' have been the Benjamin referred 
to above as being born in 1700. He d. May 9, 1748. His Avife's name was 
Mary. She survlAed him and m. John Oulton. Ch. were : — Mary, b. April 

' Joseph L. Chester, of London, in a letter to J, W. Thornton, Esq. , of Boston, April, 
187G. 



842 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

7, 1728; Nathaniel, b. in Fort George, Dec. 23, 1729; Isabella, b. Nov. 27, 
1731; Abigail, b. Jan. 9, 1733-4; Hannah, b. Dec. 10, 1735; Elizabeth, b. Jan. 
10, 1737-8; Benjamin, b. Feb. 5, 1739-40; Stephen, b. July 12, 1742; James, 
who had a dau. Avho m. Aarou Hiukley. 

LUNT. 

All persons of this name in this country, so far as known, are descended 
from Hexky Lunt, who was one of the original settlers of Newbury, Essex 
County, Mass., in the year 1635. His will, recorded at Ipswich, is dated in 
1662. The name Lunt is of Scandinavian origin. In Denmark it is well 
known and is spelled Lundt. It seems likely that it is derived from some of 
the early Danish invaders or incursiouists into England.' 

Amos Lunt (Biog ), a grandson of Henry, was b. in Falmouth, Feb. 29, 
1752. He m. Mrs. Hannah Qaimby, a dau. of Josiah Noyes. He came to 
Brunswick with Cutting and Thomas Noyes, lived with them in the fort 
awhile, and then built a two-story house on the corner of Mill and Bow 
Streets. He d. Mch. 4, 1837. Ch. Avere : — Frederick and Harry, who went to 
North Carolina and d. there ; Joseph, who m. Martha, a niece of Dr. Page. He 
lived awhile in Brunswick and then moved to Fryeburg, where he d. without 
issue. 

McMANUS. 

James McManus came to this country from Ireland about the middle of 
the last century, and settled at Maquoit. He had Ave sons : — Daniel, James, 
John, Bichard, liobert. The latter was b. July 14, 1764, in a house on the 
west side of the twelve-rod road, a few rods south of the old west meeting- 
house. He lived for a while with Deacon Kobert Dunning and then for Ave 
years with Brigadier Thompson. John Avas b. about 1760, aud served as a 
soldier nearly four years in the Revolution. He was at the surrender of 
Burgoyne, served under Gen. Sullivan in the Mohawk country, and received a 
wound at Cherry Valley which rendered him lame for life. 

MARINER. 

The great-grandfather of the first of this name in Brunswick is said to 
have come from Wales, G. B., with a patent to settle Monhegan. It is also 
said that his two sons went out in their boats fishing, and upon tlieir return 
found their father liad been killed, and their mother knocked on the head 
with a hatchet by the Indians ; a girl with them had escaped and hid. They 
took their mother and the girl into their boat, and after burying tlieir father, 
sailed for Marblehead, where a physician was employed, who trepanned their 
mother's head, and she eventually recovered." 

Joiix Mahixicr settled in Brunswick, about 1766. He m. Ruth . Ch. 

were: — Samuel, b July 21, 1767, m. Margaret Mosley, Aug. 7, 1786; Sarah, 
b. June 11, 1769, m. John Simmons Gatchell ; and probably other ch. He 
was the ancestor of all of the name in this vicinity. 

' N. E. H. and G. Reg., 22, p. 223. = Pejepscot Papers. 



FAMILY HLbTORIES. 843 

MARTIN. 

The first of this name of whom Ave have found any record was Johx 
Martin or Martalx, as the name was formerly spelled. He was among the 
early settlers of Brunswick. His wife's name was Margaret. Ch. were : — 
John, b. Nov. 3, 1738; Elizabeth, b. Mch. 5, 1740; Rebecca, b. Jan. 17, 1743; 
JSphraim, b. July 23, 1746 ; Jennet, b. Aug. 1750 ; Samuel, b. Dec. 25, 1753. 

MELCHER, 

The name is from the Hebrew, and indicates a long line of ancestoi's. The 
meaning of the word is said to be "the king," "the kingly one," or "the 
royal one." The true spelling of the word is "Melchior." The name is a 
common one in Switzerland and in Germany. It is not known who was the 
first of the name to settle in this country. Joseph Melcher and his brother 
Samuel Melcher settled in this town about the year 1757, and were the ances- 
tors of all of the name in this vicinity. 

Joseph Mklcher settled at Bunganock, on the farm now occupied by 
Jedediah Mariner. He was a housewright by trade. He m. in 1757, Mary 
Cobb, of " Gorham town." He d. Apr. 21, 1821, in the 86th year of his age; 
she d. May 18, 1825, in the 87th year of her age. Ch. were .• — JVoah, Nathan- 
iel, Abner, Josiah, Samuel, and nine others. Those named lived in Bruns- 
wick. 

Samuel Melcher, brother of Joseph, settled at New Meadows, on the fiirm 
now occupied by Dea. James Smith, and he built, in 1767, the house which 
Dea. Smith now occupies. He m. Isabella, dau. of Judge Aaron Hinkley. 
He d. Mch. 3, 1834, in the 90th year of his age ; she d. Aug. 17, 1832, in the 
86th year of her age. Ch. were •.—lleliance, b. Nov. 15, 1768, d. Nov. 29, 1804; 
3Iary,h. Aug. 5, 1771; Aaron, h. Feb. 2Z, 1773; Samuel, b. May 8, 1775, d. 
Mch. 3, 1862; Elizabeth, h. May 13, 1777; Lois, b. July 2, 1780; Iiebecca,h. 
Mch. 6, 1783, m. a Douuel, now living in West Bath; John, b. May 19, 1785; 
Noah, b. May 30, 1788, d. in infancy ; Rachel, b. Feb. 23, 1793. 

MERRILL. 

The name of the first American ancestor of this family has not been ascer- 
tained, but was probably Nathaniel of Newbury, who was among the first set- 
tlers of that place. There was a John Merrill in Hartford, Conn., in 1657, 
who was a son of Nathaniel of Newbury. He had a son John, b. 1669, and a 
son Abel, b. 1680. One of these may have been the ftither of the John and 
Abel named below as settling in Arundel, but there is no positive evidence of 
the fact. 

John Merrill, with his brother Abel, settled in Arundel, now Kennebunk- 
port, about 1725, and erected a log-house there. It is not known from whence 
they came. He was b. about 1700. . He m. Mary Hutchins of Kittery. Ch. 
were: — Daniel, John, Hannah, Obed, and Humphrefj, who d. 5'oung. 

John Mkrrill, son of John of Arundel, was born in Arundel, Jan. 29, 1734, 
m. Susannah Haley of Kittery, moved to Topsham in 1758. He d. March 24, 
1828. Ch. were: — Susannah, b. in Topsham, Nov. 25, 1768, m. Andrew 
Walker of Arundel ; 3Iary, b. April 9, 1770, m. Stephen Purinton of Harps- 



844 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARFSWELL. 

well; John, b. Oct. i, 1772; JoHi-ph, b. Jan 22, 1774, d. 1798; Ahel, b. July 30, 
1776, d. Feb. 13, 1857. (See Biog.) 

MERRY MAN. 

(Spelled also Merj'iiiau aud Merrimau.) 

Waltkr Mekymax, the aucestor of all of that name in this vicinity, was an 
Irishman. He was kidnapped in Dublin and brought to Boston, where he was 
sold for his passage to a man named Simouton, wlio lived at Cape Elizabeth. 
After serving his time with Mr. Simontou he came to Harpswell, date not 
known. He tirst settled (according to the late Capt. James Merryman, of 
Harpswell) on Birch Island; then he moved to the mainland just above 
" Lookout Point," near the shore, aud afterwards moved to a point nearer the 
road. According to Capt. James Sinnett, who is a descendant, he settled at 
first in the old house on the Neck, north of the Congregational Church, now 
occupied by his grandson, Hudson Merryman. He m. Betty Potter of Tops- 
ham. Ch. were : — Thomas, m. Sarah Bailey ; Hnijh, ni. Delight Bailey ; 
Walt^^r, m. Betsey Webber; James, m. Hannah Blake; 3Iirhael, m. Mary 
Bishop ; and several daughters, one of whom married Joseph Ewing. 

MINOT. 

The first American ancestor of this family was George Minot, who was 
among the first Pilgrim emigrants to Mass., and one of the first settlers of 
Dorchester. He was the son of Thomas Minot, Esq., of Saflron-Walden, 
Essex, England, aud was b. in 1594. 

Stephen Minot, of Boston, was grandson of George, of Dorchester. He 
was a merchant aud one of the proprietors of the Pejepscot tract. 

John Minv)t (Biog.), son of Stephen, was b. in Boston, in 1694. He was 
m. in Capt. John Slaughter's chamber, Boston, July 22, 1731, to Hannah 
Bradstreet, of Heading, Mass. He came to Brunswick in 1730. He d. Jan. 
10, 1764. Ch. were: — Mercy, b. July 11, 1732, at Mair Point, Brunswick, 
m. Rev. John Wiswell of Portland; Hannah, b. March 9, 1738-4, at Richmond, 
m. Samnel Moody, moved to Boston aud then to Bath ; Mehitable, b. March 
1, 1735, at Richmond; John, b. Dec. 4, 1737; Thomas, b. April 16, 1740. 

MORSE. 

Joseph Morse was b. in England, emigrated to New England abt. 1635, 
and settled at Ipswich prior to 1641. 

Anthony Morse was b. at Marlboro', Wiltshire, England, Maj^ 9, 1606. 
Emigrated and settled at Newbury, 1635, aud d. 1686. One of these was 
doubtless the aucestor of the Bruuswick Morses, but the line has not been 
traced. 

Anthony Morse, of Portland, Avas b.. 1720; had six sons, besides daugh- 
ters. Two of his sons, Joseph and Anthony, settled in Brunswick about the 
time of the Revolution, and were the ancestors of all the Morses of this imme- 
diate vicinity. 

Joseph Morse was b. in Portland in 1745. Settled in Bruuswick near 
where the old Baptist Meetiug-House stood on the twelve-rod road at Ma- 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 845 

quoit. He afterwards moved to Bungauock.to the farm where Mrs. Emery- 
Morse now live.s. He was a cordwainer aud also a shoemaker. He m. Han- 
nah Hunt, dan. of Ephrami Hunt. He d. Feb. 10, 1817. Ch. were : — John, 
h. Jan. 23, 1774; Hannah, b. Nov. 12, 1775; Ephraim, b. Nov. 10, 1777; Anne, 
b. Nov. 8, 1779; Martha, b. Sept. 23, 1781; Joseph, b. Jan. 11, 1784; Anthony, 
b. Mch. 13, 1786; ilarij, b. Apr. 30, 1788; Susannah and Sarah, b. July 30, 
1790; Benjamin, b. May 17, 1793. 

Anthony Mohse came to Brunswick with his brother Joseph. He was in 
the army during the whole period of the Revolution. He m. Susanna Elliot. 
He d. ab't. 1811. Ch. were: — Manjaret, b. Nov. 8, 1777; Hannah, b. Nov. 21, 
1780; James, b. June 21, 1783; Adam, h. July 11, 1785; Susannah, b. Apr. IG, 
1790; Anthony, b. Feb. U, 1793. 

MOUNTFORT. 

The first of this name of whom we find record was 

Edmund Mountfort, who was settled in Brunswick, and had ch : — Han- 
nah, b. Dec. 17, 1792; 3fary and Ester, b. Jan. 11, 179G; Willinm, b. July 20, 
1798 ; Vincent, b. July 20, 1801 ; Margaret, b. July 1, 1804. 

NOYES. 

Rev. James Noyes and his brother Nicholas came to this country in 1634 
from Choulderton, Wiltshire, England, aud was son of Rev. William Noyes, 
who Avas rector of that diocese in 1602. 

Nicholas Noyes, brother of the above, Avas b. in Choulderton, Eng. in 
1616. He m. Mary, a dau. of Capt. John Cutting. He d. Nov. 9, 1701, leaving 
a large family. 

Cutting Noyes, a grandson of Nicholas, Avas b. in Falmouth, Feb. 27, 1745. 
He came to Brunswick soon after the close of the Revolution, with his brother 
Thomas, and Amos Lunt. They bought a portion of the " Fort Right," and 
lived in the fort until Cutting built a house Avhere the store of J. T. Adams & 
Co. noAV stands. He m. Anne Martin of Brunswick. He d Feb. 15, 1813. 
Ch. AA'ere: — Joseph, b. Mch. 19, 1792, m. Mary LoAvell, and liA^ed in Turner; 
Harriet and Mary, b. Dec. 30, 1793 : Harriet m. William N. Hall, of BrunsAvick, 
Mary m. Nathaniel Davis, of Woburu, aud settled in Brunswick; Jane, b. Oct. 
22, 1795, m. Ballard Green, who settled in Thomastou. 

ORR. 

This family came from Ireland to Boston, in company with the Skolfields, 
in the early part of the last century. -There Avere three brothers, Joseph^ 
Clement, and John, Avith their sister Mary. They remained in Boston a feAV 
years, AAdien, in 1742, they came to HarpsAvell and Brunswick. Joseph and 
Clement settled on the upper end of HarpsAvell Neck, and subsequently, (about 
1748) purchased Little Sebascodigau Island, Avhich has since been knoAvn as 
Orr's Islaud, for Avhich, it is said, they paid two shillings per acre. John 
settled on Mair Point. 

Joseph Orr m. Mrs. William Wyer. Ch. Avere : — 3Iary, b. 1761. m. Col. 
Wm. Stanwood; Lettice,h. 1763, m. John Reed, of Topsham. She d. at the 
age of 93. 



84() HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

Clemknt Our, son of Clement, b June 27, 1752, d. Oct. 9, 1813. His wife, 
Patience, d. Dec. 8, 1812, aged 61. Ch. were : — Eichard, John, Lettire, Mary. 
John Our ra. Susan Skolfleld. Had no children. 

OWEN. 

The uamc of the first American ancestor of this family has not been ascer- 
tained. The Brunswick Owens are probably descended from John and 
Lucretia, of Falmouth, who, according to Willis, had a son William in 
Brunswick. 

Gideon Owen, the first of the name in Brunswick of whom tliere is any other 
record, was b. April, 1742. His wife's name was Jane. He d. July 8, 1772. 
Ch. were-. — BInrgnrct. b. Oct. 6, 17G4; Thomas, b. Sept. 1, 1706; Hugh White, 
b. Sept. 23. 1768; Martha, b. July 13, 1770; John, b. Aug. 3, 1772; David, b. 
Nov. 31, 1774. 

William Owen, whose wife's name was Mary, had ch. : — Janney, b. Api'il 9, 
1776; lAicy, b June 3, 1779; Rachel, b. May 9, 1781; William, b. Jan. 3, 1784. 

Philip Owen was b. Feb. 18, 1756. He m. Joanna . He d. May 28. 

1849. Ch. were : — Jbi^M, b. Mch. 19, 1784; Philip, b. Dec. 3, 1785; Dorothy, 
b. Feb. 11, 1787; Jane, b. Sept. 29, 1789, m. Nath'l Badger; Jeremiah, b. Mch. 
16, 1792; Joanna, b. Maj' 13, 1794, m. Joseph Griffin; Hannah, b. Sept. 2, 
1796. 

P ATT EX. 

Four brothers. Actor, Williaji, I^obert, and Matthew Patten, came to 
this country early in the last century from Coleraiue. a market town of Derry 
County, Ireland. According to one account they all came over at the same 
time (about 1727). Another account places the date of Robert's arrival at 1737. 
Actor was an elder of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. He landed in 
Boston, from whence he went to Falmouth (Portland), and soon afterwards 
settled in Saco. From Saco he moved to Flying Point, in Freeport, and 
afterwards moved to what is now the town of Surry, where he d. previous to 
the Eevolution. William settled in Boston, and Matthew in Saco. Robert 
settled in Arundel (Kennebunk). 

John Patten, sou of Actor, was b. in Ireland in 1717. He came to this 
country with his father in 1727. He m Mar}', a dau. of Robert Means, of 
Saco. She d. about 1798. He d. April 7, 1795. Ch. were : — Robert, b. May 
14, 1743, in Saco; Sarah, who m. Robert Fulton; Jane, who m. William Ran- 
dall in 1783, and who d. in Nov. 1832; Mary, who m. Samuel Jameson; Han- 
iiah, w'ho m. Thomas Harward ; Margaret, who m. James Maxwell; John, d. 
in Topsham, single; Williamy(\. in England, a prisoner, single; Thomas, b. 
Feb. 10, 1761, m. Katherine Fulton; Joseph, b. in 1764; Mattheic, d. at the age 
of 15 ; Dorcas, who m. James Hunter (son of Col. James Hunter) ; Actor, who 
m Ami, dau.' of John Hunter; David, who m. Hannah Reed, and who d. in 
Bowdoinham. 

Actor Patten, son of Robert Patten who settled in Arundel (Kennebunk) 
in 1737, was a cousin of John. He was b. in Ireland, Jan. 22, 1737. He m. 
in 1766, Jane, a dau. of Hugh McLellan, of Gorham. She was b. Dec. 29, 
1748, and d. Aug. 28, 1835. He was only six weeks old when his parents 
emigrated to this countrj^ He was an only son. He moved to Topsham in 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 847 

Dec. 17(50, when 23 years of age. He had visited the town the previous 
June. He d. July 20, 1816. Ch. were : — EUzabPtli, who m. Henjamin Patter- 
son, of Saco; Eohert ; Actor, b. in Topsham, in 1771; J/<7>v/, who m 1st, 
Thomas Buckminstcr, of Saco, m. 2d, Dr. Shannon, of Saco, and d. at Passa- 
dumkeag, of croup, in Jan. 1834; Abigail, who m. William Tate; Jane, who 
m. Jonathan Marston, of Monmouth; Lebecca, who m. Robert McLellan, of 
Gorham ; Hugh, who m. Lucy Green (sister of Nathaniel and Gardner Green) ; 
Itachel,vi\\o d. single; William, \y\iO was a sea-captain; Margaret, who m. 
1st, Joseph Swett, and 2d, Noah Melcher. 

PENNELL. 

Thomas Pennell fcUd two of his brothers came to America from the Isle of 
Jersey, in the English Channel, about the year 1740. They are supposed to 
have descended from a Huguenot family, Avho fled from France on account of 
religioias persecution. It is said that these three brothers were orphans who 
had some property in England, and were sent here by their uncle, who had 
charge of the property, under pretence of giving them an education, and that 
the}' landed at Scituate, Mass., without any money. After stopping there 
awhile they moved to York, and from there to Capisic (near Portland), where 
Thomas and one of his brothers bought, each, a farm. Thomas is said to 
have lost his on account of an incumbrance upon it when he purchased it. 
The brother who bought a farm there also remained, and his descendants are 
scattered over Gray, Westbrook, Portland, and neighboring towns. The 
other brother went to Kingston, Canada, where his descendants are to be 
found. Thomas m. Rachel Riggs. He moved from Capisic to Gorham, and 
afterwards, in 1760, to New Meadows, Brunswick. He d. Nov. 12, 1812. 
Ch. w^ere : — Matthew, b, in Capisic, 1748, d. in Portland, 1817 ; Thomas, Jacob, 
John, !^tephen, and several daughters, one of whom m. a Mr. Ham, whom she 
survived, and afterwards m. James Merryman, of Harpswell. 

PERRY. 

The ancestor of at least one of the families of this name now residing 
in Brunswick was N.^thaniel Perky, who emigrated from England about 
1680. His son John, of Rehoboth, Mass., Avas b. in 1770. 

John Perry, grandson of the John named above, was b. in Rehoboth, Dec. 
3, 1772. In 1798 moved to Brunswick. He m. in 1802, Jane, dan. of Col. 
AYm. Stanwood. He d. in Bangor, March 18, 1846. Ch. were : — John A. ; 
Octavia Jane ; Isabella Hunt ; Martha Stanwood ; William Stanwood ; Hannah 
L. W. ; Jesse Appleton. 

PETERSON". 

The name of the first American ancestor of this family has not been ascer- 
tained. The earliest known was Joseph Peterson, of Duxburj^ Mass., 
whose son Jonathan d. in 1750. 

John Peterson, grandson of Jonathan above named, and the ancestor of all 
of the name in this vicinity, came to Brunswick about 1783, and settled at New 
Meadows. His wife's name was Sarah. They lived in the house now occu- 
pied by Bartlett Adams. He kept a store in the building opposite, and also 



848 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, T0PSIIA3T, AND HARPSWELL. 

in a building near the river. He built vessels, had a mill, and was one of the 

most enterprising citizens of the time. All of his children but the last three 

were b. in Duxbury. Ch. were: — Jahii, b. July 30, 17(57; Levi, b. Nov. 7, 

1769; James, born Dec 30, 1771; Nanoj, b. Mch. 20, 1774; Charles, b. Aug. 

20, 1776; Hcwctt, b. Sept. la, 1778; Sarnh, b. Jan. 20, 1781; Daniel, b. Oct. 

28, 1783; Abif/ail, b. in Brunswick, Sept. 17, 1786; William, b. Mch. 4, 1789; 

Liiei/, b. April 27, 1791. 

POTTER. 

The name of the ancestor of the Potter famil}' in this vicinity has not been 
ascertained. He had three sons, William, James, and Alexander, who all set- 
tled in Topsham, about 1740. 

AViLM.'VM Potter m. Catherine Mustard (tradition says). She afterwards 
m. Edward Cunningham, of Bovvdoiu. He was killed by the Indians in 1747. 
Ch. were : — James, called the second ; Alexander, who m. a lady by the name 
of Snipe, of Georgetown; John; David, who m. Ruth, dau. of Caleb Curtis, 
of Ilarpswell; Samuel, who was drowned; Josej^h, Avho lived at Moose 
Island, Eastport; Matthew, whom. Isabel Heddrean, Sept. 1787; William. 

Jamks Pottku settled on Lot No. 41, in Topsliam. Ch. were: — William, 
who lived in Litchfield ; John, who also lived in Litchfield ; Samuel, b. in 1746, 
m. April 21, 1778, Elizabeth Dunlap, and d. about 1800; Heioeij, who lived in 
Gardiner; Joseph, \\\\o lived in Ohio; James, ^^•\\o m. April 8, 1784, Jenny 
Mallet; Andreiv, wlio lived in Gardiner; Christian, who m. Jan. 6, 1777, Eben- 
ezer Dunlap, of Litchfield; EUzaheth, who m. Nov. 26, 1782, James Dunlap ; 
Jane, who m. April, 1787, Nathaniel Marston, of Gardiner. 

Ai.EXANDEii Potter b. in 1711, d. April 14, 1800. Ch. were: — Alexander, 
who m. in 1782, Abigail, dau. of Ezra Randall; Mary, who m. April 18, 1777, 
Hatherby Foster, of Georgetown ; Jrt/«^, b. in Topsham, Dec. 11, 1743, m. 
John, son of William Rogers. 

PUKINTON. 

Humphrey Purinton came from Cape Cod, about the time of the last Indhui 
war, to the New Meadows River, settling on the Bath side, near the present 
railroad bridge. His ch. were all born before he came here. They were : — 
Nathaniel, b. 1731 (or 1736) ; Abial, who m. Brig. Sam'l Thompson; Joshua, 
who lived in Bath; Hezekiah ; James, h. in Truro, Mass., April 9, 1742; 
Hnmphrei/. 

He was the ancestor of all the name in this vicinity who spell the name as 

above. 

RANDALL. 

William Randall emigrated from Bristol, England, and settled in Scituate, 
Mass., about 1660. He was the father of Joseph, who Avas the father of 
Benjamin. 

Ezra Randall, son of Benjamin above named, settled in Topsham, but 
afterwards moved to Bovvdoinhara. He is called a shipwright in a deed to 
him dated Oct. 15, 1761, fi'om Jacob Eaton, of a lot numbered 18, in the town 
plau.i May 7, 1762, he also bought lots 13, 14, 15, and 16, of Michael Mal- 

* Lincoln Registry Deeds, Lib. 1, p. 144. 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 849 

colra of Georgetown, aud Maj- 14, 1762, he sold lots 13 and 14 to his brother 
Paul.^ June 4, 1766, he sold to liis brother William fifty acres of laud.'' He 
is said to have been addicted to drinking liquors, and to have soon squan- 
dered his property. He m. Margaret . He d. in Bowdoinham, aged 88. 

Ch. \vei*e : — Isaiah, b. Nov. 4, 1772; John, b. Feb. 24, 1769; Nabbtj, who m. 
John Mustard, Jan. 22, 1778; Joseph, who ni. Martha Reed, about 1778; 
Heatherby, b. Aug. 26, 1766; Ezra, b. Aug. 28, 1764; Margaret, b. Aug. G, 
1762, m. Alexander (son of Alexander) Potter, of Bowdoin ; Isaac, b. June 1, 
1776; Elizabeth, b. Nov. 28, 1779. 

Paul Handall, sou of Beujaniin and brother of Ezra, b. in Scituate in 
1736 ; settled in Harpswell. He m. Molly MoFarland. Ch. were : — Paul, 
aud probably others. 

William Randall, also brother of Ezra, was b. in Scituate, Mass., Jan. 1, 
1743. He m. Jane Patteu, to wliom his intention of marriage was published, 
July 23, 1783. He settled in Topshani, later than his other brothers there. 
He bought fifty acres of Ezra, and together with Daniel, eighty-five acres of 
land of his brother Paul, and fifcy acres of Williaiu Tuorue, Jr. (See deeds 
referred to.) He was one of the selectmen in 1776, and one of the Commit- 
tee of Correspondence and Safety in 1778 and in 1785. He d. in Topsham, 
June, 1826. Ch. were : — Jane, b. April 28, 1784, m. James Jameson; WiUiam, 
b. Aug. 21, 1785, who was father of Elbridge; Benjawin, b. Nov. 14, 1789, 
graduated at Bowd. Coll. in 1809. 

Daniel Randall, brother of Ezra, m. a Widow Kemp, and moved to 
Harpswell, where he d. He bought laud, with his brother William, of Paul, 
Ezra, and William Thorue. Ch. was : — a dau., who m. Capt. Norton Stover. 

RAYMOND. 

Paul Rayimond came from Dorchester, Mass., or vicinity, to Harpswell, 
previous to 1770. He had ch. : — Edward, b. iu Harpswell, Dec. 5, 1771; m. 
Lydia Coombs, dau. of Anthony, who came from Dorchester; moved to 
Brunswick (Growstown), iu 1799. Paul, who m. Abigail, dau. of Wm. 
Thompson, of HarpsweU. 

REED. 

The name of the ancestor of the Reed family, of Topsham aud Harpswell, 
has not been ascertained, but the family is of Irish descent. Three brothers, 
David, John, and William, settled iu Topsham about 1731. 

David Reed m. Anna Rogers (the sister of John who was the father of 
Hugh). He lived on what is now known as the Willis Sprague farm. He 
was licensed May 26, 1761, by the Court of Sessions, as an innholder, and 
also in 1762, '63, '64, '66, '67, and in 1771,- as a retailer, and again as an inn- 
holder in 1772, '73, and '74. He was a lieuteuaut, under Capt. Actor Patten, at 
the Penobscot expedition, and was a captain in 1783. He was one of the 
Committee of Correspondence and Safety in 1776, '81, and '83. He removed 
to the Penobscot about 1790, aud was oue of the earliest settlers of Stillwater. 
He is said to have built the first mills there. Ch. were : — Deina, b. July 12, 

i Opus cit., pp. 187 and 188. 2 Qpiis cit.. Lib. 5, p. 6. 

54 



850 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

1760; 3Iarii, b. July 8, 17G2; Margaret, b. Aug. 20, 1769; Aima, b. July 22, 
1766; Darid, b. Mch. 7, 1769. 

Jonx Eeed was b. iu Ireland about 1719. He d. Jan. 12, 1795. Ch. were: 
— John, b. in Ireland about 1747; Jane, who m. Joseph Foster, of Topsham; 
Martha, who m. Joseph, son of Ezra Randall; Hannah, m. Eobert, son of 
Rev. James Potter; Charity, who m. 1st, Benjamin, son of Ezra Randall, 2d, 
a Prescott (who ran off and left her), and, 3d, John Hern, of Ireland, after- 
wards of Whitefleld; Svsan, Avho d. single. 

William Reed was b. abt. 1691. His wife's name was Mary. He d. iu July 
or Aug. 1773. Ch., if any, are unrecorded. 

RICH. 

The earliest known ancestor of this family was Richard Rich, a mariner, 
who went from Dover, N. H., to Truro, Mass., aud was admitted as a freeman 
in 1681, and d. iu 1692. His son liichard was father of Obadiah. 

Isaac Rich, sou of Obadiah aud Polly [Cobb] Rich, of Truro, Mass., 
moved to Harpswell and settled on Great Islaud in 1797, bringing with him a 
numerous family. He was the ancestor of all of the name iu this viciuitj\ 
Of his ch., Zaheth, m. Mary, dau. of Capt. Sam'l Snow; Isaac, m. Sarah S. 
Small, who still survives ; David, m. Betsey Rich, of Truro ; Reuben, settled 
in West Bath, where his descendants still reside. 

RIDLEY. 

James Ridley came from Truro to Harpswell before the Revolution, but 
precisely when is not known. He m. Mary, dau. of Samuel Small of Truro. 
Ch. were: — Mark, b. 1757; Daniel, b. 1759; Bachael, b. 1763. 

ROGERS. 

William Rogkrs, the ancestor of all of that name in this vicinity, was b. in 
Ireland. Nothing more than this fact and the names of his children have been 
ascertained concerning him. Ch .were : — John ; George, who. d. in Freeport ; 
Thomas, who d. in Georgetown; Hugh, who d.ln Georgetown; William, who 
d. in Freeport; Ann, whom. Benjamin Kendall; Margaret, who m. Rev. John 
Miller, of Brunswick ; Robert, who d. iu Phipsburg. 

John Rogers, son of William, Sen., was b. in Georgetown, June 20, 1746, 
OS. He m. Jane, dau. of Alexander Potter, of Topsham. He probably moved 
to Topsham about 1768, as there was a John Rogers there at that time. The 
last-named was a sea-captain during a portion of his life. He was one of the 
selectmen in 1790, '91, and '92. He was town clerk in 1797 and '98. Ch. of 
John and Jane were : — John, b. Aug. 30, 1771, lost his leg in Jan. 1836; Wil- 
liam, b. June 2, 1773; Jenny, b. Nov. 15, 1775, m. Ephraim Larrabee ; Alexan- 
der, b. March 13, 1778, moved out West; Dinah, b. April 1, 1781, m. Nahum 
Houghton; Hugh, b. Feb. 9, 1785, d. April 30, 1867. 

Alexander Rogers, son of George aud grandson of William, Sen., was b. iu 
Georgetown in 1754 ; moved to Topsham, but precisel}' when is not known. 
He m. Margaret [Wilson] Hunter, widow of John Hunter, and settled on the 
farm which was occupied by the late Hon. George Rogers, and which is now 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 851 

occupied by the family of the late George A. Rogers. He was the father of 
George aud grandfather of George A. 

ROSS. 

The earliest reference to this family which has been found is contained in 
Vol. I, Me. Hist. Coll., p. 314", where allusion is made to a James Koss, as 
follows : — 

" Jamks Koss was born in Falmouth, 1G02, son of James. He was taken pris- 
oner with his father's family in lG7r), and again in 1G90. He was a shoemaker 
by trade, and occupied his father's farm, or part of it, at Back Cove. His 
mother was Ann, the eldest daughter of George Lewis. On his return from 
his second captivity, he resided at Salem. His father was here [Falmouth], 
about 1657. He was living in Salem in 1724." lu 1720 a James Ross pur- 
chased of the Pejepscot proprietors a lot of land in Topsham (probably lot 
No. 18), and built a house upon it, and resided there for some time. After his 
death, which was previous to 1761, his heirs sold their rights to the land. 
(See Line. Co. Reg. Deeds, Vol. I, p. 170.) It is not improbable that this James 
may have been a son of James of Falmouth, but the connection has not been 
traced. The first of the family in Brunswick of which we have found any 
record Avas William Ross, who was b. July 15, 1747. He Avas probably son 
of William, of Sheepscot. His wife's name was Jennett. She was b. Nov. 12, 
1752. Ch. were: — William, b. Nov. 15, 1773; Jennett, b. Aug. 3, 1775; 
Martha, b. Mch. 27, 1777; Elizabeth, b. Mch. 22, 1777; Anna, b. Oct. 11, 1781; 
Eobert, b. Oct. 7, 1783; James, b. Mch. 27, 1785; Sarah, b. Apr. 21, 1790. 

SIMPSON. 

William Simpsox, the ancestor of all of the name in this vicinity, came 
from the southern part of Ireland (probably from the county of Clare) about 
1735, and bought the farm at Maquoit where Robert Chase lived in 1859. He 
returned to Ireland and brought back his wife and two daughters, but left 
one son there. Both of his daughters married and went to Sheepscot. One, 
Jane, m. a Hopkins, and lived, it is said, to be 102 years old. His wife's 
name was Agnes. Ch. b. in America were: — William, b. Nov. 17, 1738; 
Itobert, b. Oct, 30, 1740; Lewis, Josiah, and two other sons. All but Lewis 
and Josiah settled at Sheepscot. Josiah settled on the homestead. He m. 
1st, Elizabeth, dan. of Robert Spear, Jr. ; 2d, a dau. of James Potter. He d. 
Dec. 25, 1819. Lewis m. Martha Skolfleld. 

SINNETT. 

Michael Sinnett, the ancestor of all by that name in this vicinity, was 
born in an inland town of Ireland. After serving his time as an apprentice, 
he, in company with one or two fellow-workmen, went to Dublin in search of 
employment. They had been in Dublin but a few days when, as they were 
loitering about the wharves, looking at the shipping, which to them was a 
novel sight, they were accosted by a well-dressed man of pleasant appearance, 
who, after some conversation, invited them to go down the harbor in a ves- 
sel which was about to sail, assuring them that they could return with the 
pilot. They, without suspicion, accepted the invitation. As soon as the 



852 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

city was fairlj^ left beliiud, Mr. Sinnett and his conipanious were taken before 
the captain, who informed tlieni Unit they must go to America with liim, and 
that I'esistauce would be of no avail. They were thunderstruck, but resolved 
to make the best of their unlucky situation. 

When the vessel reached Boston, public notice was given that Sinuett and 
his companions, having embarked of their own free will, and having no money 
to pay their passage, would be sold to pay their passage fees. Jbseph Orr, 
who with his brother Clement had purchased Orr's Island, paid the passage 
money for Sinnett, and took him home with him and set him at work upon his 
farm. AVhat beeame of Sinnett's companions we do not know. 

When Sinnett had served for a length of time sufficient to reimburse Orr 
for tlie passage-money paid ])y the latter, he was a free man. Soon after gain- 
ing his freedom, he married a woman whose relatives lived in Hingham, Mass. 
Mer full name we have been unable to learn, but her Christian name was 
Mary. Shortly after his marriage, Sinuett went with his wife to what is now 
Boothbay, where he built a small house and began to clear up a piece of land. 
By and by a coaster came along, bound for Boston. Mrs. Sinuett thought it a 
good opportunity for her to visit her relatives, and Mr. Sinnett assuring her 
that he could got along alone for a few weeks, she concluded to make the 
journey. She had l)een gone but a few days when a press-gang came ashore 
and carried him to New York, from whence he was marched, ria the Lakes, to 
Quebec, to join Gen. Wolfe's army. He continued in the service until after the 
capture of Quebec, when he was discharged. Moiuitime his wife had returned 
to their dwelling at Boothbay, and finding it deserted she picked her way, as 
best she could, to Orr's Island, and told her story to Joseph Orr. He took 
pity on her, and promised to take care of her. He and she then went in a 
boat to Boothbay, and brought back to Orr's Island what few things of value 
were left in the house. When her husband was discharged, he, with others 
Avho had been impressed into the service, picked their way l)ack to Maine. He 
came directly to Josepli Orr's, where he found his wife. Mr. Orr then sold to 
Sinuett thirty acres of land, for which the latter was to pay, and did pay, in 
days' work. 

On this lot he built a house, and it stands to-da^^ in good repair, a monument 
to his industry and perseverance under difficulties. Ch. were : — Stephen, b. 
17GG; James, b. 1770. 

SKOLFIELD. 

The first of the name of whom there is any knowledge was Thomas Skol- 
fleld, of England, who was an ofliccr in King William's army in 1690, when 
King James was driven from Ireland. He was granted a tract of land for his 
services, and settled in Ireland. He had four ch. :— Thomas, George, Elizabeth, 
and Susan. Thomas, George, and Susan came to America early in the last 
century. George settled in Philadelphia. Thomas and Susan settled in Bruns- 
wick. The latter m. John Orr. 

Thomas Skolviuld (see Biog.) was b. in Ireland in 1707. He settled in 
Brunswick on the farm now owned by Peter Woodard. He m. Mary Orr. He 
d. Jan. 6, 1796. She d. Aug. 1. 1771, aged 57. Ch. yyeve: — Eebecca, b. July 
8, 1737; Richard, b. Sept. 6, ]7.'?8; Clement, b. June 1, 1740; ^nne, b. May IS, 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 853 

1742, m. Robert Spear, Jr.; Thomas, b. June 8, 1744, in Brunswick, m. Ann 
Anderson; Mary, b. Feb. 10, 1748, m. Captain Robert Given; Stephen, b. July 
8, 1751; Martha, b. Mch. 19, 1753, m. Lewis Simpson; John, b. June 13, 
1755; Jose2)h, b. Mch. 1, 1757; William, h. Aug 27, 1760. 

SMALL. 

The ancestor of this fanillj', in Ilarpswell at least, is believed to have been 
Taylor Small, who was b. in Truro, Mass., and moved to Harpswell, 
between 1750 and 1755. He m. Thankful, dau. of Thomas Ridley. Ch. were : 
— Deborah, b. 1743; ThayikfnJ, b. 1745; Taylor, b. 1746; Joseph, b. 1748; 
David, b. 1750, — all b. in Truro. The following were b. in Harpswell: — 
Thomas, b. 1755; Samuel, b. 1757; Ephraim, b. 1759; Lydia, b. ll&\;Mark, b. 
1763. 

SMITH. 

Joseph Smith was one of the early settlers of Brunswick. lie settled at 
New Meadows iu 1739. His wife's name was Susamiah. Ch. were : — Thomas, 
b. Feb 22, 1754; Samuel, b. Oct. 10, 1756; Molly, )>. Mch. 22, 1758. 

Thomas was killed by the Indians wJien fourteen years old, i. e., in 1768. He 
was going after the cows, and when near the tan-pits the Indians intercepted 
him. His father saw the Indians and shot one of them. They then shot 
Thomas, and his father killed another of them. 

SNOW. 

Nicholas, Anthony, and William Snow are reported to liave come over 
early. The two former brought ftimilies. William was an apprentice and set- 
tled in Duxbury. Anthony settled first at Plymouth, and then, in 1642, in 
Marshfield. Nicholas, who came over in the Ann in 1623, settled in Eastham. 
From one of these probably sprang the Snows of this vicinity, but the con- 
necting links are missing. 

The ancestor of the Snow family of this vicinity was Isaac Snow, who set- 
tled in Harpswell early in the last century. His wife's name was Affler. Ch. 
were: — John, b. July 25, 1734; Isaac, b. May 18, 1736; Elisha, b. March 26, 
1739; Joseph, b. Oct. 2, 1740; Ambrose, b. Mch. 20, 1742; Elizabeth, b. Nov. 3, 
1743; Samuel, b. Feb. 28, 1745; Mercy, b. Dec. 8, 1751; Hannah, h. Oct. 30, 
1756. 

Samuel, John, and Isaac are said to have once owned all the land on the east 
side of Great Island, Harpswell, north of where Mark Small now lives. 

SPEAR. 

RowijeT Spear, one of the early settlers in Brunswick, was b. abt. 1682. 
He may have been son or grandson of George, of Braintree, who was made a 
freeman in 1644. He lived a Utile west of where the old meeting-house 
stood. His house wa? a garrison, protected by a timber fortification. Mr. 
Spear is supposed to have m. a Finney. His wife d. in 1781, aged 85 years. 
He d. in 1763. Ch were: — Robert; William; a dau. who m. John Given; 
another dau. who m. William Ross. 



854 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

SP HAGUE. 

This family is doubtless clescended from Francis Spraguk, who arrived 
in this country in 1G23, and settled in Duxhury about 1G32. 

Capt. JosKi'ii Si-HAGUK cauie to this vicinity from Duxbury in 1787. Set- 
tled first in Bowdoinham ; moved to Topsham in 17!U or 1792. He was b. in 
1757; m. Ruth Hunt, of I)uxl)ury. Ch. -were: — James, b. in Weymouth, Oct. 
5, 1783; OnA-man, h. hi Duxbury, Oct. 4, 178(>;' Jo spj^h, b. in Uowdoinham, 
Au;;:. 16, 1788; Elimhcth, b. in Bowdoinham, Aui;. 1, 1700; linth, b. in Tops- 
ham, June 29, 1792; Marij, b. Aui,'. 27, 1794; ,Samud, b. Apr. 1, 1796; Willis; 
David; Frances. 

STAN WOOD. 

Ebenezkr Stanwooi), or Staxdwood, as he himself spelled the name, was 
the ancestor of all of that name in tiiis vicinity, if not of all of the name in 
the country. He came IVom Ireland, and settled in Brunswick in 1719. He 
was a lieutenant in the Indian wars, and was a selectman for two years. He 
was b. about 1695, and d. July 21, 1772. Ch. wvix--. — Da rid, m. Mary Beed, 
of Topsham; William, b. 1726, ni. Elizabeth l?eed, of Topsham; he d. 1797. 
Samuel, m. 1st, Jane [Lithj^ow], widow of Jolni McFarland, 2d, Mary Wood- 
side: he d. 1790; Susan. 

STAPLES. 

This family is understood to be of Eni^lish origin. One or more of the 
name came early to this country. The connection between the first of the 
mime to settle in '['opsliaiii and those who first came to America has not been 
traced. 

Samuel Staples was b. April 19, 1733. He settled in Topsham as early as 

1768 and probably earlier. He m., 1st, Sib])el , who was b. Oct. 31, 

1737, and d. in 1778. He m^, 2d, Lydia Wells, of Falmouth. Their banns 
were published July, 1779. Ch. by Sibbel wcvq : —Dorcas, b. Dec. 9, 1783, 
m. 1st, James, son of Stephen Staples, and, 2d, a Houdlette; Slej^hen, b. Nov. 
6, 1756, m. a Coombs, lived and died in Lisbon; ^fanJ, b. Jan. 31, 17G0, m. a 
Hobbs; Elizabeth, b. July 16, 1762; Sibbel, b. Mch. 23, 1764, m. a AValker; 
Charitij, h. April 20, 1778. Ch. by Lydia wevp : — Jeremiah, h. June 9, 1780; 
Winslow, 1). Mch. 30, 1782; Li/dia, b. Mch. 28, 1784, m. James Wain; Eleanor, 
b. June 4, 1786, m. Dec. 1802, Nathaniel Quint; Lucij, b. Dec. 8, 1789, d. 
single. 

Stephen Staples was b. Mch. 27, 1739, settled in Topsham al)out 1758. 

He ni. 1st, Jude , who was b. Nov. 15, 1738, d. Oct. 6, 1763. He m. 

2d, Susannah Hobbs, of Falinoutii, about 1764. Intentions were recorded 
Aug. 11, 1764, she survived him and m. Johnson Graves. Ch. by Jude were:' 
— Lucij, b. Nov. 8, 1760 (probably the one pul)lished to Hatevil Laten, Fal- 
mouth, Jan. 13, 1781); Joseph, b. Aug. 12, 1762. Ch. by Susannah were : — 
Ephraiiii, b. May 28, 1765, lived in Gray; Anne, b. April 15, 1767, m. Alexan- 
der Howland, abt. 1787; Jude, b. May 9, 1769, m. George Potter, of Bow- 
doin; John, b. July 27, 1771 ; Josiah, b. May 2, 1774; Daniel, h. April 19, 1777; 
James, b. June 2, 1779; Mar;/, h. July 7, 1782, d. single; liobert, b. May 6, 
1788, lived in Bowdoinham. 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 855 

STONE. 

Si.MON Stonk iind liis brother Grkooisy were ainouc: the early settlers of 
Watertowu, and from them are descended most of the very numerous fami- 
lies of that name iu New England. Gregory moved to Caml)ridge about 1G37. 

Bknjamin Stonk and w., llebecca Littlefield, came from Kennebunk iu 
1700, and settled iu Brunswick. At first he lived in the fort, afterwards 
built a large house near the corner of Maine and Mill Streets, which he occu- 
pied as a tavern. lied. 180G. Ch. were: — Lydia, b. 1758, m. Joseph Holt 
Ingraham, of Portland; WllUam, b. 17G1, d. at sea, unmarried; Benjamin, b. 
17(!;5, m. Klizabetli McLellau, of Portland, d. at sea; James, b. 17(U, m. Han- 
nah Walker, of Topsham, d. in 1802; liebecca, b. 1706, m. Joseph McLellau, 
of Portland, moved to Brunswick in 1819, and d. in 1825; John, b. 1708, d. at 
Brunswick, 1787; Theodore, b. 1770, never m., d. at Baring, Me., in 1839; 
Daniel, b. 1772, ra. Nancy Hinkley, of Brunswick, d. 1825; Mathias, b. 1774, 
d. iu Brunswick, 1793; Hannah, b. 1776, m. Joseph E. Foxcroft, of New 
(Gloucester, d. in 1810; Jotham, b. 1778, m. 1st, Bridget Walker, of Concord, 
N. 11., 2d, Nancy Whitwell, of Boston, lie d. at Brunswick in 1824. 

STOVER. 

(STAFFORD?) 

John Stovicu, the ancestor of all of that name in Harpswell, was b. in 1709, 
iu the town of York. It is held as a fanniy tradition, handed down for mauy 
generations, that when he was niue years old his parents and all his brothers 
and sisters were killed by the Indians ; that he escaped by hiding under a pile 
of brush ; that when he was discovei'ed by the whites he had been so terribly 
frightened that he was not sure of his name, but thought that it was Stafford; 
and that he was adopted by a family named Stover. (It has been ascertained 
that two t)rothers named Stafford emigrated from England, one of whom set- 
tled iu Providence, R. L, and the other iu York, Me.) He m. a dau. of Captain 
Johnson Harmon. lie moved to Harpswell, probably not later than 1730, and 
settled on a spot about half-way between the present highway and Norton 
Stover's ship-yard. He d. about 1786. Ch. were: — John, who d. at home ; 
Wanton, who settled in Portland; Joseph; AJcott ; Johnson; Abigail, whom. 
a Varnum, and moved to Bowdoin; Maru, m. a Wheeler, who lived where 
Robert Stover now does. 

SWETT. 

Aims. — Gules, two chevrons between as numy mullets in chief and a rose in 
base argent, seeded or. 

CuKST. — A mullet or, pierced azure between two gillyflowers, proper. 

According to Burke, the Swutk or Swktt family was formerly of Trayne in 
Edward Vl's time, and subsequently of Oxton, in the county of Devonshire, 
which furnished many colonists to New England. 

John Swktt, admitted to the freedom of the Mass. Colony, 18th May, 1642, 
was one of the grantees of Newl)ury as early as Dec. 7, 1642. 

John Swktt, probably a descendant of John of Newbury, came to Bruns- 
wick in 1788. Ch. were : — William; John; and James. 



85(! niSTORY OF BHUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



SWIFT. 

William Swikt was au early settler ou Cape Cod. He d. iu Sandwich in 
1642. His descendants ai'e very numerous. 

Major Lemuel Swift, probably a descendant of William of Sandwich, 
came from New Bedford, and settled in Brunswick in 1790. He was a hatter 
by trade, and a major in the militia. He d. June 30, 1820, and was the first 
person bui'ied in Pine Grove Cemetery (the village burying-ground). Ch. 
were: — Z»mw, b. Feb. 16, 1791, d. Nov. 1877; 3Iary Jane, b. Sept. 19, 1810; 
John Liifkin,h. Jan. 1, 1813; Siran Dincen, b. Mch. 3, 1815. 

SYLVESTER or SILVESTER. 

Arms. — Ar. an oak tree, eradicated, vert. 

Crest. — A lion's head, erased, vert. 

This name appears to be of French origin ; and iu the French language, 
Sylvestre signifies a tree, whence the coat of arms repreoents an oak-tree in the 
shield, being a parlant or speaking coat, descriptive of the name. We find 
the ftimily settled in England not long after the Conquest, and the ancestor 
probably went over in the army of William, in 1069. Stephen Silvestre was 
among the gentry of Norfolk. Gabriel Sylvester, D. D., was Prebend of 
Weeford, Litchfield,' in 1506. The family is highly respectable iu the old 
countrjs and is numerously represented in the United States. (See Hist, of 
Hanover, Mass.) 

The first of the name in New England was Richard, who was of Wej'mouth, 
1633, and of Scituate, 1642. 

William Silvester, of tlie third generation from Richard, was born in 
Hanover, Mass., Feb. 25, 1708; m. Mary Barstow May 12, 1736. She b. in 
Hanover, May 20, 1717. 

In his diary is the following entry : — 

"May 25, 1762, then we left Hanover and came to Hingham that day 
shipped our goods on board the Grayhound, Courtney Babbidge, Commander, 
and we sailed tliat night about 10 o'clock. The 26 day we went ou board. 30 
we came to anchor and landed our cattle. 31 we landed our goods and took 
possession of our house in Harpswell the last day of May." This house was 
on the lot now (1877) owned by Rev. Elijah Kellogg. 

Ch. were:— William, b. 1737; Charles, b. 1739; Ilei'cy, b. 1741; Elijah, b. 
1744; Isaac, b. 1746; Hannah, b. 1748; Deborah, b. 1751; Marlboro, b. 1753, d. 
1829; Huhlah, b. 1755; Barstov.\ b. 1757; Stephen, b. 1759. The four ch. last 
named came to Harpswell with their parents. Some of the other ch. died 
young, and others, it is probable, settled somewhere in Mass. 

Another branch of this family is found in Durham. 

TARK. 

This family is prol)ably descended from Richard Tarr, of whom tradition 
states that he was born iu the West of England about 1660, and settled in 
Marblehead soon after 1680, where he m. He had a son named William, who 
m. in 1708, and had several ch- He also had a nephew named AVilliam. Some 
of this family are known to have moved to Maine. 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 857 

A William Tarr settled on Merricoueag: Neck prior to 1753, and was prob- 
ablj'^ the ancestor of those now living in this vicinity. He was probably a 
son of William named above, bnt the connection has not been traced. The 
earliest record of the ftiniily in the Harpswell town records is the following : — 

Capt. William Tarr m. a dau. of Josiah Claris of Harpswell. Ch. were : — 
Bichard, b. 1783 ; William, b. 1785 ; Catherine, b. 1787 ; Betsey, b. 1790 ; Mary, 
b. 1793 ; Clark, b. 1795. 

THOMPSON. 

According to the family tradition three brothers of this name, Ben.tamin, 
Thomas, and James, came to this conntry from Ireland. Benjamin and 
James settled in York. Thomas, in 1718, settled in Biddeford. 

James Thompson, son of the James above mentioned, was b. in Kittery, 
Feb. 22, '17C7. He came to Brunswick from Biddeford about the year 1739, 
and settled at New Meadows. He m. 1st, Reliance Hinkley, Apr. 13, 1732. 
She d. iMay 23, 1751. Ke m. 2d, Mrs. Lydia [Brown] Harris of Ipswich, Dec. 
13, 1751. She d. Feb. 10, 1764. He m. 3d, Mary Iliggins, Mch. 22, 1764. She 
d. May 23, 1790. He d. in Topsham, Sept. 22, 1791. ( h. by first wife : — 
Elizabeth, b. Mch. 13, 1733, m. Daniel Weed; Samuel (Biog.), b. Mch. 22, 
1735, was brigadier-general in the Revolution; James, b. Feb. 7, 1737, d. in 
infancy; Beliance, b. June 27, 1738, m. James Edgecomb ; Adrian, b. Mch. 29, 
1740; liaehel, b. June 3, 1741, m. James Curtis; linth, b. May 27, 1743, m. 
Daniel Curtis; Aaron, b. May 29, 1745, sailed for Ireland at age of 22, and 
never heard from ; Isaiah, b. April 17, 1747 ; James, b. May 22, 1750. Ch. by 
second wife were: — Benjamin, b. Oct. 26, 1753; Jemima, b. Oct. 18, 1755, m. 
John Ham, son of Tobias Ham; Ezekiel, b. Sept. 16, 1757, ra. Priscilla Purin- 
ton, of Harpswell ; Sarah, b. Sept. 16, 1760, m. Theophilus Hinkley ; Euth and 
Barhel, b. Dec. 29, 1763: Rachel d. in infancy; Ruth m. Robert, son of her 
father's brother, Cornelius Thompson. 

By reference to the list of early settlers in the Appendix, it will be seen that 
there were several others of tlie Thompson family who settled at New Mead- 
ows in the same year. They were probably either brothers or cousins. 
James and Cornelius were brothers. 

Alexander Thompson was b. at Arundel Aug. 27, 1757; m. Lydia Wildes, 
of Arundel, April 8, 17^4. Moved to Topsham in 1785. He d. Feb. 23, 1820, 
shed. April 8, 1864. Ch. were: — Jane, b. Nov. 7, 1785, m. Maj. Nathaniel 
Walker; Eunice, b. March 17, 1788, m. Gen. John Wilson; Lydia, b. April 
17, 1790, m. Elias Pierce; Hannah, b. June 1, 1792, m. Calvin Fairbanks; 
John, b. Aug. 11, 1794, m. Mary Mustard; Alpheus B., b. Jan. 24, 1797, m. at 
Santa Barbara, Francisca Carrillo; 3Iary, b. Apr. 9, 1799, single; Wildes T., 
b. March 20, 1801, m. Wealthy Robinson; Bixey W., b. May 2, 1803, m. Sarah 
E. Purinton; Francis A., b. June 27, 1807, m. at Bath. 

There are other branches of the family in Topsham and Brunswick of which 
no account has been furnished us. 

TOOTHAKER. 

Tradition says the Toothakers were originally Whitakers, and that, ni)on 
coming to this country, they changed their name in order to avoid being im- 



858 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND EARPSWELL. 

pressed into the British service, they having fled from England, probably on 
account of religious persecution. 

The earliest of the name in this vicinity of whom there is any record were 
Ebenkzeu, Setii, and Axdiiew, who settled in Harpswell about 1737 or 1740. 
No record of their children has been found. The following, from the Harps- 
well town records, are the earliest records of this family which we have 
seen : — 

GIDEO^f TooTiiAKER, m. Abigail . Ch. were: — Andrew, b. April 10, 

1776 : Abigail, b. Nov. 22, 1779 ; William Bodick, b. Feb. 19, 1782. 

AbramToothaker, m. Mary . Ch. were : — Alexander, b. Sept. 7, 1771 ; 

Abram, b. March 16, 1774; Elizabeth, b. July 14, 1777; Bebecca, b. June 3, 
1783; Isaac, b. Aug. 22, 1785 (the foregoing b. in Harpswell) ; Bebecca, b. in 
Brunswick, May 2'^, 1789; Jenny, b. June 19, 1792. 

VEAZIE. 

This family is probably descended from William Veazie, who was of Brain- 
tree in 1643. There was, however, a George Veazie in Dover in 1659. Kev. 
Samuel Veazie came to Harpswell from Nantasket, near Boston, in 1767. He 
purchased a lot of land on Great Island, adjoining the old meeting-house, 
cleared it, and built a house upon it. He m. 1st, Deborah Sampson; and 2d, 
Sarah Jones. He had ch. by 1st wife : — John, who settled in Portland and 
was father of Gen. Samuel Veazie of Topshara ; /Samuel, settled in Harpswell ; 
Bebecca, m. Jonathan Ilolbrook ; Deborah, m. Robert Jordan. By 2d wife, he 
had two ch., both of whom died young. 

WALKER. 

The first Anglo-American ancestor of this family has not been, and probably 
cannot be, determined with certainty. There is, however, little doubt that 
the family is of English origin. John Walker was admitted a freeman of 
Mass., Apr. 4, 1634, and Augustine Walker in 1641 ; both settled in Charles- 
town. 

Capt. Richard Walker was one of the first settlers of Lynn in 1630; 
admitted as a freeman in 1634. 

John Walker, the ancestor of the Walkers of Topsham, was b. in Newing- 
ton, N. H., in 1692. June 1, 1717, he bought what was known in 1845 as the 
"Walker Field" in Kittery, where he afterwards resided. He m. Oct. 21, 
1717, Mary, dau. of John Bickford, of Newingtou. He d. June 8, 1743. 

Gideon Walker, son of John, of Newington, was born in Kitterj^ Oct. 12, 
1719. He was apprenticed to a tanner in Rowley, Mass. He m. 1st, Hannah 
Palmer of Rowley, Feb. 3, 1741 ; and 2d, Mrs. Hannah Lossell. In 1741 his 
fiither bought him a homestead in Arundel (Keunebunkport), where he 
moved with his first wife in 1745. 

Gideon Walker, son of Gideon, of Arundel, was b. in Arundel, July 8, 
1751. He m. Mary, dau. of Thomas Perkins, of that town, Nov. 2, 1777. 
She was b. Jan. 16, 1758, andd. Mch. 1, 1845. He moved to Topsham, Dec. 3, 
1789, and d. there May 5, 1828. Ch. were : — Hannah, b. Jan. 2, 1780, m. 1st, 
James Stone, 1797, and 2d, Johnson Wilson; Nathaniel (Biog.), b. Sept. 25, 
1781, and d. Aug. 17, 1851 ; Lucy, b. June 29, 1786, d. Dec. 19, 1802; Susanna, b. 



FAMILY HISTORIES. 859 

Mch. 29, 1792, cl. June 27, 1852, m. Samuel Veazie; two ch., who died in 
infancy. 

- - WEBBER. 

No account of this family has been found of an earlier date than 1738, when 
Waitt Webber settled on Meniconeag Neck. No record of his ch. has been 
found, but Josiah, David, and Daniel were probably his sons. 

JosiAii Webbeu had ch. : —Elizabeth, b. 1750; Sarah, b. 1751; Patience, b. 
1753; Josiah, b. 1754; Abigail, b. 1757. 

D.wiD Webbeu had ch. -. — Bichard, b. 1769; Charles, b. 1772; Susanna, b. 
1775; Eleanor, b. 1777; Jeremiah, b. 1779; David, b. 1781; Phinehas, b. 1784; 
3Ieraj, b. 1786; Jane, b. 1790; Lucy, b. 1793. 

Daniel Webbeu had ch. -.—Joseph, b. 1763; Hannah, b. 1766; Daniel, h. 
1768; Deborah, b, 1770; William, b. 1772; Martha, b. 1774; Waitstill, b. 
1779; Abigail, b. 1781; James, b. 1784; Robert, b. 1786; Patience, b. 1789; 
Betsey, b. 1792; Martha, b. 1796. 

WESTON. 

The ancestor of this family was Edmuxd Weston, who came in the Wil- 
liam and An7i, from London to Boston in 1635, and settled in Dnxbury. 

Jacob Weston came from Duxbury, Mass , to Brunswick in 1783 or 1784, 
and bouglit the house at New Meadows which had been occupied by Dr. 
Duncan, and still earlier by Gideon Ilinkley. Mr. Weston was a sliipwright 
by trade. He built a number of vessels and sailed in some of them himself. 
He was also a house-joiner, and there are specimens of his handiwork still 
remaining in the eastern section of the town. He m. (it is thought) Alice 
Southworth, 1784. No record of his ch. has been furnished us, and we are 
not positive that he m. as above stated. 

WHITE. 

Several persons of this name came from England at different times in the 
seventeenth century and settled in different places. 

William White, with his wife and five ch., came over in the Mayfloxcer In 
1620. Another White came from England and landed at Ipswich in 1H35. 
The first of the name in this vicinity was S.vmuel White, who between 1717 
and 1722 took up a lot in Topsham (the sixth above John Merrill's). He, 
however, forfeited his lot and it passed into other hands, and no record has 
been found of his having taken up another. 

Hugh White settled at Middle Bay, in Brunswick, in 1739. His wife's 
name was Jane. Ch. were -.-John, b. Ort. 14, 1738 ; Martha, b. Oct. 3, 1740; 
Jean, b. Dec. 23, 1742; David, b. April 25, 1745; Mary, b. Sept. 2, 1747; 
Hugh, b. Sept. 2, 1749. 

The first of the name in Topsham to whom reference has been found was 
Deacon Elijah White, who was b. July, 1761, and d. Oct. 16, 1854. Ch. 
were: — Polly, b. Sept. 7,'1788; Elijah, b. Dec. 31, 1791; Judah, b. Sept. 16, 
1793; Jane, b. Oct. 28, 1795; William, b. Aug. 26, 1797; Sally, b. Oct. 27^ 
1799; Joseph, b. Dec. 19, 1801; Doreth'i, b Dec. 12, 1803. 

Geouue White, of Topsham, had his intention of marriage to Lucy Thorne 
of Topsham, recorded Oct. 19, 1771. No record of their ch. has been found. 



860 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 

WHITNEY. 

It is probable that most, if not all, of the families of this name, in 
New England at least, are descendants of John and Elixor Whitney, of 
AVatertown, who came over from Ipswich, England, in the Elizabeth and Ann 
in 1G35. 

Samukl Whitnfa' settled at New Meadows in 1730. His house stood 
opposite the Cornelias Thompson house, which is still standing a short dis- 
tance west from Harding's Station. He was a deacon of the old Congrega- 
tional Church. His wife's name was L3-dia. Ch. Avere : — Samuel, b. Sept. 
15, 1732; Jonathan, b. Dec. 21, 1734; Lydia, b. Feb. 20, 1735; Susannah, b. 
July 25, 1738; Lettis, b. June 27, 1742. 

John AVhitney, probably brother of Samuel, also settled at New Meadows 
in 1739. His wife's name was Lettis. They had Benjamin, b. May 22, 1725^ 
and perhaps other ch. 

WRITTEN. 

The name of the Anglo-American ancestor of this family has not been ascer- 
tained. 

John Whitten, the first of the name to settle in this vicinitj% was b. in 
Arundel in 1734, and m. Hannah Walker of that place. He came to Topsham 
about 17(;4, and settled in the western part of the town, above John Merrill's. 
He d. in 1802. Ch. were : — Mnses, who d. at West Point during the Kevolu- 
tion; John, b. Dec. 14, 1758; Hannah, b. April 20, 1761; Ruth, b. March 12, 
1763; MoUy, b. Jan. 18, 17—; Joshua, b. Oct. 28, 1768; Samuel, b. Mch. 8, 
1771; Joseph, b. July 28, 1774; Sarah, b. Aug. 26, 1776; Eleanor, b. Feb. 22, 
1779. 

WILSON. 

Among the early settlers of Topsham were Hugh, Samuet., Egbert, Wil- 
liam, and Thomas Wilson ; and an Alexander Wilson settled at HarpsAvell. 
Hugh, Samuel, Robert, William, and Alexander were probably brothers. 
Thomas, according to family tradition, was of no relation to the others of the 
name. 

A James Wilson is called ' the father of Ilur/h, and so was probably father 
of Robert, Samuel, William, Alexander, and Jane, who in. William Alexander 
of Topsham, afterwards of Harpswell. 

Hugh Wilson, son of James, was b. about 1729. About 1763 he bought 
100 acres of land at Cathance. He had his leg broken among the logs on the 
eastern branch of the Cathance. An amputation was made by a physician 
from Casco (Portland), but he did not long survive the operation. He m. 
Elizabeth Hewey, who survived him and ra. Timothy Weymouth. Ch. were : 
— IIu(/h ; James, who d. s. in 1786 ; William, Avho m. Sarah Chase ; Betsey, who 
ID. Jessie Davis, of Lisbon; Martha, who m. Eljenezer Farrin. 

Samuel Wilson m. 1st, Mary Keed; and 2d, Elizabeth [Snow] Ilolbrook. 
He was licensed as an innholder at Topsham, by the Court of Sessions for Lin- 
coln County, in Oct. 1762, and for each successive year down to Sept. 1766, 

' Lin. Reg. Deeds, Lib. 1, p. 262. 



' FAMILY mSTOniES. 861 

Avhen his last license was granted. He removed to Lisbon prior to 1790, and 
lived and d. on the farm owned in 1835 by Charles Thompson. Ch. by first 
wife yvere : — Hannah, b. Oct. 27, 17G2; James, b. July 2, 1764; Susannah, b. 
May 18, 1766; John, and WiUiam. No ch. by second Avife. 

William Wilson settled in Topsham ; m. a Larrabee. Ch. were : — 117/- 
liam; John; Samuel ; Elizabeth; Isabella ; Hannah. 

Alexander Wilson m. Catharine, dau. of Kobert Swauzey. Settled on 
Merriconeag Neck (Harpswell). She d. 1764, aged 37. Ch. were: — James, 
b. 1747, d. 1838; Mary, b. 1749; Elizabeth, b. 1751; David, b. 1754; Esther, b. 
1756; Jennet, b. 1757; Alexander, b. 1759; Swanzey, b. 1761; Catherine, h. 
1763. 

Thomas Wilson, of diflferent parentage from the foregoing, came to this 
country from Ireland when a boy. He m. Ann Cochran of Londonderry, 
N. H. Settled in Topsham in 1752. Ch. were : — William,\>. in Boston in 1741, 
m. Mary Patten of Arundel in 1769; James, b. 1744; Thomas, who went to 
sea and was never heard from, said to have been a Toiy ; Lettice, m. a Martin, 
of Brunswick ; Margaret, who m. 1st, John Hunter, and 2d, Alexander Eogers ; 
Mary, who m. June 18, 1776, John Saudford; Elizabeth, who, in 1772, m. 
William Torterfleld. 

Mr. James Wilson, now residing in Topsham, and who was born in 1789, is 
a grandson of Thomas, Sr. 

WINCH ELL. 

This name is, without doubt, of early Saxon origin. It signifies " an an- 
gle," and was probably derived from some Saxon town situated on the angle 
of a river. The name has been spelled in various ways, at difl'erent periods 
and in difl'erent countries. The eai'liest mention of tlie name as a proper 
appellation which has been found is Feb. 13, 1293, when Kobert Winchelsey 
was elected Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Kobert Wixchell was probablj' b. in the South of England, but perhaps in 
Wales. He was at Dorchester, Mass., as early as 1634, and removed to 
Windsor, Conn., about 1635. 

Samuel Winchell, of the fourth generation from Robert, of Windsor, was 
b. at Windsor, Mch. 15, 1711 ; m. Sarah McNess of Harpswell, about 1738 ; d. 
Topsham, Feb. 4, 1783. He settled in Harpswell as early as 1738. His 
brother Ebenezer accompanied him, but subsequently returned and settled at 
ToiTiugton, Conn. In 1740, Samuel removed to Topsham and settled near the 
Cathance Mills, of which he became one fourth owner. He was also owner 
of a large tract of land in the vicinity of the mills. He was a prominent man 
in the town, and must have been a man of considerable wealth. It is said 
" he kept the first public house, — not a tavern, — but his house was deemed 
the first in town, and for it strangers used to inquire." Ch. were : — John, b. 
in Harpswell, May 2, 1740; 3Iartha, b. in Topsham, May 14, 1742, was pub- 
lished to Benjamin Barrens of Harpswell, in May or June, 1768, who was 
afterwards killed in Bowdoiu by a falling tree; Salome, b. July 8, 1744; 
Samuel, b. Oct. 25, 1746, and James, were both drowned (though as only one 
body was found it was supposed the other person had been captured by the 
Indians); Ebenezer, b. May 15, 1749; Ann, unmarried; Sarah, b. in 1750, m. 
Arthur Hunter, Feb. 16, 1775; Silence, whom. James Puriugton, of Topsham, 



862 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 

Nov. 23, 1786; Mary, who ni. Johu Given, Aug. 8, 1771; Hannah, b. in Tops- 
ham in 1759, d. there July 29, 1823, s. 

WOODSIDE. 

Eev. James Woodside, .a clergyman of tlie Church of Enghind, came to 
this countiy, with his son William, prior to 1719. He preached for a while to 
the church in Brunswick, but prior to 172G he returned to England, leaving 
his sou in Brunswick. 

Wii,Li.4Jvi WooDsiDE, son of Rev. James Woodside, m. Ann Vincent, of 
Brunswick. He d. 17G4. Ch. were: — James, b. July 18, 1121 -, Vincent, b. 
Sept. 25, 1729; Anna, b. Aug. 19, 1731; William,' h. Oct. 11, 1733; Mary, b. 
Jan. 20, 1735; Mary, h. March 5, 1738; Anthony, b. May 23, 1740; Jean, h. 
May 14, 1742; Sarah, b. Jan. 13, 1744. 

WOODWARD. 

Samuel Woodward settled in Brunswick, near Buuganock, in 1738. Noth- 
ing relative to his ancestry has been found. 

Peter Woodward settled at New Meadows about 1750, possibl}- earlier. 
His wife's name was Judith. Ch. were: — Samuel, b. Nov. 22, 1749; Peggy, 
b. April 7, 1751; Ebenezer, b. Feb. 28, 1755; Peter, b. Feb. 25, 1759; Joseph, 
b. Nov. 25, 1761. 

WYER. 

This family is of Irish descent. The first of whom we have any account 
was William Wyer, of Boston, whose widow came to Harpswell in 1762, 
with her son Bohert 3i\x6. daughter Agnes. The latter married James Barstow. 
The mother married Joseph Orr. 

Robert Wyer was b. in Boston, Apr. 22, 1754. Ch. were: — Lettice, b. 
May 27, 1777; William, b. Nov. 14, 1779; David, b. April 18, 1783; James S. 
b. Aug. 27, 1785; Joseph, b. March 27, 1788; Margaret, b. Aug. 5, 1790; Mary, 
b. March 17, 1793; Jane E., b. Nov. 4, 1795; Lucretia, b. April 17, 1797. 



APPENDICES. 



a.fpendice:s. 



A LARGE amount of interesting matter was collected for appendices, 
among which were ancient deeds, depositions, and other documents ; 
a list of vessels built in the three towns ; a verj- full and complete list of 
the flora of this vicinity', etc. ; which, much to our regret, we are 
obliged to omit. 

APPENDIX I. 

A LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS OR LAND-OWNERS IN BRUNSWICK.' 



Name. 



Year. 



Locality. 



Adams, John . . 

" Nathan . 

" Thomas . 
Allen, Beuoni 
Anderson, Martin 
Andrews, Stephen 
Aubens, Philip . 
Anstiu, Benoui . 

Baker, . . 

Barrows, .John . 
Bennett, Andrew 
Berry, Thomas . 

Beverage, . 

Beverly, Abraham 

" .James . 
Bisbee, Oliver . 
Booker, .John . . 
Bump, .Jos i ah . . 
Bunker, Benjamin 
Burrill, AVilliam 
Bury, Joseph . . 

Casida, Charles . 
Chase, Judah . . 
Chesman, Samuel 
Chismore, .Jacob 
Clark, Robert, . 



1737 
I7;57 
17r,2 
I7.->2 
17.H9 
1752 
17.J2 
1737 

1700 

1738 

1 730 
] 7r)2 
1717 
. 1717 
to 1790 
1737 
1742 
1740 
1739 
1739 

1739 
1752 
1739 
1739 
1752 



New Meadows. 

do. 
West End. 
East End. 
Bunganock. 
East End. 

do. 
New Meadows. 

Lot 55. 

" 31&32. 
Head of Merriconeag. 
Kew Meadows. 
Lot 25. 



New Meadows, 
do. 

Head of Merriconeag. 
New Meadows, 
do. 

New Meadows. 
West End. 

New Meadows. 
West lind. 



1 Compiled from Pejepscot Records, old deeds, and other sources. The date given is 

the earliest knoivn. 
55 



866 



HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



Name. 



Year. 



LocAiiixr. 



Clark, Samuel . 
Clough/ Samuel 
Coolirau, John . 
Coombs, Anthony 

" Caleb . 

" George 

»< John . 

" Peter . 

" Samuel 
Cornish, Ciprou. 

" Simon . 
Cotton, Thomas 
Cowell, Thomas 
Curtis, . . 



Dodge, Phiueas . 
Doughty, David. 
Drisco, Joseph . 
" Moses . 
Drummond, Patrick 
Duulap, llev. Rol)er 
Dunning, Andrew 
" David. 
" James. 
" Robert 
" William 
" John , 

Eaton, Daniel . . 

" Jacob . . 

" Samuel . 

Elliot, James . . 

Earrin, Jolin . . 
Finney, Robert , 
Fleniin,^ Thomas 
Fuller,- Joshua . 

Gardner, Isaac . 
" Richard 

Gatchell, John . 
" John, Jr 
" Samuel 
" William 

Graffam, Jacob . 

Gray, Joseph . . 
" Thomas . 

Gross, . . . 

Gyles, John . . 

Giveen, David . 
" John . . 
" Robert . 

Goddard. Robert 

Gowen, Lemuel . 



1739 

bet. 1717 & 1722 , 
bet. 1717 & 1722 , 
. 1739 
1752-7 
. 1739 
1752-7 
. 1730 
1752-7 
. 1730 
. 1739 
1752-7 
7-1722 
. 17G0 



bet 



bet 



bet 



bet 



71 



1739 , 
1752 , 
1739 , 
1739 

1738 , 
1747 . 
1717 
1730 , 

1739 , 
1722 
1739 , 
1757 , 

1752 
1737 
1722 
1752 

1755 
1739 
1717 
1717 

1745 
7 & 1722 
173G , 
1739 , 
1739 
1757 
1735 
1752 
1739 
1760 
7 & 1722 
1719 
1757 
1757 
1771 
1740 



Middle Bay. 



New Meadows, 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 

East End. 



New Meadows. 
East End. 
New Meadows, 
do. 

Maquoit Road, 
do. 

West End. 

Lots 2G & 27. 



AVest End. 
New Meadows. 
Village. 
West End. 



Lot 15. 



Lot 47. 

" 3. 
New Meadows. 

do. 

do. 



East End. 



Lots 5 & S. 
Middle Bay. 

do. 

do. 
Near Freeport Line. 



' Forfeited his title. 



* Lots forfeited. 



APPENDIX I. 



867 



Name. 



Year. 



LOCALITV. 



Hacker, . 

Haiaes. Peter bet. 1717 

Ham, Tobias . . 
Hamilton, Patrick 

" Kobert 

" Kobert, Jr 

Handsard, William 

Harding, . . 

Harwood, Benjamin 

" Edward 

Hewey, James . . 
Hinckley, Aaron . 

" Ebeuezer 

" Edmund 

" Edward 

" Gideon . 

" Samuel (Deacon) 

" Samuel, J 

Seth . . 

" Shubael 

Hinney, Joseph . 
How, Israel . . 
Hunt, Jolin . . . 



Jenkins, David 
Jenkins, Philip 
Jones, Lemuel 
Jordan, James 
Jordan, John . 

Larrabee, Benjamin 
" Nathaniel 

Lemont, . . 

Low, . . . 

Lumber, Sara'l . 

Malcom, John . 

" William 

Mariner, John . 

Martin, John . . 

" Thomas 
Mason,' Samuel . 
McFarland, James 
McGregor, Thomas 
McKenny, Isaac 
McManus, James 
Melcher, Joseph 
" Samuel 
Miles, Henry . . 
Minot, George . 

" Capt. John 

" Tliomas . 
Mitchell, Israel . 
Morely, Rebecca 
Morse, Anthony 

" Joseph . 



. 1773 . 

&1722 

. r73t» . 
. 1717 
. 1717 
. 1717 , 
. 1717 . 
. 17G0 , 

1752-7 . 

1752-7 , 
. 1789 , 
. 1789 
. 1757 , 
. 1739 
. 1739 
. 1739 
. 1739 
. 1739 
. 1789 
. 1739 
. 1739 
. 1732 

1752-7 



1752 , 
1739 , 
about 1773 . 
1739 , 
1739 , 

about 1727 , 

. 1752 

. 1738 , 

. 1722 , 

. 1752 , 

. 1728 , 
. 1737 
. 1766 
. 1749 
. 1749 
. 1717 
. 1717 
. 1749 
. 1728 
about 1764 , 
" 1760 , 
1767 , 
1717 , 
1742 
1730 
1757 , 
1728 , 
1751 , 
about 1775 
" 1775 , 



Lot 40. 

New Meadows. 

Lot 28. 

" 18. 

" 27. 

" 2. 

East End. 

do. 
Middle Bay. 
New Meadows. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 
Lot 9. 
West End. 

New Meadows. 

do. 
AVest End. 
New Meadows. 

do. 

Fort George. 
East End. 
New Meadows. 

East End. 

Village. 



West End. 
do. 

Lot 10. 
Village. 

New Meadows. 
West End. 

do. 
New Meadows. 
Lot 7. 
Mair Point. 

do. 

New Meadows. 

do. Non-resident. 
West End. 

do. 



1 Lot forfeited. 



868 



niSTORT OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HAIiPSWELL. 



Name. 



Year. 



Locality. 



Nevers, Phiueas 1752 

Norton, Kowlaiid 1717 

Nortou, (.'aleb 1717 , 

Noyes, Cutting about 1780 

Orr, John 1742 

Parker, Benjamin 1739 

Pennell, Tlionias 1760 

Peterson, John 1783 

Preble, Collins 1752 



East End. 
Lot 4. 
Lot 4. 
Villaire. 



West End. 



East End. 

do. 
New Meadows. 
East End. 



Ring, Batcheldor 1771 

Ross, AViiliam, Jr 1772 

Savage* (the widow & son) 1717 

" Nicholas 1717 

Say ward, Jonathan 1740 

Skolfleld, Clement & Richard . . . .1757 

" Thomas 1739 

Smai't, John & Thomas 1752 

Smith, James 1717 

Smith, Joseph 1739 

Snow, Elisha 1757 

" Isaac . . • 1739 

" Isaac, Jr 1757 , 

Spear, Robert 1738 , 

" William 1735 , 

Stanwood, Ebenezer 1717 

William 1752- 

Starbird, John 1752 

Stevenson," James 1717 

" =■ John 1717 

" "Robert 1717 

Stinson, James 1721 

" John"-' 1721 

Robert^ 1721 

Stone, Benjamin 17C0 

Strattou, Samuel — 

Swett, John 1788 

Swift, Lemuel 1790 



Thompson, Alexander 1739 , 

" Benjamin 1739 , 

" Cornelius 1739 

" James 1739 

" Joseph 1739 

" Peter 1717 

" Samuel 1752 

Thornton,^ James 1717 

Tibbets, Samuel 1757 

Tibbetts, Timothy 1739 

Trego weth, Thomas 1717 

Trescott, • . 1722 

Tyler, Alexander 1740 



Near Durham line. 
West End. 



Lots 12 «& 13. 

" 30 & 16. 



Lot 13. 

West End. 

Lots 31 & 32, IG & 17. 

Lot 55. 

New Meadows. 

Lots 10, 17, 20, 21 & 22. 

" 14, 15, 18 & 23. 
West End. 
Lot 19. 

" 50. 

" 1. 

" 43. 

" 42. 

" 1. 

" 5 . 

" (). 
Village. 
Lot 2. 

Village. 

New Meadows. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 
Lot 0. 

New Meadows. 
. Lot 40. 



New Meadows. 
Lot 9. 



' Forfeited. 



^ Title forfeited. 



8 He resigned it. 



APPENDIX I. 869 



Name. Tear. Locality. 

Vincent, William 1752 .... West End. 

Washburn, Thomas 1739. . . . New Meadows. 

Watcrhoiise, S • 1757 .... 

Watts,' John 1717. . . . Lot 1. 

Wensley,* George 1717. . . . do. 

Weston, Jacob 1784 .... New Meadows. 

White, Hugh 1739 ... . Middle IJay. 

" Samuel 1717 .... New Meadows. 

Whitney, John 1739 ... . do. 

" Samuel 1739 .... do. 

Woodart, Peter . 17r)2 . . . . East End. 

AVoodman, P 1 739 ... . 

Woodside, llev. James 1717 ... . Maquoit. 

" William 1717 .... do. 

" Vincent 1717 .... do. 

Woodward, Samuel 1734 .... Bungauoc. 

A LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS OR LAND-OWNERS IN TOPSHAM. 

Addison, James before 1731 .... Lot 67. 

Allen, Samuel 1752 .... 

Alexander, J 1738 .... 

" Robert before 1768 .... 

♦' William 1731 .... Cathance. 

Ball (or Barr), Thomas 1731. . . . Lots 28, 29 & 80. 

Baxter, Reverend Joseph 1717 . . . . " 14, 15 & 16. 

Bennett, Thomas 1731 , . . . " 41 & 48. 

Beveridge, James 1758 . . . . " 7. 

Beveridge, Samuel 1752 . . . . " 3. 

Beverly, .Tames 1717 .... " 40. 

Bradley, John 1731 .... 

Campbell, Alexander 1741 ... . Lot 37. 

Carr,3 Daniel 1717. . . . Lots 12 & 13. 

Clapp, Stephen 1768 N. W. part of town. 

Clark, Samuel 1737. . . . Lots 13, 14, 15 & 16. 

Corney (Captain) 1731 .... " 45. 

Craiu, Richard 1731 . . . . " 32, 33, & 69. 

Danforth, Enoch — . . . . Lot 62. 

Dennison, .Toseph 1768 .... "72. 

Doar, James 1731 . ..." 77. 

Dockley, Samuel 1731 .... " 32. 

Douglass, James 1752 .... " 52 & 53. 

Drinkwater, George 1731 .... " 52. 

Drinkwater,'* Warren 1731 ... . "4. 

Drummond, Alexander 1738 .... Cathance. 

Dunlap, John about 1738 .... Lot 60. 

Duulap, Robert 1731 . ..." 61. 

Eaton* (Lieutenant) 1717. . . . Lot 2. 

" Daniel 1752 .... 

" Jacob 1737. . . . Lots 18, 23 & 24. 

^Forfeited. ^ Ibid. ^ Occupied less than three years. * Forfeited. ^Ibid. 



870 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



Name. 



Year. 



Locality. 



Elder, Robert 1731 

Ellis, Rev. Jonatliau 178!) . 

Evaus, Alexander 1752 , 

" Johui 1717 

" Joseph 1752 , 

Fulton, Gowen 1749 , 

" James 1751 , 

" Johu . 1752 , 

Gatcliell, Stephen 1758 , 

Gates' (Captain) 1717 , 

Gower, Robert 17(!G , 

Graves, Johu 1709 

" Johnson about 17(1-1 , 

" Joseph about 1770 , 

" Samuel about 1770 , 

Gyles (Doctor) 1746 , 

" Johu 1717 . 

Haley, Joseph 17(58 , 

" Pelatiah 17()1 . 

Hamilton, John 1731 , 

Harper, James' 1717 

Joseph' 1717 

" Moses 1717 

" William' 1717 

Heath, ^ Joseph 1717 

Henry, James 17G3 

Holmau, John — 

Hunter, Adam 1717 

" Andrew 1731 , 

" Isaac 1717 

" James' 1717 

" John' 1717 



. Lot 75. 
East End. 



Lot 28. 



Cathance. 
Lot 74. 
Cathance. 



Lot 9. 
" 50. 



Lot 1. 
do. 

Near Merrill's. 
Lot Cu. 

" 8. 

" 34. 

" 32. 

" 25. 

" 31. 

" 17. 
East part of town. 
N. W. part of town. 
Lots 30, 31, 34 & 35. 

" 34 & 35, 
, " 37. 
, " 35&36. 
. " 38. 



Ingram, Henry 1731 .... 

Jack, Andrew about 1738 . 

" Joseph 1758 . 

Jackson, Francis 1731 . 

Johnson, John 1731 , 

Johnson Robert 1731 . 

Jones,' Phineas 1731 . , 

Jones, Stephen 1731 . 

Jouxsou, Thomas 1731 . 



Kennedy, Andrew 1731 

King, Edward 1731 

Knowles, Richard 1755 



La Berry, David 1731 

Lamoss, (the widow) 1758 

Larrabee (Capt. B.) 1731 

Lemont, Robert 1731 

Lithgood (or Lithgow) , Robert . . .1717 



Lot 59. 

" 59. 

'* 54 & 56. 

" 51. 

" 13. 

" 2&37. 

" 58. 

" 74. . 

Lots IG & 43. 

" 62. 
" 8&9. 

, Lots 39 & 55. 



Lot 11. 
" 44. 

" 20. 



' Forfeited. 



APPENDIX I. 



871 



Name. 



Year. 



Locality. 



MacFarland, James 

Mackcallini;, . 

Malcom, Joliii . . 
Malcom, William . 
Mallett, John . . . 
Meius, Thomas . . 
Merrill, John . . . 
Merryman, Thomas 
Merryman, Walter 
Miller, James, . . 
Miuuery, Dr. Hugh 
Miuot, Stephen . . 
Moffltt, Archibald . 
Moffltt, John . . . 
Morton, James . . 
Mustard, James . . 
" John . . 
William . 



1717 to 1722 
.... 1731 
1717 to 1722 
. about 17i58 , 
. " 1738 . 
.... 17-19 
. . . . 1758 
before 1768 



1717 to 1722 
1717 to 1722 
. . . . 17G9 
. about 1738 



about 1763 
. . . 1741 



Lot 29, 30, 46, 47 & 71. 
, " 6. 
" 22 & 39. 
" 19, 20 & 21. 
Cathauce. Z''^' 

Lots 64 & 68 & Island. 



Lots 44 & 45. 
" 33. 
" 9 & 24. 
" 2 A. 

Lots 48, 49. 50. 

" 26 (Ministerial lot). 
Cathance. 
Lot 36. 

" 37. 



Orr, Robert 



175^ 



Patten, Actor . . 

" John . . 

" William . 
Pattison, John . 
Pattison, Thomas 
Potter, Alexander 

'* James . . 

" James, Jr. 

" Joseph . 

" Katheran 
Prince, Benjamin 



. . . 1760 

. . . 1749 

. . .1749 

. . . 1731 

. , . 1731 

. . . 1752 
about 1738 

. . . 1758 

. . . 1768 

. . . 1752 

. . . 1731 



Cathance. 

Near Little River. 

Cathauce. 



Lot 40. 
Cathauce. 
Lot 41. 

" 38 & Isl'd in Narrows. 
West of Cathance R. 

Lot 59, 



Randall, Ezra 

Reed, David 

" John 

" William 

" William, Jr 

Robinson, Charles . . . . 

" Moses 

Rogers, John 

Ross, John 

" James, alias Thomas 



. . . . 1761 
.... 1758 
.... 1758 
. . . . 1731 
. . . . 1752 
. . . . 1731 
. . . . 1731 
. about 1768 
. . . . 1731 
1717 to 1722 



Spear, Robert . . , 

" William . . . 

Sprague, Francis . . 

Springer, David . . 

" Thomas . 

Stanwood, Samuel . 

Staples, Samuel . . 

Stephen . . 

Stinson, William . . 

Stoddiford, Ephraim 

Stuart, Charles . . . 



. . . . 1731 
. . . .1731 
. . . . 1791 
.... 1758 
. . . . 1758 
. . . . 1746 , 
. . . . 1768 
. . . . 1758 
1717 to 1722 
. . . . 1731 
. . . . 1717 



Taller (William?) 
Tarp, John . . . 



1717 
1735 



Lot 18. 
East End. 
Lots 5 & 6. 

" 2, 3, 4, & 50. 
East End. 
Lots 12 & 47. 

" 12. 
East End. 
Lot 70. 

" 18 & 19. 

Lots 15 & 17. 

" 49. 
East End. 



Lots 24 & 25. 

" 65. 
above Cathance Mills. 
Lot 30. 

" 38. 

" 5 & 6. 

Lots 3 & 4. 

On Merrymeeting Bay. 



872 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



Name. 



Year. 



Thomas, Benjamiu 
" James . . 

Thoms, William . 
" William, Jr. 

Thompson, Benjamiu 
" Samuel 

Thorn, Thomas . . 
" William . . 

Vincent,' John . . 
" William 

Walker, Gideon . 

Wall, Patrick . . . 

Ward, William . . 

Washburne, Thomas 

Watson, William . 

Watts, Samuel . . 

White, Samuel . . 

Whitten, John , . 

Wilson, Alexander 
' ' George '^ . 
" — iHugh . . 
' ' Roi)ert «t 
".^ Samuel , 
" Thomas . 
" _ AVilliam . 

Winchell, Samuel . 

Woodburn, Georee 

Woodside (Captain) 

Work, James . . . 

Wormegum, John . 

York, Samuel . . . 
Young, John . . . 



1755 
1755 
1752 
1752 
al)out 1738 
1773 
1717 
1731 

1717 
1731 

1780 
1735 
1731 
1731 
1731 
1731 
1717 
17(;4 

1717 
17('.3 
1758 
17(13 
1752 
1758 
1740 
1717 
1731 
1738 



1717 
1717 



about 



Lots 28, 29, 42 to 45, 62, 63. 



Lot 6. 










" 10. 










" 7. 










" 48, 


49, 


52, 


53 




" 1", 


18, 


23, 


24, 


63, 72 


" 22, 


23, 


63. 






Lot 11. 










" 10, 


11, 


-3. 






Village. 










On Merrymeeting 


Bay. 


Lot 10. 










" (iO. 










" 46. 










" 61. 










" 2 A 










" 66. 










" 56. 










" 10 or 1] 


. 






Cathance. 








Lots 54, 


55, 


70, 


71. 




" 56. 










" 7 A. 










" 21. 










" 33 & 34 








" 27. 










" 51. 











Lot 26. 



A LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS OR LAND-OWNERS IN HARPSWELL 



Adams, Nathan prior to 1755 . 

Allen, Elisha 1740 . 



. Merriconeag Neck. 
. Lot 46. 



Babbidge, James about 1750 .... 

Bailey, Deacon Timothy .... about 1742 .... Bailey's Island. 

Barnes, Nathaniel 1735 .... Merriconeag Neck. 

Barstow, James prior to 1777. . . . Sebascodigan Island. 

" Sanuiel 1738. . . . Merriconeag Neck. 

Booker, James 1748 .... Ilarpswell Centre. 

Boone, Samuel 1720 .... Merriconeag Neck. 

Brewer, James 1738 .... do. 

Byles," Rey. Mathew 1760 .... Orr's Island. 

Cady, William 1733 .... Sebascodigan Island. 

Carman, Francis 1738 .... Merriconeag Neck. 

" Thomas 1738 .... do. 

Carter, John prior to 1755 .... Sebascodigan Island. 



* Occupied less than three years. 



^Forfeited. ^Probabli/ not a resident. 



APPENDIX I. 



873 



Name. 



Year. 



Locality. 



Cole, Nicholas 1720 

Coiuly, William 1733 

Conner, Gideon 1731 

Cook, Elislia prior to 1748 

Cook, Middlecott 1748 

Coombs, John prior to 1740 

Cromwell," Joshua 1737 

Curtis, David about 1744 

Denslow, Benjamin 1740 

Douglass, Elijali 1750 

Dunning, Andrew 1757 

Dyer, 1752 

Eaton, Rev. Elisha 1754 



Merriconeag Neck. 
Sebascodigan Island. 
Merriconeag Neck. 
Orr's Island. 

do. 
Great Island. 

do. 
Merriconeag Neck. 

Merriconeag Neck. 
New Daniariscove Island. 
Merriconeag Neck, 
do. 

Merriconeag Neck. 



Farr, Thomas before 1775 

Fayrweather, John 1743 

Fitzgerald,'^ before 1748 



Gatchell, Moses 1731 

Gibson.i" William 1740 



Orr's Island. 
Orr's Island. 

Merriconeag Neck. 
On William Orr's lot. 



Haines, Samuel 1738 .... Merriconeag Neck. 



Hais, Kichard 1738 

Hall, Isaac 1738 

" Isaac, Jr 1738 

" John 1738 

" Nathaniel 1738 

Harmon, Colonel Johnson 1727 

" Joseph 1741 

Hasey, William prior to 1755 . 

Hinkiey, A 1747 , 

" Samuel 1747 

Holbrook, Jonathan prior to 1770 




Jaques, Eichard 1727 

Kenney, Elisha 1738 

Leavitt, Daniel prior to 1755 

Lewis, Job 1743 

Lindsay, John 1740 

Linscott, Joseph prior lol755 , 



• Merriconeag Neck. 

do. 

Sebascodigan Island. 
Orr's Island. 
Merriconeag Neck. 
Sebascodigan Island. 



McGregor, Thomas 1738 . 

McNess, William 1738 . 

Madbury, Theophilus .... prior to 1747 . 

Magray, William 1740 . 

Mathews John 1740 . 

Melone, Edward 1738 . 

Merriman, Walter prior to 1776 . 

Moulton, Job 1728 . 



Merriconeag Neck, 
do. 

On Norton Stover place. 
Merriconeag Neck. 

do. 

do. 
Sebascodigan Island. 



1 Vacated in 1742. 

* Died alone in a camp in the field. 



2 Traditional. 
Pejepscot Papers. 



874 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 



Name. 



Year. 



Locality. 



Negro, A i: 



r.5> 



Orr,' Clcmont . 
" Clomeut, Jr. 
" .Tolin^ . . . 
" Joseph ■• . . 



1742 
1742 
1742 
1742 



Pinkliam, . . . . , 

Piirintou, David . , 

Niithaniel 



17.Vi 

bet. 1720 &17.")5 
17(30 



Quingham, Edward 1740 



Raukin, Jamos 
Raymond, Paul 
Rich, Isaac . . 
Ridley, Jaincs 
Ross, John . . 
" John, Jr. 



prior to 1747 

" " 1770 

.... 1797 

. about 1757 

prior to 1747 
.... 1740 



Searl, John . . . . 
Sinnett. Micliael . 
Small, Taylor, • . 
Smith, James . . . 
Suow, Elisha . . . 

" Isaac . . . 

" John . . . . 
Starl)ird. Richard . 
Stover, John . . . 
Sylvester, William 



. . . . 17.38 
before 1775 
" 1755 , 

. . . . 17;?5 

. . . 17()(> 

before 1747 

. " 1771 , 

. " 1755 . 

. . . . 1727 . 

. . . . 1702 . 



, Lot 3G. 

, Merriconeag Neck, 
do. 
do. 
do. 

, Lots 37, 38, 40. 
Sebascodigau Island, 
do. 

Merriconeag Neck. 

Sebascodigan Island. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 
Merriconeag Neck. 

Merriconeag Neck. 
, Orr's Island. 
Sebascodigan Island. 
Merriconeag >;erk. 
Several small islands. 
Sebascodigan Island. 
Long Island. 
Merriconeag Neck. 

do. 

do. 



Taller, William . . , 

Tarr, William. . . . 

Thomas, William W. 

Thompson. Josejih . 

Tibbetts, Timothy . 

Toothaker, Andrew . 
" Ebenezer 

" Seth . . 



.... 174S , 

prior to 1753 , 

.... 1738 

.... 1747 . 

before 1755 , 

, . . . . 1737 

. . . .1740 

. . . .1740 



Veazie, Rev. Samuel 17G7 



Orr's Island. 
Merriconeag Neck. 

do. 
Sebascodigan Island. 

(( (( 

Merriconeag Neck, 
do. 
do. 

Sebascodigan Island. 



Warren, . . . , 

Watts, .... 

Webber, Wait , . 

Weeks .... 

Whelan . . . , 

Willson. Alexander 
Winchell, Samuel . 
Wyer, Mrs. William 

Young, Abijah . . . 



i: 



.... 1752 
.... 17.38 
prior to 1747 , 
.... 1752 , 
.... 1747 
.... 1740 
.... 17G2 



Lot 47. 
, " 48. 
, Merriconeag Neck. 

Sebascodigan Island. 

Lot 33. 
, " 32. 

Merriconeag Neck. 

Orr's Island. 



prior to 1755 .... Merriconeag Neck. 



1 Removed to Orr's Island ahottt 1748. 
8 Removed to Brunswick about 1742. 



•^Ibid. 
* Removed to Orr's Island about 1748. 



APPENDIX II. 



875 



APPENDIX II. 

A LIST OF THE SOLDIERS FROM BRUNSWICK AND TOPSHAM IN 
THE SEVERAL INDIAN WARS.* 

1733 and 1724. 

John Giles's Company. 



Name. 



Time of Service. 



Remark-- 



Bevorliu, James 
Hnidhury, Wyman 
Cochran, James . 

" John . 

" William « 
Cowell, Thomas, '^ 
Dunning-, Andrew 

" Andrew, 

" David* 



inner 



" Robert'' . . 
J5aton, Samuel, Serg't. 



1723 — 11 
1723-4 — 37 
1723-4 — <;9 
1723-4 — 37 
1723-4 — fi!) 
1723-4 — 37 

1723-4 — (;y 

1723-4 — 25 

1723-4 — 22 
1723-4 — t;'J 



— 3 weeks, 2 days 
2 



" Thomas 

Gardiner, Isaac, Lieut. . . 

Giles, John, Capt 

Ilarpci-, James, clerk . . . 

" John-* 

" Moses 

" AVilliam 

Lithgow,- R()l)ert 

McBride, Jaines 

McCluer,2 David 

Malcom, John 

MLtchell, Henry 

Hugh ...... 

Norton,'' Rowland, drummer 
Stauwood, Pvbenezer . . . 

Stevenson, .Tames 

" .lames, Jr.'' . . 

" William .... 

" William, Jr.^ . . 

Tregowcth, Thomas 
(written Frigoatli) 
Wells, Luke . 



1724 

1723 

1723-4 

1723-4 

1723-4 

1723-4 

1723 

1723-4 • 

1724 

1723-4 

1723-4 

1723-4 • 

1723-4 

1723-4 

1723 

1723-4- 
1723-4 
1723-4 ■ 
1723-4- 



,s ) 

). > 



Serg't 



1723 
1724 



47 

20 

■r>0 

31 

• r.y 

•04 

• 22 
05 

■40 
•()!) 

■ no 

37 

0!) 

•09 

4 

37 
0!) 
CO 
09 

22 
12 



Son of John. 
(Ireland.) 

(Boston.) 
(Ireland.) 

(Ireland.) An- 
drew's son. 

(Salis])nry.) 
Prom, tolicut.in 
1724. 
(Salisbury.) 

(Salisbury.) 
,Jreland.) 

Prom, to clerk. 



(Ireland.) 
Capt.'s servant. 

(Ireland.) 

(Salisbury.) 

(Ireland.) The 
name is Stin- 
son in one roll, 
i The last was 
J sou of James. 

(Amesbury.) 



' From Rolls in Massachusetts archives and other sources. 
2 Detailed for duty under Col. Westbrook's order. ^ 



876 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



1727. 

William Woodside's Company. 



Length of Service. 



Beiiuet, Andrew 33 weeks, 4 daj^s 

Peter 52 " 3 " 

Browu, John 48 " 4 " 

(Had care of a Province gun.) 

Burnett, John 52 " 3 " 

Denny, Owen 52 " 3 " 

Dunnini;, James 3 " 6 " 

Eaton, Samuel, Lieut 29 " 8 " 

Eaton, Samuel (Sentinel) 22 " 2 " 

Fitzgei-ald, Maurice 27 " 

Frazler, Thomas 52 " 3 " 

(irimes, Thomas 52 " 8 " 

Haynes, Daniel 32 " 5 " 

(Had care of a Province gun.) 

Lindsey, John 52 " 3 " 

Lithgow, Robert 52 " 3 " 

McCoshlin, James 19 " 5 " 

McFarlan, Samuel 23 " 2 " 

Noble, Arthur, Lieut 22 " 2 " 

Simpson, James 31 " 6 " 

Spear, Robert 18 " 6 " 

Stevenson, William 52 " 3 " 

Wells, Luke 52 " 3 " 

Woodside, William, Capt 52 " 3 " 

[ 1730. 

Benjamix Larrabee's Company. 

Barick, Robert 19 weeks, 2 days 

Bradbury, Wvman, Lieut 19 " 2 

Cassidav, Charles 19 " 2 

Eaton, Jacob 19 " 2 

" Samuel 19 " 2 

Erazier, Tliomas 19 " 2 

Lane, Thomas 19 " 2 

Larrabee, Benjamin, Capt 19 " 2 

William 19 " 2 

Lithgo, Robert, gunner 19 " 2 

McGregor, Thomas 19 " 2 

Pompey (Capt. 's negro servant) .... 19 " 2 

Robinson, Nahum 19 " 2 

Sergeant, David, Corp 19 " 2 

Washburn, Thomas 19 " 2 

Wells, Luke 19 *' 2 

1735 1748. 

Ben'jamin Larrabee's Company. 
Yeak. 

Allen, Daniel 1740-2 

Austin, John 1748 

Barrick, Robert 1735-7 

Bradbury, Wvman, Lieut. . 1735-7 
Bridges, Daniel 1739-42 



30s. 
50s. 
30s. 



38 to 45s. 
oOs. 



per m. 



50s. 
30s. 



45s. 
30s. 



£4 



Total Pat.j 
£12 17s. 2d. 



£19 5.5. M. 
£12 17s. 2d. 







Pat 




23 weeks, 5 days . 


. 40s. 




per m 


11 " — 


. 31s. 


M. 


" 


79 " 5 " . 


. 40s. 




«' 


85 " 1 " . 


. 53s. 


id. 


(1 


107 " 5 " . 


. 40s. 




(( 



APPENDIX II. 



877 



Name. 



Year. 



Length or Service. 



Pat. 



Briggs, Josiah 1748 

Boyd, James 1748 

Cassidav, Charles 1735-7 - 

Coney, Philip 1748 

Eatou, Jacob 1 7;3r)-40 - 

Eaton,' Samuel 1735-42- 

Frazier, Thomas 1735 7 - 

Haynes, Samuel 1742 

Hayward, George 1748 

Herring, John 1748 

Hinckley, Aaron, Lieut. . . 1748 
Holmes, iS'athaniel .... 1748 

Jack, Joseph 1748 

Jelson, Benjamin 1742 

Jordan, Joseph 1748 

.Joseph (Indian Scout) . . •1739-40- 

Laue, Thomas 1735-42 - 

Larrabee, Benj., Capt. . . . 1735-48 - 
" Benj., drummer , 1748 
" Nathaniel .... 173G-48 ■ 

" William 1735-37 ■ 

Lithgow, T{o])ert 1735-37 ■ 

McGregor, Thomas .... 1735 

Martain, John 1742 

Moffltt, Samuel 1748 

Patten, AVilliam 1735 

--Potter, Alexander . . . . • 1735 
Pompey (negro servant) . . 1735-48 • 

Robinson, Nahuni 1735-37 • 

Rutliss, Kobert 1740-2 

Sergeant, David, Corp. . . 1735-48 

Smith, John 1735 

Smith, Eben 1739-42 

Stoddard, Thomas 1748 

"Washl)urne, Thomas . . , 1735-37 

Wedge, Joshua 1737 

Wells, Luke 1735-42 

Willson, Robert 1748 

" William 1748 

Wooden, James 1748 



11 weeks 




. 31s. M. 


2() 


" 




" 


47 


u 


4 


. 40s. 


11 


" 


— 


.31s. 3cL 


157 


" 


2 


. 40s. 


239 


" 


3 


. " 


85 


(( 


1 


. " 


27 


a 


2 


. " 


37 


" 


— 


.31s. 3(7. 


36 


" 


1 


<' 


37 


" 


— 


. 47s, Gd. 


37 


" 


— 


. 31s. 3d. 


37 


(1 


— 


II 


21 


" 


2 


. 40s. 


11 


" 


— 


. 31.S. M. 


02 


(( 


1 


. 13s. 4c?. 


241 


" 


4 


. 40s. 


329 


" 


5 


. £4 


11 


11 


— 


. 31s. 


184 


11 


5 


. 31 to 40s 


75 


11 


1 


. 40s. 


85 


11 


1 


, " 


33 


11 


— 


, " 


25 


11 


6 


, «' 


37 


11 


— 


.31s 3d. 


24 


" 


— 


. 40s. 


7 


" 


1 


, " 


290 


" 


3 


11 


85 


11 


1 


II 


10 


II 


1 


. " 


297 


11 


4 


11 


10 


It 


— 


. " 


73 


11 


3 


11 


37 


11 


— 


.31s. 3d. 


85 


11 


1 


. 40s. 


18 


" 


4 


. 13s. id. 


293 


" 


G 


. 40s. 


37 


" 


— 


. 31s. 3d. 


11 


II 


— 


" 


37 


11 


— 


i( 



per m. 



1T46. 

William Burns's Company. 

Andrews, Isaac IG weeks, 5 days 

Black, Enos 16 " 5 

Burns, William, Capt 16 " 5 

Chase, Judah 16 " 5 

Clough, Isaac 16 " 5 

Dunning, David, Lieut 16 " 5 

" Robert, Corp IG " 5 

Genneys, William 16 " 5 

Hnnter, Adam, clerk 16 " 5 

Jackraan, John 16 " 5 

Lumbar, Parker 16 " 5 

Lumbard, Samuel 16 " 5 



31s. 


3d. 


per mo 


31s. 


3d. 




G2s. 


dd. 




31s. 


3d. 




31s. 


3d. 




47s. 


6d. 




40s. 


lOd. 




31s. 


3d. 




41s. 


3d. 




31s. 


3d. 




31s. 


3d. 




31s 


3d. 





il)iedml742. 



878 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSTIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



Name. 



Length of Service. 



McNeal, Richard 1{> weeks, 5 

Malcom, William Ifi " 5 

Mustard, .Tames 1(5 " 5 

Pageuot, Samuel 1(> " 5 

Perry, Kichard 10 " fi 

Preble, Joseph IG " 5 

Reed, John, Corp 1(1 " 5 

Spear, William KJ " 5 

Warrack, IkMijamiu, Corp IG " 5 

AVeed, Jonathan 1(> " 5 

Wickwash, Sylvauus 1(! " 5 

Winston, James K! " 5 

Wood, John (5 " 5 



days 



. 31s. 


M. per 


. 31s. 


M. 


. 31s. 


3(7. 


. 31s. 


M. 


. 31s. 


3d. 


. 31s. 


3d. 


. 40s. 


lOd. 


. 31s. 


M. 


. 40s. 


10(?. 


. 31s. 


M. 


. 31s. 


■M. 


. 31s. 


■dd. 


. 31s. 


3d. 



1756-1757. 

Samuel Moody's Company. 

Harwood, George 48 weeks, — days . . 24s. 

Moody, Joshua 48 " — " . . 24s. 

" Samuel, Capt 18 " 2 " . . £4 

" Samuel, Sergt 47 " 6 " . . £1 10s. 

" Samuel, Jr 48 " — " . . 24s. 

" William, Capt.'s servant .... 48 " — " 



per m. 



Dunlap, Jonathan. 

" Robert. 
Jaquith, Richard. 
Jordan, 



1735-1749. 

Other Soldiers. 

Lindsey, Samuel. 
Morburn, Capt. 
Stan wood, David. 



Stauwood, Samuel. 
" William. 

Vincent (Ensign), Wm. 



Captain John Getciiell's Company. 2 



Adams, Thomas. 
Andrews, Stephen. 
Carney, Michael. 
Chase, Judah. 
Clark, Samuel, Jr. 
Coombs, Caleb. 
" George. 
•' Samuel. 
Dunlap, John. 
Dunning, Andrew. 

" James. 

" John. 

" Robert. 
Elliot, Adam. 
" James. 
Getchell, John, Jr. 

" William. 
Giveen, Robert. 



1757. 

Giveen, William. 
Graj% Thomas. 
Hacket, John. 
Ham, Tobias. 
Hicks, Barnabas. 
Hinkley, Ebenezer. 

" Edmund. 
Howard, Edward. 
Jenkins, David. 
Jordan, John (Ensign). 
Larral)ee, Benjamin. 
Maker, Michael. 
Martin, John. 

" John, Jr. 
Miuot, Thomas. 
Moorey, Ezekiel. 
Simpson, William, Jr. 



Skolfleld, Clement. 
' ' Richard. 
Smart, John. 

" Thomas. 
Smith, .Joseph. 
Snow, Elisha. 
" Isaac. 
" Isaac, -Ji". 
Spear, Robert. 
Standwood, Ebu'r (Lieut.) 
Thompson, Alexander. 
" Cornelius. 

" .Tames. 

" Samuel. 

Tibbetts, Samuel. 
AVhitney, Jonathan. 
Woodard, Peter. 



' From traditionary sources. 



2 Fro7n Rolls in Massachusetts archives. 



APPENDIX II. 



879 



Captain David Duxnixg's "Alarm" List. 



Clark, Samuel. 

Coombs, Peter. Jr. 

Giveeu, John (^Eusign). 

Gray, Joseph. 

Hinkley, Aaron. 

Larrabee, Nathaniel (Ensign). 

Lumber, Samuel. 

Minot, John (Ensign). 

Nevei's, Dr. Phineas. 



Skolfleld, Thomas. 
Spear, William. 
Standwood, William. 
Thompson, Capt. James. 
Vincent, William. 
Whitney, Deacon Samuel. 
Woodside, Vincent. 
William. 
" William, Jr. 



Captain Adam IIuntkr's Company and "Alarm" List. 



1757. 



Alexander, William. 
Allen, Samuel. 
Beveredge, James. 
Douglass, Andrew. 
" James. 

" Robert. 
Dunlap, John. 
Ewings, Alexander. 

" Joseph. 
Fultou, James. 

" John. 

" ]{obert. 
Hunter, James. 
Jack, Joseph. 
Knowles, Richard. 
McFarland, James. 
Malcom, William. 
Mallet, John. 
Moftett, Archibald. 
Mustard, James. 
Patten, Lieut. John. 
Patten, William (Clerk). 



Potter, Alexander. 

" James. 

" James, Jr. 

" John. 

" William. 
Reed, Davicf. 

" William, Jr. 
Robinson, Charles. 
William. 
Springer, David. 
Thorne, Thomas. 
Tibbetts, Andrew. 
Warriugham, Thomas. 
Wilson, Hugh. 

" Robert. 

" Sanmel. 

" William. 
Winchell, John, 

" Samuel 
Work, Ebenezer. 
" James. 



Dunlap, Robert. 
Eaton, Jacob. 



"Alakm" List. 

Fulton, Go wen. 
Gatchell, Stephen. 



Reed, William. 
Willson, Thomas. 



880 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 



ATPENDIX III. 

LIST OF EEVOLUTIONAKY SOLDIERS ARRANGED ALPHABETI- 
CALLY BY COMPANIES. 1 



BRUNSWICK MEN. 
CvrxAiN James Curtis's Company. 



Date of 
Enlistment. 



Rank. 



Time of Service. 
Months. Days. 



1775. 



July 


17. 


Jiuie 


10. 


July 


1 7. 


May 




" 




July 




May 




July 




" 




May 




(1 




" 




JlllV 




" 




May 




July 




June 




July 




(1 




(1 




'• 




Juuc 


1. 


" 


1. 



Austin, BtMioni . . . 

Brown, Daniel . . . 

Coombs, Benjamin . 

Fields . . . 

" Ilezekiali . . 

" Natluiu . . 
Curtis, James . . . . 
Duncan, .John . . . . 
Duiuiing, James . . . 
" John . . . 
Ham, Tobias . . . . 
Hinl<ley, Isaac . . . 

Hunt, John 

Jones, John 

Kideout, Bonjamiu . 
Ripley, Samuel . . . 
Spear, William . . . 
Stanwood, William . 
Thompson, Richard . 
Walker, John . . 
Woodward, Ebcnczer 
" Samuel . 
Young, Jonathan , . 



private 



corporal 
captain 
private 



corporal 
private 



corporal 
private 
drummer 
private 







■A 
8 

;5 


2 


;5 

2 
2 


15 
19 


3 
2 

a 
a 


U 


a 

2 

2 


14 
14 



Captain Nathaniel Lahkabee's Company. 

July 11. Coombs, George Fields, private .... 
" 9. Kideout, Beujamiu ... " .... 



All not otherwise specified are from mustei'-rolls, etc. 



APPENDIX in. 



881 



Captain William Litiigow's Company. 



Date op 
Enlistment. 



Name, 



Rank. 



Time or Service. 
MoutbB. Days, 



ni 


G. 


March 


1.3 


" 


11 


(( 


15 


Feb. 


9 


March 


15 


March 


l.S 


Feb. 


19 


March 


21 


March 


15. 


" 


15 


" 


15 


Feb. 


19 


March 


18. 



1777, 



Austin, Benoni . 
Cooinl)s, Fields . 
Dmiiiiiig, James . 
" Johu . 
Given, Johu . . . 
Grafton (Grafi'ara?), Eph 
Hunt, John . . . 
Jones, John , . . 
Lawrence, Josepli 
Malloy, Iliij^h . , 
Kideout, Benjamin 
Spear, William . 
Stanwood, William 

Woodward, Ebenezer 



Captain Georgi' 

Austin, Benoni . . 
Cornish, Jolm . . . 
Given, John .... 
Grows, Johu . . . 
Hunt, John .... 
Lawrence, .Joseph . 
McGill, William . . 
Malloy, lliif^li . , . 
Melcher, Joseph . . 
Ozburn, Jonathan . 
Kyan, Francis . . . 
Stanwood, William 



Starbird, Samuel 



private 



" (deserted) 
Corp. prom, sergt. 
private 



sergeant 
private 



White's Comp 



private 



1st lieut. 
private 



12 
14 
10 
14 
10 
23 
12 

\ 
11 

4 

2 
14 
14 

4 
19 



87i 
C5i 

80i 
06 
185 
97i 

88i 
(5U 
43i 
99i 

37 



1775. 
June 20. 



Captain Samuel Noyes's Company. 



Hunt, Daniel. 



Captain Coombs's Company, Colonel Mitchell's Regiment.' 



Date of 
Enlistment, 



Name. 



Age. 



Stature. 



Complexion. 



1778. Getchell, Benjamin 28 . . . 5 feet 7 inches . . light. 

Hideout,''' Abraham 20 . . . " " . . " 

" 8te))hen 18 . . . " " . . " 

Woodward, Joseph 10 . . . " " . . " 



1 These men were to serve " nine months from the time of their arrival in Fish Kills." 

2 Also served four years and three months. Unlisted from Brunswick in Captain Dan- 
iel Merrill's company, Colonel Brewer's regiment, at White Plains, N. Y. Served also 
in Captain Bullock's company under Greene, and was discharged at West Point in 
1782. After the war, he removed to Kennebunkport, where he was living in 1837. 

56 



882 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 
Companies, etc., Unknown. 

Date of 
Enlistment. Name. Rank. 

1779. Alexander,' William 

1779. Akleu,' Jere 

— Bisbee, Oliver (before comiug to Brims.) 
1779. Duulap, Hugh captain. 

— Duuuing, Robert " 

1777. Jan. 1. Given, Robert lieut. 7tli Mass. 

— Growse,' Michael private. 

1779. Hunt, Ephraim, captain. 

— Hinlvley " 

— Larrabee, Benjamin " 

— Lunt,' Amos (per'psfr. Falmouth) 

— Moulton,' Jeremiah 

— Rowe,' major. 

— Slvoltield,' William 

— Storer,' William private. 

1774. Thompson, Samuel captain, pro. col. and brig. -gen. 

1774. " Thomas ensiign. 



II. 

TOPSHAM MEN. 
Captain James Curtis's Company. 



Date of 
Enlistment. 



Rank. 



Time of Servicf,. 
Mouths. Days. 



1 


775. 


July 


18. 


" 


18 


(( 


18. 


(( 


18 


(( 


18. 


1 


775. 


July 


9. 



1776. 
Feb. 19. 
March 11. 
11. 

11. 
Feb, 19. 
Jan. 1. 
Feb. 19. 
March 11. 
Feb. 19. 

19. 

19. 



Delap (Duulap?), John . private 
Gray, Alexander . . . 

"' Uriah 

Potter, Samuel . . . 
Walker, Simon Peter . 



Captain Nathaniel Lakuabek's Company. 
Hall, Nathaniel .... private .... 6 

Captain William Litiigow's Company. 



Allen, Daniel . . 

William . . 

Beveridge, Robert 

priv 
Gray, Alexander , 

" Uriah . . , 
I.ithgow, William 
Ouon Philip . . . 
Poor, Richard . . 
Potter, Alexander 
Reed, William . . 

" William . . 



prom. corp. and sergt. 
. private 



lirivate 



captain 

flier 

private 

sergeant 
private 



9 



3 
6 

10 
12 
8 
9 
1 
9 



22 
22 
22 
22 
22 



4 
14 

15 

23 
4 

14 
4 



* From traditional sources eniirehj. 



APPENDIX III. 



883 



Date of 

EMilSTMENT. 



Name. 



TrME OF Servicf. 
Months. Days. 



1776. 






Feb. 


20. 


Shannon, John .... private 


March 


11. 


Thompson,' Alexander . " 


Feb. 


19. 


Walker, Peter private . . 


Jan. 


1. 


White, George .... 1st lieut. . . 
Captain George White's Coj 


1777. 




Allen, Daniel private . . 

" William .... 
Bester, Foster .... " 
Beveridge, Robert . . ensign . . 
Jones, John (for. Bruns.)private . . 
Kennedy, James .... " 

Poor, Richard " 

Potter, Alexander ... " 
Shannon, John .... " 
White, George .... captain . . 
Whitten, John .... private . . 



15 
14 

18 



70 
70 
79 

110 
87 
62 

103 
87 
98 

110 
■16 



Captain John Skillings's Company. 

1777. Gray, Uriah private .... 141 

Owen, Philip " .... 141 

First Regiment, Lincoln County.'' 

Date or 
Eklibtment. Name. Captain. Age. Statdre. Complexion. 



1778. 



Bead, James Mustard 

Mustard, James ... " 
Patten, Actor .... Patten 
Potter, Hugh .... " 
" Joseph .... Mustard 
" Robert .... Patten 



21 



. 17 
. 32 
. 20 



COSIPANIES, ETC., UNKNOWN 



6 feet — inches 



5 " 7 
5 " 7 
5 " 8 



light. 



light, 
dark, 
light. 



Date of 
Enlistment. 



Name. 



Rank. 



1775. Berry, Thomas lieut. 

.1779. Graves,* Johnson private. 

^1779. Haley,3 Pelatiah " 

— Hunter,^ Adam " 

1774. " James major, prom, to col. 

1776. Jameson, Given lieut. 

1776. Patten, William W • captain, 

1779. Porter,^ Benjamin (not then a citizen). 

1779. " James 2d lieut. 

— Purington, James " 

— Reed, David . " prom, to captain. 

1776. " John . '. capt. " " lieut. -col. 

1776. Whitehouse,* Thomas ensign. 

— Wilson, Thomas captain. * 

— " William lieut. 

' Enlisted in Captain Hitchcock's company, Colonel Brewer's regiment. Afterioards 
moved to Topsham. 

- Enlisted for " nine months from the time of their arrival in Fish Kills." 
3 From traditional sources. 



884 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



III. 

HARPSWELL MEN. 

Captain James Curtis's Company. 



Date of 




Time of 


Service. 


EM,I8TMENT. 


Name. 


Rank. Months. 


Days. 


1775. 
July 20. 


Adams, Thomas . . . . 


private .... 2 


25 


" 17. 


Auclrews, John . . . . 


" 








3 


— 


May 17. 


Barstow, James . . . . 


u 








3 


— 


20. 


Bibber, James 


u 








2 


25 


July 17. 


Blake, John 


corporal 








3 


— 


June 10. 


Cummings, Johu . . . 


private 








2 


4 


July 17. 


Curtis, Jacob .... 


sergeaut 








3 


— 


May 17. 


" Nathaniel . . . 


private 








3 


— 


17. 


Doyle, Elijah .... 


i( 








3 


— 


July 18. 


E\ying, John .... 


sergeant 








3 


2 


18, 


Hunt, William .... 


" 








3 


2 


17. 


Johnson, David . . . 


private 








3 


— 


May 17. 


" James . . . 


" 








3 


— 


17. 


" Johu . . . 


" 








3 


— 


July 17. 


Miller, Asa 


fifer 








3 


— 


1. 


Puriutou, Humphrey . 


private 








1 


11 


May 20. 


Roddick, William . • 


" 








2 


25 


15. 


Eogers, Mark .... 


1st lieut. 








3 


2 


July 20. 


Tarr, Joseph .... 


private 








2 


25 


20. 


" William .... 


u 








2 


25 


1. 


Thompson, Cornelius 


<( 








1 


11 


18. 


Joel . . . 


(( 








3 


2 


May 17. 


Toothaker, Ephraim . 


(( 








3 


— 


Juue 10. 


Williams, Samuel . .• 


" 








2 


i 



Captain Nathaniel Larrabek's Company. 



1775. 

July 9. Birthright, Peter . 

9. Dolph, Ellis .... 

" 9. Hall, Nathaniel . . 

<' 1. Larrabee, Nathaniel 

" 1. Snow, Isaac . . . 

" 10. Toothaker, Abraham 

" 9. Williams, Samuel . 



private 



captain 
1st lieut. 
private 
sergeant 



fi 


7 


6 


7 


6 


7 


6 


16 


6 


16 


6 


6 


6 


7 



Captain William Lithgow's Company. 



Time of Marching. 

1776. 
August 6 



private 



Andrews, John . 

Barstow, Isaac . 

March 11. Doughty, Benjamin . . " 

Hunt, William corporal 



23 
23 
14 



APPENDIX III. 



885 



Captain George White's Company. 



Date of 
Enlistment. 



1777. Adams, Adam C. 
" Samuel . 
Allen, Pelatiah . 
Curtis, Benjamin 
Henrv, Zcbulon . 
Tootiiaker, Seth . 
Whittum, Thomas 
Wilson, William . 



Rank. 



priv 



ate 



Time of Service. 
Days. 



121 

70 



79i 

68i 



Adams, Samuel 
Adertou, Badger 



Captain Reed's Company. 



Bray, Eobert % 
Herfernan, Patrick 



Nickerson, Luke 
Weymouth, Arch. 



Whittum, James 



Bibber, James 
Doyle, James 



Captain Smith's Company. 
Captain Lane's Company. 



Doyle, Jotham 
Webber, Samuel 



Captain Curtis's Company,' in Colonel Mitchell's Regiment. 



Date of 
Enlistment. 



Name. 



Stature. 



Complexion. 



1778. Bishop, Hutson . 
Booker, Isaiah . . 
Gardner, Seth . . 
Haskell, Ward . . 
Johnson, Jonathan 



19 • . .5 feet 5 inches 



16 . 
28 . 
24. 
23 . 



9 
10 



light, 
dark, 
light. 



Companies, etc., Unknown. 



Date of 
Enlistment. 



Name. 



Rank. 



1776. 
1777. 



1776-1780. 
1775. 



1776. 
1776-80. 



1776. 
1776-1780. 



Alexander, Thomas 
Curtis, Nehemiah . 
Doughty,'' James . . 

Farrin,* . . . . 

Hodgkins, Eli . . • 

Leavitt,^ Caleb . . . 

" Nathaniel* . 

Merritt,'* Henry . . 

Merryman, Huston . 

Puriuton, John M. . 

" Stephen*^ . 

Small,^ Epraim . . . 

Samuel 2 . . 

Stover, Simeon Q. . 

Trufant, Samuel . . 



captain. 



private, 
ensign, 
private, killed at Bunker Hill. 



lieut. 
captain. 



private. 

ensign, 
lieut. 



1 Enlisted for ^' the term of nine months, from the time of their arrival in Fi&hKills. 

2 From traditional sources alone. 



886 HISTORY OF BRUXSWICK, TOP^IIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



PrIVATEERSMEN li"ROM THE THREE TOWNS. 



Name. 



LOCALITx', 



Vessel. 



Bishop. Abner . Harpswell 

Black, John " 

Campbell. .Tohn (Capt.) — 

DumiiiiiX, James — 

Hall. Nathaniel — 

Hopkins, y.lisha — 

Hunt, William — 

Reed, John . — 

" AVilliam — 

Skolfleld, John — 

Suow, Elisha Harpswell 

^ " Isaac *. 

\ " John " 

Stauwooil. David — 

" David, Jr — 

" Eben — 

" Samuel — 

" William — 

Sylvester, Marlboro Harpswell 

Toothaker, Abraham " 

" Isaac " 

Totman, Josiah " 

Wier, Thomas — 



In Sea Flower.^ 

n 

Sea Flov:er. 

Sti(nl)/ Becigar. 

Sea FJo^i'er. 

(I 

Sea Flower. 

u 
ii 

Sturdy Beggar. 



Of Nev>huryport, Captain Tracy. 



APPENDIX IV. 887 



APPENDIX IV. 

A LIST OF THE SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF 1812-14. 

I. 

FROM BRUNSWICK. 
Brunsavick Artillery,' in Service at Bath. 

1814. 

Name. Rank. 

Alden, Peter O captain. 

Eastman, Robert 1st lieutenant. 

Marsh, Moses M 2d " 

Peuuell, Tliomas .3d " 

Stetson, Harvey clerk and sergeant. 

Welch, Edward sergeant. 

Dunham, Johnson " 

Stetson, Charles «' 

Hedge, George drummer. 

Carey, James " matross " = private. 

Curami^gs, Samuel S fifer. 

Danforth, Isaac mati-oss. 

Dillingham, Ammi driver. 

Dunlap, Joseph matross. 

Given, William, Jr " 

Gray, Uriah " 

Hali, Robert hostler. 

Hunt, Jeremiah matross. 

Hunt, John " 

Kimball, Dean " 

Kiucaid, Patrick, .Tr hostler. 

Larral)ee, William driver. 

Littlefleld, Moses matross. 

Luut, John '< 

Merrill, James " 

Morse, Ephraim " 

Morse, Lemuel " 

Murray, True worthy " 

Nelson, .James n 

Osgood, Eliphalet " 

Owen, John, 2d <' 

Owen, Philip, .Jr n 

Pattee, William << 

Pierpont, Edward '< 

Powers, Paul <■>■ 



^From Treasury Departmenl, Washington. 



888 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



Name. Rank. 

Pray, Edmund matross. 

Rowe, Amos " 

Simpson, Thomas " 

Stanford, Warren waiter to lieutenant. 

Stanwood, Thomas matross. 

Tootliaker, Andrew driver. 

Toothaker, Cliarles matross. 

Tootliaker, William hostlei". 

Todd, John captain's waiter. 

Welch, Reed matross. 

Wilmot. Orlando " 

Wing, Allen ■ ' 

Captain Richard T. Duvlvp's Company,' Lieutenant Colonel Charles 
Thomas's Regiment, in Bath. 

1814. 

Dunlap, Richard T captain. 

McManus, Richard 1st. lieut. 

Sherwood, David, 2d 2d. " 

Titcomb, William orderly sergeant. 

Merriman, Nathaniel sergeant. 

Badger, Nathaniel " 

Badger, Joseph i " 

Privates. 

Adams, Charles. Gray, John. 

Blake, Samuel. Given, Thomas. 

Bowker, Washington. Giveii, Thomas, Jr. 
Bi-adley, Foster. , Growse, Tliomas. 

Brown. Isaac. <^^ Hall, Hammond. 

Campbell, John. Hall, Johnson. 

Carey, Alanson. Hall, William. 

Caswell, Wilbur. Herrick, Benjamin J. 

Chase, Enoch. Hiukley, Noah. 

Clarke, Alfred. Hunt, John. 

Clarke, John. James, William. 

Clarke, John, 2d. Keith, Isaac. 

Coombs, Abner. Kimball, Joseph. 

Coombs, Joseph. Kincaid, David. 

Coombs, William S. Lambert, James. 

Cowing, Daniel. Lemont, Adam. 

Cox, James. Litchfield, Waid. 

Cox, Isaac. Littlefield, James. 

Curtis, Joshua. Lovejoy, Odiorne. 

Curtis, William. Lowell, John. 

Dailey, Silas. Lowell, Simon. 

Eatoii, Abner. Lunt, Joseph. 

Eaton, Charles. Lunt, Josiah. 

Eaton, Daniel, Jr. McLellan, Alexander. 

Eaton, John. McManus, Cliarles, Jr. 

Elliott. James, 2d. McManus, James, 2d. 

Ford, Daniel. McIVIanus, Jolin, Jr. 

Graffiim, David. McManus, Richard, 2d. 

Grant, John. Jlayhew, Zaccheus. 

Grant, Unite. Melcher, Abner. 



Fro7n Treasury Department, Washington. 



APPENDIX IV. 



889 



Melcher. Samuel, 3d. 
Merr,vnian, Thomas, 2d. 
Merry man, Timothj'. _ 
Merritt, Henry. 
Merritt, Jesse. 
Minot, Geoi'ge. 
Moore, Samuel. 
Morse, Benjamin. 
Morse, Lemuel. 
Morse, Paul, Jr, 
Noyes, James. 
O'Brien, Jeremiah. 
Os,a:ood, Theodore, 
Otis, James. 
Owen, Jeremiah. 
Owen, Samuel. 
Pattee, William S. 
Pinkham, Stephen. 
Ransom, David. 
Robertson, .John R. 
Rodick, William. 
Ross, James, 3d. 
Ross, John. 
Ross, Robert, 2d. 



Ross, William, 2d. 
Hyan, Charles. 
Sampson, Alexander. 
Simpson, William. 
Skolfleld, John, 2d. 
Skolfleld, Joseph. 
Sloan, Robert. 
Snow, Abiezer. 
Stan wood, Philip. 
Starbird, William, Jr. 
Swift, Dean. 
Taylor, Phineas. 
Thomas, Ephraim. 
Thompson, Pelatiah. 
Titcomb, Benjamin, Jr, 
Toothaker, Abi*aham. 
Toothaker, Alexander. 
Toothaker, Isaac. 
Towns, Aaron. 
Townsend, Aaron, 
Towuseud, Henry, 
Turner, James. 
Woodward, Martin. 



Brunsw'ick Light Infantry,' in Colonel Thomas's Regiment, Bath. 

1814. June 20 to SSd and September 10th to 39th. 



Name, 



Rank. 



Dunning, Robert D captain. 

Owen, John lieutenant. 

Coburn, John ensign. 

Brown, Eliphalet sergeant. 

Dunning, Aaron " 

Dunning, John, 3d " 

Noyes, Joseph " 

Given, Samuel musician. 

Eaton, Edward " 

Robertson, Isaac O corporal, 

Herrick, Joshua " 

Brown, John " 

Shaw, David " 

Privates. 

Baker, Zachariah. Hall, Neal. 

Bradley, Foster. Hammond, James R. 

Brown, Gardner, '^^ Hunt, William. 

Clark, John, 2d. Kidder, Jonathan, 

Davis, Joseph W. Lock, Abraham. 

Dinsmore, James. Moore, Richard. 

Dnnlap, Robert. Moulton, Samuel. 

Dunning, Joseph N. Mullen, Thomas. 

Elliot, James. Mustard, William. 

Flood, Henry. Noyes, James. 

Fuller, Ira. Osgood, Theodore. 

Grafl'am, Thomas. Owen, Samuel. 

Grows, John. Ross, James, 3d. 



1 From office of adjutant-general of Maine. 



890 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



Sampson, Alexander. 
Shaw, John. 
Titconib, John L. 



Toothakei*, John. 
Win:?, Calvin. 
Woodside, George. 



Staff Roll of Colonel Thomas's Regiment. 



Name. 



Rank. 



Thomas, Charles . . 
Estabrook, Thomas S. 
Poor, Nathaniel . . . 
Coombs, John E. . . 
Sewall, ■\Yilliam . . 
Badger, Nathaniel . 
Thomas, Charles, Jr. 
Herrick, Jacob . . . 
Page, Jonathan . . , 
Holbrook, Moses . . 
Anderson, Martin . . 
Dunning', John . . . 



It. -colonel 
major 

u 

adj utaut 

paymaster 
chaplain ■ 
surgeon 
surgeon's mate 
sergeant-major 
quartermaster 



Brunswick. 



Durliam. 
Brunswick. 



Captain Joseph Dustin's Company,' at Bath, in Col. Thomas's 

Regiment. 



Rank. 



Dustiu, Joseph captain. 

Pennell, William lieutenant. 

Dmming, John ensign. 

Brown, Benjamin sergeant. 

Given, Thomas " 

Dunning, James, 2d " 

Lewis, Jazzauiah " 

Messerve, Jesse corporal. 

Anderson, Charles " 

Dunning, Thomas " 

Given, John, 3d drummer. 

Simpson, Robert tifer. 

Privates. 

Blaisdell, Jonathan. Morse, Adam. 

Chase, George. Morse, Anthon}^ Jr. 

Crips, John. Morse, James. 

Curtis, Abiezer. Morse, Joseph, Jr. 

Curtis, Calvin. Moseley, William. 

Curtis, Melzer. Parsley,^ Eliphalet. 

Given, Benjamin. Pennell, Jacob. 

Given, David, Jr. Pennell, Robert. 

Given, John, 2d. Skolfield, Jacob. 

Gould, Joseph. Simpson,* Lewis. 

Graft^im, Sanmel. Simpson, Matthew. 

Hodgdon, Jeremiah. Stanwood, Benjamin. 

Hunt, William. Stanwood, David. 

Mariner, John, 3d. Stanwood, James, 3d. 

Miller, William. Stanwood, Judah. 

Minot, Vincent. Stanwood, Robert. 

1 From Treasury Department, Washington. 2 The onhj members noiv living. 



APPENDIX IV. 



89] 



Stevens, Reuben. 
Stilke}', George. 
Woodside, Robert. 



Woodside, Stinson. 
Woodside, Williiuu. 
Woodward, Nathan. 



Captain Jordan's Company,' in Colonel Thomas's Regimknt, in Bath. 

1814. 



Name. 



Rakk. 



Jordan, Peter, .Jr captain. 

Woodward, Isaac lieut. 

Toppan, Josiali F sergeant. 

Jordan, Henry " 

Bisbee, Rufus " 

Snow, Jordan " 

Mariner, Thomas corporal. 

Leavitt, Caleb " 

Peterson, Benjamin " 



Bates, James. 
Bisbee, Studley. 
Cook, Eli. 
Coombs, Asa. 
Coombs, Charles, Jr. 
Coombs, Joseph, Jr. 
Coombs, Samuel. 
Cotton, Levi. 
Crawford, Charles. 
Crawford, John. 
Crowell, John. 
Danforth, Abner. 
Danforth, Enoch. 
Davis, Miab. 
Davis, Uriah. 
Donnell, Abiel. 
Donuell, John. 
Doughty, Jacob G. 
Doughty, Stephen. 
Doughty, William. 
Estes, John. 
Parrin, David. 
Parrin, Winthrop, Jr. 
Gatchell, Aaron. 
Gatchell, Benjairiin. 
Harding, Nehemiah. 



Jordan,'' Robert. 



Privates. 



Holbrook, John. 
Holmes, William (waiter). 
Hyde, Jude. 
Jordan, Abijah. 
Jordan, Jesse. 
Larrabee, James. 
Lewis, Jabcz. 
Lewis, Nathan. 
Linscott, Abijah (waiter). 
Linseott, Abraham. 
Linscott, Joseph, Jr. 
Low, Samuel. 
Marr, Joseph. 
Mariner, LTnite. 
Melcher, John. 
Peters, Simeon. 
Peterson, John. 
Pollard, George. 
Smiley, David. 
Story, William. 
Thomas, William. 
Wallace, John. 
Winslow, Job. 
Woodward, Ebenezer. 
Woodward, Samuel. 



Cavalry. 



Weston,^ Jacob. 



In Colonel McCobb's Regiment, in Neav York. 

1813. 

McMamis,'' Richard. 



^ From TrPMSury Department, Washington. 



^ Traditional. 



892 insTORY OF Brunswick, topsham, and harpswell. 

II. 

TOPSHAM MEN. 
Captain Patten's Company,' at Bath, in Colonel Meruill's Regiment. 

1814. 

Name. Rank. 

Patten, George F captain. 

Rogers, George lieutenant. 

Perry, Joseph M ensign. 

Hunter, Charles sergeant. 

Brown, Ezekiel M " 

Thompson, Daniel " 

Rogers, Hugh " 

Sampson, Henry fifer. 



Privates. 



Abell, Jehiel. 
Berry, Josiah. 
Berry, Robert. 
Brown, Jeremiah. ■ 
Card, Francis. 
Chase, John, Jr. 
Coombs, Abner, waiter. 
Cummings, Jacob. 
Foster, Joseph, 3d. 
Foster, Philip H. 
Foy, Henry. 
Foy, Joshua. 
Given, Samuel. 
Graves, Daniel. 
Graves, Ebenezer. 
Graves, Jacob. 
Graves, Levi. 
Graves, Moses. 
Graves, Samuel. 
Heal. Gilbert. 
Howland, A))raham. 
Howland, Benjamin. 
Howland, George. 
Howland, John. 
Hunter, Adam. 
Hunter, Alexander. 



Hunter, Arthur, Jr. 

Hunter, Benjamin. 

Hunter, David. 

Hunter, Lithgow. 

Hunter, Samuel. 

Huntei-, Thomas, 3d. 

Mallett, William, .Jr.^ 

Mallett, Collamore. 

Patten, Adam. 

Patten, James F. (waiter). 

Patten, Matthew. 

Potter, Jesse. 

Randall, William, Jr. 

Rideout, Jacob. 

Rogers, William. 

Sampson, James, Jr. 

Sauford, .John, Jr. 

Small, Francis. 

Smith, Joseph. 

Stockman, Jesse. 

Taylor, John. 

Wade, Abner. 

Wade, Luther. 

Whitmore, Creighton (waiter). 

Winchell, Robert. 

Work, David. 



Topsham Artillery Company,' at Bath. 

1814. 



Time of 
Service. 



Name. 



Rank. 



Remarks. 



19 days. Walker, Nathaniel . . captain 

" Cook, James .... 1st lleut. 

" Perkins, Nahum ... 2d " 

" Perkins, Samuel . . . ord. serg. 



1 From Treasury Department, Washington. 



2 From original roll. 



APPENDIX IV. 



893 



Time of 
Sekvice. 



RA^K. 



Remarks. 



19 days. Wentworth, .John 

-^ Pluniiuer, Nathaniel 

19 days. Pluinmer, Moses . 

" Haley, Abuer . . 

" Wilson, John, 4th 

" Hlnkley, James , 

" Holbrook, Jesse . 

" Stone, Alfred . . 

" Cook, Lincoln . . 

" Kimball, Abraham 

" Alexander, David 

— Baker, Jonathan . 
19 days. Brown, Robert . 

— Crosby, Ebenezer 

— Crosby, Sharon . 
19 days. Dennett, William 

" Green, Gardner . 

7 days. Grey, Solomon . 

— Haley, James . . 
19 days. Haynes, Reuben . 

•' Harding, Richard C. 

— Hinkley, Ezekiel . 

— Hodsdon, Silas . 

— Hanniford, William 

— Jack, John . . . 

4 days. Plumnier, Lemuel D 

— ' Rollins, Aaron 

— Thomas, Consider 

— Thomas, George . 

— Towns, Samuel . 

— Tuttle, Josiah 

19 days. Ware, William . 

— Weymouth, Moses 



sergeant 

corporal 
musician 
hostler 



waiter 



private 



private 



absent on duty in fort. 



for captain. 
" 1st lieutenant. 
" 2d 

excused from duty. 

absent C did not } 
" I serve. 5 



detached from infantry 

as instructor, 
absent in fort. 



absent in fort, 
did not serve, 
absent in fort. 

sick; discharged, 
did not serve, 
absent in fort. 

lame ; did not sei've. 
absent in fort. 

absent in fort. 



Cavalry. 

Erost,' William. 

From Other Towns. 

Haskell,* Joshua. 



III. 

HA HP SWELL MEN. 

Captain Johnson's Company.^ 

1814. June 20 to 35 and September 19 to 21. 



Name. 



Hank. 



Johnson, David captain. 

Curtis, Peleg lieut. 

Cui-tis, David . . •....'... ensign. 



1 Traditional. 



^Ibid. 



8 From Treasury Department, Washington. 



894 HISTORY OF Brunswick, topsham, and harpswell. * 



Name. 



Merrymau, Janu's, 4th sergeaut. 

Kandall, Benjamiu " 

Sylvester, Isaac " 

Wier, James S " 

Curtis, Eheiiezer corporal. 

Merrymau, Thomas '• 

Keed, John, Jr " 

Orr, Simeon " 

Dunning, James drummer. 

Merrymau, Jacob flier. 

Esthmiau, Fryeholt " 



June 
Sept. 
June 
Sept. 
June 
Sept. 
June 
Sept. 
June 
Sept. 
June 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
June 
Sept 
Juue 
Sept. 
Sept. 
June 
Sept. 
June 
Juue 
Sept 
Sept. 
Sept. 
June 
Juue 
Sept. 
June 
Sept. 
June 
June 
Sept. 
June 
Sept. 
Juue 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Juue 
Sept. 
June 
Sept. 



20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 

20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
10 to 29. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
10 to 29. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
10 to 29 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 



Alexander, Hugh. 

Alexander, Isaac. 

Alexander, Joseph. 

Allen, Ephraim, Jr. 

Barstow, Robert. 
Barstow, William. 
Bibljcr, Courtney. 
Blake, .John (waiter). 
Blasland, Wm, (wr.) 

Booker, Daniel, Jr. 

Clark, David. 
Clark, Paul (waiter). 

Curtis, James. 
Curtis, John. 

Curtis, Paul. 
Curtis, Simeon. 
Douglass, George. 
Douglass, William. 

Ewiug, James, Jr. 

Ewing, John. 
Earriu, Wiuthrop. 

Gardiner, Robert. 

Ilersej', John. 

Hodgkins, Benjamin, 
lugalls, John N. 
Jordan, William. 

Kemp, Silas. 

Matthews, Samuel. 



Private^. 

June 

June 

Sept. 

Sept 

Sept. 

June 

Sept. 

Sept. 

June 

Sept. 

June 

Sept. 

Juue 

Sept. 

Sept. 

June 

Sept 

June 

Juue 

Sept 

Juue 

Sept. 

Juue 

Sept. 

June 

Sept. 

Juue 

Sept. 

June 

Sept. 

Sept. 

June 

Sept. 

Sept. 

June 

Sept. 

June 

Sept 

June 

Sept. 

June 

Sept. 

June 

Sept. 



20 to 25. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
10 to 29. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 
20 to 25. 
10 to 29. 



Merryman, Benjamin. 

Merrymau, .Tames, 3d. 
Merrvnian, John. 
Merrymau, Mich'l, Jr. 

Merryman, Samuel. 
Merrymau, Waitstill. 

Jklerryman, William. 

Orr, David. 

Orr, William. 
Perry, David. 

Pinkham, Richard. 
Reed, William. 

Sinnet, Hugh. 

Skolfleld, Samuel. 

Stevens, William H. 

Stover, Daniel. 

Stover, David. 

Stover, John. 
Stover, Joseph. 

Stover, Joshua. 
Stover, Paul. 
Stover, Theophilus. 
Sylvester, Johu. 

Sylvester, Marlboro'. 

Sylvester, William. 

Thomas, Jesse. 

Toothaker, David. 



APPENDIX IV. 



895 



June 20 to 2r>. 
June 20 to 25. 
Sept. 10 to 29. 
June 20 to 25. 
Sept. 10 to 21). 



Totuian, Levi. 
Wel)bcr, Charles. 
Wheeler, John. 



Jniic 20 to 25. 

Sept. 10 to 21). Wheeler, Simeon. 

June 20 to 25. 

Sept. 10 to 21). Wilson, John. 



Captain Snow's Company.' 

September 10 to SO, 1814. 



Names. 



Rank. 



Snow, Stephen captain. 

Snow, I'tuil lieutenant. 

Merritt, William ensign. 

Merritt, Stephen sergeant. 

Holbrook, Jonathan " 

Coomlis, Elisha " 

Thomas, Williams " 

Toothaker, Saimiel corporal. 

Tootliaker, Cornelius " 

Eastman, Kingsbury " 

Hopkins, Simeon " 

Sawyer, Daniel musician. 

Green, Joslah " 

Privates. 

Alexander, John. Otis, Samuel, Jr. 

Aublns, George. Prior, Leonard P. 

Aubliis, Humphrey. Purrington, Joshua. 

Blackmore, James (waiter). Purinton,''' Nathaniel. 

Blake, Samuel (waiter). Rich, Benjamin. 

Coombs, Jesse. Iticli, David. 

Dingley, Spencer. Rich, Isaac. 

Dresser, Ebenezer. Ridley, Mark, Jr. 

Eastman, James. Small, Israel. 

Holbrook, Israel. Snow, Isaiah, Jr. 

Hopkins, Elisha. Snow, Jesse. 

Kemp, Timothy. Snow, .Jesse, Jr. 

Leavitt, George. Snow, Samuel. 

Lorey, James. Toothaker, .John. 

Lunt, Isaiali (waiter). Wilson, Alexander. 

Merritt, Isaac. Wilson, Seth. 
Merritt, Samuel, 

In Companiks, etc.. Unknown.^ 

Dj-er, George. Raymond, Paul. 

Dyer, Leonard. Purington, Robert. 



^ From Treasury Department, Washint/ton. 
8 All the latter are frotri, traditional sources. 



2 Afterwards prom to lievt. 



896 HISTOBY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSUAM, AND EARPSWELL. 



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906 



HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 



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Swett, Eben, 
Swett, Samuel, 
Stone, George E. 
Shepherd. Marcellus M. 
Sawyer, James, 
Strout, Joseph W. 
Sawj'er, James F. 
Smvth, Newman, 
Smith, Henry S. R. 
Stanwood, Franklin, 
Spollett, George A. 
Stetson, Joseph E. 
Stilkey, Andrew J. 
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Varney, Edward L. 


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Whitney, Dunham, 
Wentworth, Alfred D. 
Welch, Milton W, 
Ward, Hugh H. 
Ward, Albion, 
Ward, Joel, 
Walker, William A. 
Walker, George A. 
Williston, George, Jr. 
Ward. George C. 
Whittlese.y, Eliphalet, 
Walker, George A. 
Wilson, Elbert, 
Whitney, William H. 
Wentworth, John T. 


CO 

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York, Abizer, 
York, Charles L. 
Y'"ork, Charles D. 



908 



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916 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND EARPSWELL. 



APPENDIX VI. 
NATIONAL AND STATE OFFICERS. 

Representatives to Congress. 

Robert P. Duulap Brunswick, 1843 to 1847. 

Charles J. Oilman " i857 to 1859. 

Beujamin Orr Topsham, 1817 to 1819. 

Governors of Maine. 

Robert P. Dunlap Brunswick, 1834 to 1838. 

Josliua L. Chamberlain << 1867 to 1871. 

Members of Governor's Council. 

R P. Dunlap Brunswick, 1833. 

David Duulap << 1841. 

Marshall Cram '< 1855. 

Secretary of State. 

Franklin M. Drew Brunswick, 1868 to 1871. 

State Treasdrer. 
Abner B. Tliompson Brunswick, 1831, 1832. 

State Commissioner. 
Benjamin J. Porter Topsham, 1820, 1821. 

Adjutant-General. 
Abner B. Thompson Brunswick, 1839, 1840. 

State Senators. 

Jacob Abbot Brunswick, 1813-14-15. 

John Ban-on Topsham, 1850. 

Joseph Barron " 1859, 1860. 

Henry Carvill Brunswick, 1870. 

Marshall Cram <' 1871. 

Robert P. Duulap " 1824, 1825, 1826, 

1827, 1828, 1830, 1831, 
1832. 

Daniel Elliott Brunswick, 1863. 

Nathaniel Green Topsham, 1820, 1821, 

1822, 1823, 1824, 1826. 

John C. Humphreys Brunswick, 1839. 

Samuel R Jackson " 1847. 

William H. Morse " 1848. 

Jonathan Page " 1829. 

Benjamin J. Porter Topsham, 1812, 1813. 



APPENDIX VI. 



917 



Tobias Puriutou Brunswick, 1836. 

Elijah P. Pike " 1841. 

George Roejers Topshani, 1837. 

Clemeut Skolfleld Harpswell, 1859, 1860. 

Samuel Thompson Topsham, 1797. 

Levi L. Totmau Harpswell, 1840. 

Abuer B. Thompson Brunswick, 1856. 



REPRESENTATIVES TO THE LEGISLATURE. 
From Brunswick. 



Peter O. Alden, 1825, 1826, 1827, 

1828. 
Henry H. Boody, 1857. 
James Cox, 1849, 1850. 
Marshall Cram, 1863, 1864, 1867, 

1868, 1870. 
James Curtis, Jr., 1809. t-^^ 
Henry Carvill, 1872. 
William Curtis, 1829. 
William Curtis, 1847, 1848. 
Dr. Samuel Duuken, 1781. 
David Dunlap, 1810, 1812, 1813, 

1815, 1816, 1820, 1831, 1832, 

1833, 1837. 
John Dunlap, 1799, 1801, 1802, 1803, 

1804, 1805. 
Robert P. Dunlap, 1821, 1822. 
David Dunning, 1742, 1743. 
Robert D. Dunning, 1808, 1809, 

1810, 1811, 1812, 1814, 1816. 
Ebenezcr Everett, 1839. 
Benjamin Furbish, 1854, 1861. 
Charles J. Gilman, 1853. 
Capt Robert Given, 1806, 1807. 
Joseph C. Given, 1856, 1858. 
Dr. E. H. Goss, 1800. 
Samuel Hinkley, 1747. 
Geo. W. Holden, 1830. 
C. C. Humplireys, 1871, 1872. 
Samuel R. Jackson, 1865, 1866. 
Francis C. Jordan, 1875, 1876. 



Coan Jordan, 1869. 

Adam Lemont, 1844, 1845. 

Hartwell Little, 1874. 

Joseph Lnnt, 2d, 1846, 1852. 

Joseph McKeen, 1819 

Capt. Joseph McLellan, 1821 (to 

fill vacancy). 
James F. Matthews, 1840. 
Beniamin H. Meeder, 1841, 1842, 

"1843. 
Roger Merrill, 1823, 1824. 
Henry Merritt, 1841. 
Capt. John Minot, 1796. 
John M. O'Brien, 1834. 
Philip Owen, 1812, 1813. 
William Owen, 1785. 
Captain John Peterson, 1790, 1791, 

1792. 
Elijah P. Pike, 1838. 
Henry Putnam, 1813. 
Thomas Skolfleld. 1859, 1860. 
Capt. William Stanwood, Jr., 1793, 

1798. 
Col. William Stanwood, 1794, 1795. 
Samuel Stanwood, 1776. 
Alfred J. Stone, 1835. 
Capt. Daniel Stone, 1820. 
John L. Swift, 1862. 
Brigadier Samuel Thompson, 1776. 
Samuel S. Wing, 1855. 




From Topsham. 



■Joseph Barron, 1856. 
George Barron, 1872. 
Benjamin M. Brown, 1866. 
Jonathan Ellis, 1805. 
Major William Frost, 1823, 1824, 

1828, 1830. 
James Fultou, 1775. 
Nathaniel Green, 1838, 1839, 1840, 

1846. 
Benjamin Hasey, 1806, 1807, 1809, 

1814, 1816. 
Aaron Hinckley, 1841. 
Horace B. Hubbard, 1848. 
William King, 1795, 1799. 
H. P. Mallett, 1854. 
Abel Merrill, 1820. 



Actor Patten, 3d, 1810, 1811. 
Actor Patten, 1812, 1813, 1815. 
Rufiis Patten, 1860, 1864. 
Major Nahum Perkins, 1825, 1826, 

1827, 1829. 
Sandford A. Perkins, 1858. 
Dr. Beniamin J. Porter, 1800, 1801, 

1803, 1804. 
Daniel F. Potter, 1868, 1870. 
Humphrey Puriutou, 1821, 1822. 
Geoi'ge Rogers, 1819. 
Josiah Sandford, 1835. 
David Scribuer, 1832, 1833, 1834. 
William S. Skolfleld, 1862, 1874. 
Willis Sprague, 1852. 
Charles Thompson, 1831. 



918 mSTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 



John II. Thompson, 1837. 
SamuclThonipson,1784to 1788, 1700 
to 1794, and 1797, 1798. 



IJobcrt P. Whitney, 1851. 
Henry Wilson, 1808. 



FuoM IIarpswki.l. 



.Tohn Blako, 1841. 

Joseph Coney, 1709. 

John Curtis, 1821, 1825, 1826, 1834, 

183.-). 
Benjamin Diinninir, 178.'), 1791, 1793, 

1707. ISOO. l.sdl, 1803, 180G. 
James II. Dnnnlnfr, 1850. 
Samuel Duniiiui,', 1808. 
Thomas U. Eaton, 18r.O. 
Thonuis A. Estes, 1805. 
.Jonathan Fo.ij.sr, 1871. 
Pliineas Foss, 1872. 
Washin-rton Gareelon, 1837, 1838, 

1840, 1843. 
Stephen Merrit, 1831. 
David Pennell, 1873. 
Thomas Peuuell, 1860. 



Stephen Purinton, 1810, 1813, 1814, 

1810, 1820, 1824. 
Benjamin Randall, 1822, 1823, 1827, 

'l830, 18,30. 
Paul Randall, 1832, 1833, 1839. 
Paul Kaymond, 1810. 
Clement Skolfleld, 1840, 1847, 1849, 

1850, 1852, 1854. 
Capt. Isaac Snow, 1783, 1787, 1789, 

1790, 1792. 
Samuel Snow, 1795. 
Samuel Stanwood, 1770. 
Lemuel II. Stover, 1802, 1808, 1809. 
Daiuel R. Stover, 1875, 1870. 
Isaae Sylvester, 1828, 1820. 
Marlborou^'h Sylvester, 1809, 
Levi L. Totuiau, 1845, 



APPENDIX VII. 



919 



APPENDIX VII. 



TOWN OFFICERS. 
Selectmen ok Brunswick. 



1739. 

Captain Benjamin Larrabce. 
Samuel Ilinklcy. 
Jolin Gctchel. 
James Dulling. 
David Duuing. 

1740. 

Benjamin Larrabee. 
Samuel Hinckley. 
David Giveen. 

1741. 

Samuel Ilinkley. 
David Dulling. 
Eobert Spear. 

174'2. 

Capt. Benjamin Larrabce. 
Samuel Hiukley. 
Wyniond Bradiniry. 

1T43. 

Elected at annual meeting. Held office till 
Aug. 30. 

Isaac Snow. 
Samuel Hinkley. 
Wyniond Bradbury. 
Elected Aug. 30. Held office tlUJan. 17, '44. 
Capt John Minot. 
Eben Standwood. 
James Dunning. 

1744. 

Elected Jan. 17. Held office till March meet- 
ing. 

Thos. Skolfield 
Ebenezer Standwood. '-'^ 
James Dunning. 
Elected at annual meeting in March. 
James Dunning. 
Samuel Clark. 
Ebenezer Stand 



1745. 

Thomas Skollleld. 
Ebenezer Standwood. 
Aaron Hiukley. 

1746. 

David Given. 
Isaac Snow. 
Thomas Skolfleld. 

1747. 

David Given. 
Isaac Snow. 
Thomas Skolfield. 

1748. 

James Thompson. 
Thomas Skolfield. 
John Smart. 

1749. 

John Getchel. 
David Dunning. 
Thomas Skolfield. 

1750. 

John Minot. 
Aaron Hinkley. 
Robert Finney. 

1751. 

John Minot. 
Isaac Snow. 
Robert Finney. 

1752. 

James Thompson. 
Samuel Staudwood. 
Thomas Skolfield. 

1753. 

William Woodside. 
James Thompson. 
Thomas Skolfield. 



S^ ^f !^ /* 



920 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



1754. 

James Thompson. 
Samuel Staudwood. 
Thomas Skolflekl. 

1755. 

Aai'ou Hinkley. 
William Speer. 
Eobert Giveen. 

1756. 

Isaac Snow. 
Samuel Staudwood. 
Thomas Skolflekl. 

1757. 

James Thompsou. 
William Standwood. 
Thomas Skolflekl. 

1758. 

Isaac Suow. 
William Standwood. 
Thomas Skolflekl. 

1759. 

Aaron Hinkley. 
William Standwood. 
Thomas Skolflekl. 

1760. 

Aaron Hinkley. 
Samuel Moody. 
Thomas Skolflekl. 

1761. 

Samuel Standwood. 
Phiueas Nevers. 
Thomas Skolflekl. 

1763. 

Thomas Skolfield. 
Samuel Standwood. 
Nathaniel Lai'rabee. 

1763. 

Samuel Standwood. 
Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Vincent Woodside. 

1764. 

Samuel Standwood. 
Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Vincent Woodside. 

1765. 

Samuel Standwood. 
Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Thomas Skolflekl. 



1766. 

Thomas Skolflekl. 
Samuel Standwood. 
Stephen Getchell. 

1767. 

Thomas Skolflekl. 
Samuel Standwood. 
Nathaniel Larrabee. 

1768. 

Samuel Thompson. 
William Woodside. 
Andrew Dunning. 

1769. 

Samuel Thompson. 
William Woodside. 
Andrew Dunning. 

1770. 

Samuel Thompson. 
Andrew Dunning. 
William Woodside. 

1771. 

Samuel Thompson. 
William Woodside. 
Robert Spear. 

177a. 

Thomas Skolflekl. 
Samuel ' tandwood. 
Nathaniel Larrabee. 

1773. 

Thomas Skolflekl. 
Samuel Standwood. 
Nathaniel Larrabee. 

1774. 

Samuel Standwood. 
William Standwood. i 
Nathaniel Larrabee. 

1775. 

Thomas Skolflekl. 
Thomas Moulton. 
Nathaniel Larrabee. 

1776. 

Samuel Standwood. 
Benjamin Stone. 
James Curtis. 

1777. 

Benjamin Stone. 
Samuel Standwood. 
James Curtis. 



APPENDIX VII. 



921 



1778. 

William Stauwood. — - 
John Diinlap. 
Nathaniel Larrabee. 

1779. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
William Stauwood. ^.^ 
Andrew Dunning. 

1780. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
William Stanwood. — 
Andrew Dunning. 

1781. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
William Stanwood. -_ 
Andi'ew Dunning. 

1783. 

Thomas Skolfield. 
Samuel Stanwood. 
James Curtis. 

1783. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
William Stanwood, Jr. 
Ephraim Hunt. 

1784. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
William Stanwood, Jr. 
Ephraim Hunt. 

1785. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
William Stanwood, Jr. 
Ephraim Hunt. 

1786. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Ephraim Hunt. 
Andrew Dunning. 

1787. 
Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Andrew Dunning. 
Ephraim Hunt. 

1788. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Andrew Dunning. 
William Stanwood, Jr. 

1789. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Andrew Dunning. 
William Stanwood, Jr. 



179Q. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Andrew Dunning. 
William Stanwood, Jr. 

1791. 

Nathaniel Larx'abee. 
John Dunning. • 
Daniel Given. 

1792. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
John Dunning. 
Daniel Given. 

1793. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 

Daniel Given. 

Capt. Wm. Stauwood, Jr. 

1794. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Col. William Stanwood. 
Daniel Given. 

1795. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Col. Wm. Stanwood. "~^^ 
Daniel Given. 

1796. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 

Col. Stauwood. 

Daniel Given. 

1797. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Col. Wm. Stanwood. ~"~ — 
Daniel Given. 

1798. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Col. Wm. Stauwood. --^^^^ 
Capt. Wm. Stanwood. 

1799. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Capt. Wm. Stanwood. ^ 
Amos Luut. ~" 

1800. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
William Dunning. 
Amos Lunt. 

1801. 

William Dunning. 
Dr. Charles Coffin. 
Nathaniel Larrabee. 



922 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



1803. 

Nathaniel Larrabee. 
Col. Wm. Stanwood. - — 
Daniel Given. 

1803. 

Ephraim Hunt. 
Stephen Larrabee. 
Charles Coffin. 

1804. 

William Duuuiug. 
Capt. Robert Thompson. 
Thomas Noyes. 

1805. 

William Dunning. 

Thomas Noyes. 

Capt. Eobei-t Thompson. 

1806. 

Capt Robert Thompson. 
William Dunning. 
Thomas Noyes. 

1807. 

William Dunning. 
John Perry, Jr. 
Stephen Larrabee, Jr. 

1808. 

William Dunning. 
John Perry, Jr. 
Stephen Larrabee, Jr. 

1809. 

Robert D. Dunning. 
Stephen Larrabee, Jr. 
Jacob Anderson. 

18 to. 

Stephen Larrabee, 
Joseph Hacker. 
AVilliam Dunning. 

1811. 

John Given. 
Joseph Hacker. 
William Dunning. 

18l!8. 

Joseph Hacker. 
James Dunning. 
Stephen Larrabee. 

1813. 

James Dunning. 
Stephen Larrabee. 
Joseph Hacker. 



1814. 

Hon. Jacob Abbot. 
Robert D Dunning, Esq. 
Stephen Larrabee. 

1815. 

Joseph Hacker. 
Robert D. Dunning. 
David Given. 

1816. 

David Given. 
Joseph Hacker. 
Robert D. Dunning. 

1817. 

Joseph Hackei'. 
Edward Raymond. 
Caleb Gushing. 

1818. 

Caleb Gushing. 
Joseph Hacker. 
Edward Raymond. 

1819. 

Caleb Gushing. 
Edward Raymond. 
Jacob Pennell. 

1820. 

Caleb Gushing. 
Edward Raymond. 
Jacob Pennell. 

1831. 

Caleb Gushing. 
Edward Raymond. 
Jacob Pennell. 

183!3. 

Caleb Gushing. 
Edward Raj'mond. 
Jacob Pennell. 

1823. 

Caleb Gushing. 
Edward Raymond. 
Jacob Pennell. 

1824. 

Abner Bourne. 
Thomas Given, 2d. 
David Farrin. 

1825. 

Abner Bourne. 
Thomas Given, Jr. 
David Farrin. 



APPENDIX ril. 



923 



18'36. 

Abner Bourue. 
Thomas Given, 2d. 
David FaiTin. 

issr. 

John A. Dunning. 
James F. Matthevrs. 
Thomas Given. 

1828. 

John A. Dunning. 
James F. Matthews. 
Thomas Given. 

1839. 

John A. Dunning. 
James F. Mathevrs. 
Thomas Given. 

1830. 

Jolin A. Dunning. 
James F. Matliews. 
Thomas Given. 

1831. 

Noah Hinkley. 
James F. Matliews. 
Isaiah Hacker. 

1833. 

John A. Dunning. 
James F. Matthews. 
Isaiah Hacker. 

1833. 

John A. Dunning. 
James F. Matthews. 
Isaiah Hacker. 

1834. 

Elijah P. Pike. 
Isaiah Hacker. 
Thomas Given. 

1835. 

Nathaniel Dunning. 
James F. Matthews. 
Henry Merritt. 

1836. 

Nathaniel Dunning. 
James F. Matthews. 
Thomas Given, 2d. 

1837. 

James. F. Matthews. 
Thomas Given, 2d. 
John C. Humphreys. 



1838. 

James F. Matthews. 
Robert Penuell. 
Peter Jordan. 

1839. 

James F. Matthews. 
Robert Penuell. 
James Cox. 

1840. 

James F. Matthews. 
James Cox. 
Joseph Lunt, 2d. 

1841. 

James F. Matthews. 
James Cox. 
Joseph Lunt, 2d. 

1843. 

Adam Lemont. 
Joseph Lunt, 2d. 
Richard Greenleaf. 

1843. 

Adam Lemont. 
.Joseph Lunt, 2d. 
Richard GreenleaC 

1844. 

Adam Lemont. 
Richard Greenleaf. 
Joseph Lamb, 2d. 

1845. 

Richard Greenleaf. 
.Joseph Lunt, 2d. 
Samuel S. Wing. 

1846. 

Richard Greenleaf. 
Joseph Lunt, 2d. 
Samuel S. Wing. 

1847. 

Richard Greenleaf. 
Samuel iS. Wing. 
James Otis. 

1848. 

Richard Greenleaf. 
Samuel S. Wing. 
J. W. Forsaith. 

1849. 

Richard Greenleaf. 
S. S. Wing. 
Benjamin D. Pennell. 



924 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



1850. 

Richard Greeuleaf. 
Samuel S. Wiug. 
Benjamin D. Peuuell. 

1851. 

Richard Greenleaf. 
Benjamin Furbish. 
Jolin S. Gross. 

1853. 

Richard Greenleaf. 
Rodney Forsaith. 
Benjamin D. Feunell. 

185S. 

Richard Greenleaf. 
Rodney Forsaith. 
Benjamin D. Peunell. 

1S54. 

Richard Greenleaf. 
Rodney Forsaith. 
Benjamin D. Pennell. 

1855. 

Joseph Lnut, 2d. 
George C. Crawford. 
Gardiner G. Frost. 

1856. 

Joseph Lunt, 2d. 
Thomas S. I>unning. 
Joseph C. Given. 

1857. 

Joseph Lunt, 2d. 
John L, Swift. 
Gardiner G. Frost. 

1858. 

Joseph Lunt, 2d. 
John L. Swift. 
John S. Gross. 

1859. 

Richard Greenleaf. 
William S. Given. 
Nathaniel Badger. 

I860. 

John L. Swift. 
Leonard Townsend. 
Augustus F. Cox. 

1861. 

John L Swift. 
Leonard Townsend. 
Augustus F. Cox. 



1862. 

Leonard Townsend. 
Augustus F. Cox. 
Francis Owen. 

1863. 

Leonard Townsend. 
Augustus F. Cox. 
Francis Owen. 

1864. 

Leonard Townsend. 
Augustus F. Cox. 
Francis Owen. 

1865. 

Joseph Lunt, 2d. 
John L. Swift. 
Leonard Townsend. 

1866. 

Joseph Lunt. 
Augustus F. Cox. 
John L. Swift. 

1867. 

Joseph Lunt. 
Augustus F. Cox. 
Chas. C. Humphreys. 

1868. 

C. C. Humphreys. 
J. C. Given. 
Henry Carvill. 

1869. 

C. C. Humphreys. 
J. C. Given. 
Henry Carvill. 

1870. 

Henry Carvill. 
Joseph Lunt, 2d. 
Lyman E. Smith. 

1871. 

Henry Carvill. 
Lvmau E. Smith. 
Chas. N. Bates. 

1872. 

Henry Carvill. 
Lyman E. Smith. 
John Crawford. 

1873. 

Lyman E. Smith. 
Thomas U. Eaton. 
Larkiu D. Snow. 



APPENDIX VII. 



925 



1874. 

La^rkin D. Snow. 
Samuel S. Wing. 
Geo. P. Simpson. 

1875. 

Samuel S. Wing. 
Geo. P. Simpson. 
Horatio A. Patten. 



isre. 

Lyman E. Smith. 
Samuel S. Wing. 
Thomas U. Eaton. 

1877. 

Lyman E. Smith. 
Thomas U. Eaton. 
Sumner L. Holbrook. 



Town Clerks of Brunswick. 



Nathaniel Badger, from 1837 to 

1859. 
Wimond Bradbury, 1741, 1742. 
Charles Coffin, 1803. 
David Dunning, 1762. 
Robert Fiuney, from 1744 to 1751. 
J. W. Forsaith, 1865 to 1867. 
Daniel Given, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 

1815, 1816, 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820. 
Samuel Hinkley, 1739 
Benjamin Larrabee, 1740, 1743. 



Nathaniel Larrabee, from 1766 to 

1802. 
John McKeen, from 1821 to 1836. 
Johu Perry, 1809. 
Nathaniel Poor, 1814. 
Thomas Skolfield, from 1752 to 1761 

and 1763, 1764, 17G5. 
Jotham Stone, from 1804 to 1808. 
Leonard Townsend, from 1860 to 

1864, and from 1868 to 1877. 



Selectmen of Topsham. 



1764. 

John Fulton. 
John Heed. 
John Merrill. 

1765. 

No record. 

1766. 

Adam Hunter. 
James Hendry, 
John Fultou. 

1767. 

James Hunter. 
John Merrill. 
John Winchell. 

1768. 

John Fulton. 
James Hunter. 
Johu Merrill. 

1769. 

William Thorne. 
James Henry, Sen. 
Actor Patten. 

1770. 

Joseph Graves. 
James Mustard. 
John Morrill. 



1771. 

John Merrill. 
William Reed, Jr. 
James Fultou. 

1773. 

John Fulton. 
John Merrill. 
James Potter, Jr. 

1773. 

John Merrill. 
James Hunter. 
Samuel Graves. 

1774. 

Thomas Wilson. 
James Beverage. 
John Winchell. 

1775. 

Thomas Wilson. 
James Beverage. 
John Fulton. 

1776. 

John Fulton. 
William Randall. 
Actor Patten. 

1777. 

John Merrill. 
James Potter. 
James Fulton. 



926 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOP SHAM, AND HARP SWELL. 



1778. 

John Merrill. 
James Potter. 
James Fultou. 

1779. 

John Merrill. 
James Hunter. 
W^illiam Wilson. 

1780. 

John Merrill. 
James Fulton. 
William Wilson. 

1781. 

John Merrill. 
Arthur Hunter. 
Jonathan Berry. 

1782. 

Arthur Hunter. 
John Eeed. 
James Wilson. 

i-^ 1783. 

Arthur Hunter. 
James Wilson. 
John Sandford. 

1784. 

John Fulton. 
James Wilson. 
Arthur Hunter. 

1786, 

John Fulton. 
James AVilson. 
Arthur Hunter. 

1786. 

John Fulton. 
James Wilson. 
Arthur Hunter. 

1787. 

John Fulton. 
James Wilson. 
Arthur Hunter. 

1788, 

John Fulton. 
James Wilson. 
Arthur Hunter. 

1789, 

John Fulton. 
Jonston Graves. 
Ezekiel Thompson. 



1790. 

William Wilson. 
John Kogers. 
Ezekiel Thompson. 

1791. 

William Wilson. 
John Rogers. 
Ezekiel Thompson. 

1793, 

William Wilson. 
Ezekiel Thompson. 
John Rogers. 

1793. 

John Fultou. 
William Wilson. 
John Merrill. 

1794. 

John Merrill. 
John Fulton. 
William Wilson. 

1795. 

John Merrill. 
John Fulton. 
William Wilson. 

1796. 

John Merrill. 
John Fultou. 
William Wilson. 

1797. 

John Merrill. 
John Fulton. 
William Wilson. 

1798. 

John Merrill. 
James Wilson. 
Alexander Rogers. 

1799. 

William Wilson. 
Alexander Thompson. 
Robert Patten. 

1800. 

John Merrill. 
Arthur Hunter. 
John Fulton. 

1801. 

John Fulton. 
Arthur Huuter. 
John Merrill. 



AP PEN nix VII. 



927 



1803. 

Arthur Hunter. 
Johu Merrill. 
Alexander Rogers. 

1803. 

John Merrill. 
Johu Fulton. 
Alexander Thompson. 

1804. 

Alexander Thompson, Sen. 
Ezra Smith. 
John Rogers. 

1805. 

John Merrill. 
Johu Rogei's. 
Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 

1806. 

Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 
Actor Patten, Jr. 
Crispus Graves. 

1807. 

Actor Patten, Jr. 
Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 
Crispus Graves. 

1808. 

Actor Patten, Jr. 
Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 
Crispus Graves. 

1809. 

Actor Patten, 3d. 
Crispus Graves. 
Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 

1810. 

Actor Patten, 3d. 
Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 
William Graves. 

1811. 

William Graves. 
Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 
James Fulton, Jr. 

1813. 

William Graves. 
Pelatiah Haley. Jr. 
James Fulton, Jr. 

1813. 

Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 
William Graves. 
James Fulton, Jr. 



1814. 

Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 
Alexander Thompson. 
William Graves. 

1815. 

Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 
Alexander Thompson. 
William Graves. 

1816. 

Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 
Alexander Thompson. 
William Graves. 

1817. 

Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 
William Graves, 
Johu Rogers, Jr. 

1818. 

Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 
William Graves. 
John Rogers, Jr. 

1819. 

Pelatiah Haley, Jr. 
William Graves. 
George F. Patten. 

1820. 

Benjamin J. Porter. 
David Foster. 
Arthur Huuter, Jr. 

1831. 

Pelatiah Haley. 
John Rogers, Jr. 
William Graves. 

1833. 

Pelatiah Haley. 
William Graves. 
John Rogers. 

1833. 

Pelatiah Haley. 
William Graves. 
Capt. John Rogers. 



Pelatiah Haley. 
William Graves. 
Capt. John Rogers. 

1825. 

Pelatiah Haley. 
William Graves. 
John Rogers, Jr. 



928 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



1836. 

Pelatiah Haley. 

Capt. John Rogers, Jr. 

Isaac ThompsoD. 

1827. 

Nathaniel Green. 
Capt. John Rogers, Jr. 
John H. Thompson. 

1828. 

Nathaniel Green. 
John H. Thompson. 
John Rogers, Jr. 

1829. 

Nathaniel Green. 
John H. Thompson. 
Josiah Saudford. 

1830. 

Nathaniel Green. 
Josiah Sandford. 
Isaac Thompson. 

1831. 

John H. Thompson. 
Josiah Saudford. 
Samuel Perkins. 

1832. 

John H. Thompson. 
Josiah Sandford. 
Samuel Perkins. 

1833. 

John H. Thompson. 
Josiah Sandford. 
Samuel Perkins. 

1834. 

John H. Thompson. 
Josiah Sandford. 
Samuel Perkins. 

1835. 

John H. Thompson. 
Josiah Sandford. 
Samuel Perkins. 

1836. 

John H. Thompson. 
George Rogers. 
Joshua Haskell. 

1837. 

John H. Thompson. 
George Rogers. 
Joshua Haskell. 



1838. 

George Rogers. 
Joshua Haskell. 
David Scribuer. 

1839. 

Nathaniel Green. 
David Scribner. 
Benjamin Thompson. 

1840. 

Nathaniel Green. 
David Scribner. 
Benjamin Thompson. 

1841. 

David Scribner. 
Benjamin Thompson. 
Alvah Jameson. 

1842. 

Nathaniel Green. 
Josiah Sandford. 
Francis T. Purinton. 

1843. 

Nathaniel Green. 
Josiah Sandford. 
F. T. Purinton. 

1844. 

Nathaniel Green. 
Francis T. Purinton. 
Matthew Patten. 

1845. 

Alvah Jameson. 
George Rogers. 
Benjamin Thompson. 

1846. 

Alvah Jameson. 
George Rogers. 
Uriah Jack. 

1847. 

Alvah .Jameson. 
George Rogers. 
Uriah Jack. 

1848. 

George Rogers. 

Uriah Jack. 

John H. Thompson. 



George Rogers. 
Uriah Jack. 
Charles E. White. 



APPENDIX VII. 



929 



1850.1 

George Rogers. 
< !aleb Killgore. 
John H. Alexander. 

1851. 

Geoi'ge Rogers. 
Caleb Killgore. 
John n. Alexander. 

185S. 

George Rogers. 
Caleb Killgore. 
John Alexander, 

1853. 

"William Dennett. 
Calel) Killgore. 
Humphrey F. Mallett. 

J 854. 

William Dennett. 
Humphrey P. Mallett. 
Holmau Staples. 

1855. 

William Dennett. 
George Rogers. 
Aaron Hiukley. 

1856. 

George Rogers. 
John H. Thompson. 
Robert Tate. 

i85r. 

George Rogers. 
Joshua Haskell. 
Robert Tate. 

1858. 
Humphrey P Mallett. 
Joshua Haskell. 
Holmau Staples. 

1859. 

George Rogers. 
Fred W. Dearborn. 
Charles T. Patten. 

I860. 

H. P. Mallett. 
Francis Adams. 
Given Jameson. 

1861. 

H. P Mallett. 
Francis Adams. 
Given Jameson. 

59 



1863. 

Humphrey P. Mallett. 
George A. Rogers. 
Charles W. Purinton. 

1863. 
H. P. Maliett. 
Given Jameson. 
David Work. 

1864. 
H. P. Mallett. 
Given Jameson. 
David Work. 

1865. 

H. P. Mallett. 
Given .Jameson. 
David Woi'k. 

1S66. 

H. P. Mallett. 
Given .Tamesou. 
David Work. 

1867. 

Francis Adams. 
Given Jameson. 
George A. Rogers. 

1868. 
Francis Adams. 
George A. Rogers. 
Joseph H. Purington. 

1869. 

Fi'ancis Adams. 
George A. Rogers. 
Joseph H. Purington. 

1870. 

George A. Rogers. 
William E. Graves. 
Joseph H. Puriugton. 

1871. 

George A. Rogers. 
William E. Graves. 
Joseph H. Purington. 

1872. 

William Flye. 
David Work 
Charles W. Purinton. 

1873. 

David Work. 
Charles W. Purinton. 
Joseph H. Purington. 



930 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. 



i8r4. 

George A. Rogers. 
Cliaries W. Piiriuton. 
Isaac E. Mallett. 

isrs. 

Charles ^Y. Purintou. 
Isaac E. Mallett 
Charles E. Haskell. 



1876. 

Isaac E. Mallett. 
Charles W. Puriiiton. 
Frederick W. Dearborn. 

1871. 
Charles W. Pariutoii. 
Isaac E. Mallett, 
Frederick W. Dearbora. 



Town Clerks of Topsham. 



James T. Adams, 1861. 
James Harrou, 18G4. 
Bela T. Bicknell, 1842, 1843. 
William Dennett. 18:50, 1837. 
Alfred W. Dennett. 1874. 
Obadiah E. Frost, 1838, 1839. 
Robert Gower, from 1767 to 1772. 
Nathaniel Green, 1840. 
John Hnnter, 1773, 1774, 1775. 
Robert Hnnter, from 177G to 1793. 
Benjamin .Taqnes, from 18G5 to 1870. 
Gould Jewell, 1841. 
F. T. Littleficld, 1861. 
Abel Merrill, 1819. 
John Morse, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806. 
Benjamin Jones Porter, 1794, 1795, 
1796. 



Abner W. Pnriugton, 1850, 1862, 

1803. 
John Rogers, 1797, 1798. 
George Rogers, from 1S13 to 1818. 
Thomas E'^Sandford, 1812 
Ezra Smith, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802. 
John H. Thompson, from 1829 to 

1835, and 1852, 1853, 1854, 1859. 
William Thorne, 1764, 1700. 
Nathaniel Walker, from 1820 to 1828. 
Charles E. White, from 1843 to 1849, 

and 1857. 1858, 1871, 1876. 1877. 
Robert P. Whitnejs 1850, 1851, 1800. 
Henrv Wilson, from 1807 to 1811. 
L. M". Work, 1855. 
Charles W. Wilson, 1872, 1873, 1875. 



SULKCTMEN OF HaRPSWELL. 



175^. 

David Cnrtis. 
Isaac Hall. 
Andrew Dunning. 

1759. 

David Curtis. 
Andrew Dunning. 
Paul Raymond. 

1760. 

Edward Easters. 
Jonathan Flint. 
Andrew Dunning. 
Paul Raymond. 
Isaac Snow. 

1761. 

Jonathan Flint. 
P.ml Raymond. 
Walter Merriman. 

1763. 

Jonathan Flint. 
Walter Merriman. 
James Booker. 



1763. 



Capt. William Sylvester. 
Lieut .Joshua Berstow. 
Paul Raymond. 

1764. 

Andrew Dunning. 
Nehemiah Curtis. 
Paul Raymond. 

1765. 

Pan! Raymond. 
Nehemiah Curtis. 
John Roduck. 



1768. 

Nehemiah Curtis. 
John Roduck 
Nathaniel Purintou. 

1767. 

Nathaniel Purintou. 
Nehemiah Curtis. 
John Roduck. 



APPENDIX VII. 



931 



176S. 

William Sylvester, Esq. 
I'^dward Ciiniiigham. 
Nathaniel Puriutou. 

17G9. 

William Sylvester, Esq. 
Edward Cimiugham. 
Nathaniel Puriuton. 

17 70. 

Paul Raymond. 
Capt. John Stover. 
Ezekiel Cui'tis. 

1771. 

William Sylvester. 
Ezekiel Curtis. 
Paul Raymond. 

1773. 

William Sylvester. 

Ezekiel Curtis. 

Isaac Snow. ' 

17T3. 

William Sylvester. 
Isaac Snow. 
Ezekiel Curtis. 

1774. 

William Sylvester. 
John Snow. 
Ezekiel Curtis. 

1775. 

Lieut. John Roduck. 
Anthony Coombs, Jr. 
William Sylvester. 

1776. 

William Sylvester, Esq. 
Lieut. John Roduck. 
Ensign Anthony Coombs, Jr. 

1777. 

William Sylvester, Esq. 
John Roduck. 
Anthony Coombs, Jr. 

1778. 

William Sylvester, Esq. 
Nathaniel Puriuton, Esq. 
Capt. Nehemiah Curtis. 

1779. 

William Sylvester, Esq. 
John Roduck. 
Simeon Hopkins. 



17S0. 

John Roduck. 
Nathaniel Puriuton, Esq. 
Ezekiel Curtis. 

1781. 

John Roduck. 
Lieut. Beuj. Duuing. 
Dea. Isaac Snow. 

1782. 

Capt. Isaac Snow. 
John Roduck. 
Lieut. Benj, Duuing. 

1783. 

William Sylvester. 
John Roduck. 
Nathaniel Puriuton. 

1784. 

John Roduck. 
Nathaniel Puriuton. 
Ezekiel Curtis. 

1785. 

John Roduck. 
Nathaniel Puriuton. 
Ezekiel Curtis. 

1786. 

Nathaniel Puriuton. 
John Roduck. 
Ezekiel Curtis. 

1787. 

Nathaniel Puriuton. 
John Roduck. 
Ezekiel Curtis. 

1788. 
John Roduck. 
Ezekiel Curtis. 
Anthony Coombs. 

1789. 

John Roduck. 
Anthony Coombs. 
Ezekiel Curtis. 

1790. 

Isaac Snow. 
Daniel Randall. 
Ezekiel Curtis. 

1791. 

Joliusou Stover. 
Jahn Rodick. 
Stephen Puriutou. 



932 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND IIARPSWELL. 



1792. 

Johnson Stover. 
John Hodick. 
Isaac Snow. 

1793. 

John Eodick. 
Ezeklcl Curtis. 
Stephen Purinton. 

1794, 

Joseph Carr. 

Johnson Stover. 

Capt. Nehemiah Curtis. 

1795. 

John Rodick. 

Ezckiel Curtis. 

Lieut. Antliouy Coombs. 

1796. 

John Rodick. 

Kzekiel Curtis. 

Lieut. Anthony Coombs. 

1797. 

Samuel Snow. 
John l^odick. 
Marlborough Sjivester. 

1798. 

Samuel Snow. 
John Rodick. 
Marlborougli Sylvester. 

1799. 

John Rodick. 
Marlborough Sylvester. 
Charles Ryan. 

1800. 

Paul Randall. 
Marlborough Sylvester. 
Antliony Coombs. 

1801. 

Anthony Coombs. 

M arlborough Sylvester. 

Capt. Nehemiah Curtis. 

1803. 

Anthony Coombs. 
Marlborough Sylvester. 
John Rodick. 

180.3. 

Capt. Samuel Snow. 
Marlborough Sylvester. 
Paul Curtis. 



1804. 
Marlborough Sylvester. 
John Snow, Jr. 
Johnson Stover. 

1805. 

John Snow, Jr. 
Marlborough Sylvester. 
Capt. Johnson Stover. 

1806. 

Marlborough Sylvester. 
Capt. Johnson Stover. 
Capt. John Snow. 

1807. 

Harrison Cleaves. 
Marlborough Sylvester. 
Paul Raymond. 

1808. 

Marlborough Sylvester. 
Alcot Stover, Jr. 
Paul Raymond. 

1809. 

John Curtis. 
Alcot Stover, Jr. 
Paul Raymond. 

1810. 

John Curtis. 
Alcot Stover, ,Tr. 
Paul Raymond. 

1811. 

John Curtis. 
Paul Raymond. 
Alcot Stover, Jr. 

1812, 

John Curtis. 
Alcot Stover, Jr. 
Paul Raymond. 



John Curtis. 
Stephen Snow. 
Alcot Stover, Jr. 



John Curtis. 
Alcot StoA'er, Jr. 
Paul Raymond. 

1815. 

Marlborough Sylvester. 
Alcot Stover, Jr. 
Anthony Coombs. 



APPENDIX VII. 



933 



1816. 

Alcot Stover, Jr. 
John Curtis. 
Paul Raymoud. 

1817. 

John Curtis. 
Alcot Stover, Jr. 
Paul Raymoud. 

1818. 

Benjamin Randall. 
John Pennell. 
Paul Raymond. 

1819. 

John Curtis. 
Benjamin Randall. 
Paul Raymoud. 

1830. 

Georg-e Skolflcld. 
l^enjamin Randall. 
Stephen Merritt. 

1821. 

Paul Raymond. 
Joliu Curtis. 
Capt. Peleg Curtis. 

1833. 
John Curtis. 
Paul Raymond. 
Benjamin Randall. 

1833. 

Isaac Sj'lvester. 
Benjamin Randall. 
Paul Raymond. 



Isaac Sylvester. 
Samuel Toothaker. 
Capt. Peleg Curtis. 

1835. 

Peleg Curtis. 

Isaac Sylvester. 
Samuel Toothaker. 

1836. 

vSamuel Toothaker. 
Paul Randall. 
Peleg Curtis. 

1837. 

Sylvester Stover. 
Paul Raudall. 
Samuel Toothaker. 



183". 

Benjamin Randall. 
Samuel Toothaker. 
James Merymau, '6(\. 

1839. 

James Meryman. ikl. 
Benjamin Randall. 
Samuel Toothaker. 

1830. 

James Eastman. 
James Meryman, od. 
Benjamin Randall. 

1831. 

Peleg Curtis. 
James Meryman, 3d. 
Simeon Ori". 

1832. 

Paul Randall. 
John Stover. 
Simeon Orr. 

1833. 

Paul Randall. 
Benjamin Wandall. 
Samuel Toothaker. 

1834. 

Peleg Curtis. 
James Meryman, 3d. 
Samuel Toothaker. 

1835. 

Isaac Stover. 
Paul Randall. 
Stephen Snow. 

1836. 

Isaac Stover. 
Paul Randall. 
Samuel Toothaker. 

1837. 

Isaac Stover. 
Paul Randall. 
James Eastman. 

1838. 

Benjamin Randall. 
Thomas Alexander. 
James Eastman. 

1839. 

Thomas Alexander. 
William Randall. 
Simeon Orr. 



934 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELI. 



1840. 

Washington Garcelon. 
Thomas Alexandei*. 
Simeon Orr. 

1841. 

Benjamin Kandall. 
James Moryman, 3d. 
Simeon Orr. 

1843. 

Paul Randall. 
Isaac Stover. 
Sanmel Toothaker. 

1843. 

raul Randall. 
Isaac Stover. 
Sanmel Toothaker. 

1844, 

Paul Randall. 
Harry C. Martin. 
Simeon Hopkins. 

1845. 

Isaiah Snow. 
Paul Randall. 
Washingtcni Garcelon. 

1846. 

Alcot Stover. 
Robert Pcniiell. 
Robert Stover. 

1847. 

Isaiah Snow. 
Alcot Stover. 
Robert Peunell. 

1848. 

Isaiah Snow. 
Robert Pcnnell. 
James Stover. ' 

1849. 

James Stover. 
Isaiah Snow. 
Robert Peunell. 

18.50. 

Robert Peunell. 
James Stover. 
Isaiah Snow. 

1851. 

James Stover. 
Isaiah Snow. 
Robert Peunell. 



1852. 

Robert Pennell. 
Isaiah Snow. 
James Stover. 

185.3. 

Thomas I". Eaton. 
Simeon Hopkins. 
David Webber. 

18.'>4. 

Thos. IT. Eaton. 
David Webber. 
Simeon Hopkins. 

1855. 

Thos. U. Eaton. 
David Webber. 
Isaiah Suow. 

1856. 

Thos. U. Eaton. 
Alcot S. Merry num. 
Alexander Ewing. 

i85r. 

Henry Barnes. 
Lemuel H. Stover. 
Alexander Ewing. 

1858. 
Henry Barnes. 
Lemuel II. Stover. 
Alexander Ewing. 

1850. 

Thos. U. Eaton. 
Wm. Randall. 
Joseph Orr. 

1800. 

Thos. IT. Eaton. 
Wm. Randall. 
Joseph Orr. 

1861. 

William Randall. 
Paul A. Durgan. 
Isaiah Snow. 

1863. 

Isaiah SnoAV. 
Hutson Merriman. 
David Webber. 

1863. 

Geo. R. Skolfield. 
Lemuel II. Stover. 
Joseph D. Wyer. 



APPENDIX Vll. 



935 



1864. 

Lemuel H. Stover. 
AVin. C. Eaton. 
Samuel S. Toothaker, 

1865. 

Wm. C. Eaton. 
L. H. Stover. 
Samuel S. Toothaker. 

1866. 

Thos. Pennell. 
E. C. Simpson. 
Stephen Purinton. 

1867. 

L. H. Stover. 
William C. Eaton. 
Charles E. Trufant. 

1868. 

"William C. Eaton. 
L. H. Stover. 
Eraucis J. Orr. 

1869. 

L. H. Stover. 
William C. Eaton. 
S. S. Toothaker. 

1870. 

Isaac Merrymau, 2d. 
Sylvester Stover. 
S. S. Toothaker. 



1871. 

David Pennell. 
L. H. Stover 
S. S. Toothaker. 

1873. 

James Alexander. 
E K. Hodgkins. 
S. S. Toothaker. 

1873. 

Thomas E. Skolfleld. 
Moses Bailey. 
S. S. Toothaker. 

1»«74. 

Thomas E. Skolfleld. 
Moses Bailey 
Samuel S. Toothaker. 

1875. 

Thomas E. Skolfleld. 
Moses Bailey. 
Charles E. Trufant. 

1876. 

Thomas E. Skolfleld. 
Elijah K. Hodgkins. 
Charles E. Trufant. 

1877. 

Thomas E. Skolfleld. 
Elijah K. Hodgkins. 
Charles E. Trufant. 



Town Clerks of Haupswell. 



Anthony Coombs, ,Jr , 1783, 1793. 
Andrew Dunning, from 1758 to 1782. 
Andrew Dunning, from 1814 to 1820. 
Benjamin Dunning, 1791, 1792. 
Wiliian Dunning, Jr , from 1800 to 

1811. 
Joseph Eaton, from 1821 to 1825 
Thomas U. Eaton, from 1853 to 

185", and in 1859, 1860 
Washington Garcelon, 1844, 1845. 
James Meryman, 3d, 1833, 1834, 

1835 
Robert Pennell, from 1846 to 1852. 



Paul Pandall, from 1820 to 1832 

(supply James Mervman, q.v ), 

and from 1836 to 1843. 
Elisha S. Stover. 1863, 1864, 1865, 

1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 

1877. 
Lemuel H. Stover, 1858, 1861, 1867, 

1868, 1869, 1870, 1871. 
Sylvester Stover, 1862, 1866. 
Marlborough Sylvester, from 1794 

to 1799, and in 1813. 
William Sylvester, from 1784 to 

1790. 



GE:NrERAL IISTDEX. 



A. 

Abagadusset Point, 3, 27, 28, 82. 
Abagadusset River, 3, 21, 76, 82. 
Abenaki, The, 1,3. 
Aboriginal Inhabitants, 1-6. 
Academical Institutions, 475-7 486-7 

496-7. 
Accidents at Mills, etc., 318. 
Accidents by Stage, 325. 
Accidents, Curious, 208. 
Accidents, Fatal, 229, 316-19. 
Accidents from Lightning, 317. . 
Account-Book of Elisha Eaton, Docu- 
ment from the, 443-4. 
Account-Books. See Dav-Books. 
Account of the Settlements made on 

Wharton's Lands, 19-21. 
Account of a Barge ordered off from 

Bailey's Island, 695. • 
Acts of Annexation, 109, 156-8. 
Act of Incorporation, 36, 38, 84, 85 ; 

of Brunswick, 106-7, 150. 
Act of Incorporation of Harpswell, 161-2. 
Act of Incorporation of Topsham, 182-3. 
Actions at Law, lo. 
Adams Hall, Bowdoin College, 518. 
Address to Senators, 141. 
Adventures of Molly Phinney, 67-8. 
Advocate of Freedom, The, 308. 
Agreement of the Continental Congress, 

122-3. 
Agriculture, 215. 

Agricultural and Mechanical Association, 
The, 238-9. 

Ah-me-lah-cog-netur-cook, 4. 

Alder, 99. 

Alewife, 94. 

Amasaquanteg, 4. 

Amascongan, 4. 

Amazonian Spar, 97. 

Amitigonpontook, 4, 

Ammunition, Town Stocks of, 119, 121 

124, 167, 173, 184, 189,695. 
Amphibians, 92-3. 
Amphibite, 98. 
Amusements, 206-7, 222-5. 
Analytical Laboratory, Bowdoin ColIe"-e 

518, ■ " ' 

Anasagunticook, The, 1, 4. 
Anconganunticook, 4. 



Androscoggin Bank, The, 616. 
Androscoggin Bridge, The, 80, 548. 
Androscoggin Falls, The, 14, 107, 554. 
Androscoggin Fire Company, 275-6. 
Androscoggin Fire-Engine' No. 2, 231, 

275. 
Androscoggin Free Press, The, 307. 
Andrcscoggin Indians, 2, 49, 50, 52, 
Androscoggin Kiver, The, 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 
30, 52,"58, 75-8, 82, 83, 94, 96, 107, 
110, 1.32, 133, 187. 
Anecdotes, 88-9, 212-13, 219, 221, 223, 

241, 299, 320, 365-6, 372, 385-6. 
Annexation, 115, 117, 132, 183-4, 187-8. 
Antislavery Society, 233. 
Apatite, 97. 
Apothecaries, 587. 

Appleton Hail, Bowdoin College, 518. 
Appropriations for the "War of tlie Rebel- 
lion ; in Brunswick, 696, 700; in 
Harpswell, 702-5; in Topsham, 700-2. 
Arbor-Vita;, 99. 
Areas, 25, 28, 30, 43, 75, 104. 
Arnold's Men quartered in Brunswick, 

683. 
Arockamecook, 4. 
Aroostook, 91. 
Arundel, 11, 34. 
Ash, 99. 
Ash Cove, 87. 

Assistant to the Government, 18. 
Associations, 233, 238, 256, 372. 
Atkins Bay, 7, 13, 14. 
Attack upon the Indians, Harmon's, 55 
Attack upon Mr. Wilson by Gen. 

Thompson et ah., 680. 
Attack upon a Picaroon at Harpswell, 

685. 
Atictioneers, 577. 
Augusta, 75. 
Aurora, 101. 
Autographs, Fac-Similes of, 632, 748. 

B. 

Bagaduce Expedition, Order to raise a 

Regiment for the, etc., 686. 
Bagadu.sset, 3. 
Bailey's Island, 75, 84-7 
Bakers, 577-8, 611, 619. 
Bald Rock, 83. 



938 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Balls, 231. 

Bandhox jManufactory, 568. 

Band, Brnuswick Brass, 246. 

I?aiiks, r)75-7. 

Bank Street, 5,59. 

Baptisms, 368, 370-1, 405, 424, 426, 432, 

442-3, 446. 
Baptist Societies, 377-388. 
Baptist Church, Brunswick, 380 ; Ilarps- 

well,384; Federal Street, 384; Tops- 

liam, Predcstinarian, 421 ; Church 

Society, To])shani, 423-6. 
Bapti.'^t Churcli and Society, Brunswick, 

Maine Street, 387-8 ; Second, 383. 
Baptist Church and Society, Harpswell, 

First, 44C)-7 ; Second, 447-9. 
Baptist Preaching in Bruiis\yick, The 

tirst, 377-8; iu Topsham, 419; in 

Harpswell, 446. 
Baptist Eeligious Society in Bruus\yick, 

Harpswell, and Bath, S78. 
Baptist Keligious Society of Bruns^yick, 

382, 383 ; of To])sh'ani, 420-3. 
Baptist Society, at JMaquoit, 379 ; in 

Brulls^vick, First, 381, 383 ; Second, 

383, 386; Federal Street, 386-7 ; in 
Topsham 411, 419-23. 

Baptist Societies, Differences hetween, 

383. 
Baptist Societies, Separation from, 423. 
Barhers, 578. 
Barne's Island, 87. 
Barometrical Statistics, 101. 
Bass-Viol in Church, 389. 
Bath, 69, 75, 76, 84, 144. 
Bath, Maine Enquirer, 310. 
Bath Street, 539. 
Baxter's Island, 42, 81. 
Bay Bridge, 81, 322. 
Bear Bay, 5. 
Bear Place, 5. 
Bears, 88-9, 220. 
Bears, Anecdote about, 83. 
Beayer, 88. 
Beech, 99. 

Beech Island, 78, 85. 
Beef for the Army, 129, 185-C, 68C-7. 
Bell, Tlie First Church, 145, 371 ; other 

Bells, 373. 
Berwick, 57. 
Beryl, 97. 

Bible of Rev. Robert Dunlap, 670, 
Bight, The, 11. 
Bill for l»e])airs ni)ou East Meeting- 

Ilouse, 593. 
Biographies, 709. 
Bioiite, 97. 
Birch, 99. 

Birch Island, 75, 87. 
Birds, 90-2. 

Bislio]>sc(jtto, The Riycr, 9. 
Bismuthonite, 98. 
Bison Teeth, 96. 



Blackiish, Capture of, 93-4, 

Black Point, 2. 

Blacksmitlis, 578-9, 611, 619-20. 

Blank Book of Samuel Adams, 671-2. 

Block Houses, 57, 69, 633-5, 651-2, 662. 

Blnefish, 94. 

Boat-Builders, 579, 620. 

Boody Street, 539. 

Bookbinders, 579. 

Bookstores, 587. 

Booms, 563. 

Boom, Androscoggin, 563; carried oil 

by Freshet, 564. 
Boot antl Shoe Dealers, 587. 
Boot and Shoe Makers, 579, 612, 620. 
Bolt to mark the Beginning of Lots and 

Roads in Brimswick,537. 
Bomazeen Island, 56, 87, 89. 
Boston, 19, 31, 32, 39, 44, 47, 48, 119, 

121, 125, 128, 134, 187. 
Bottle-Basket, 671. 
Boundaries, 23-4, 7.5, 106-7, 119, 126, 

144, 155, 180, 184. 
Bounties, 126, 169, 170, 696-7, 698-700, 

700-2, 702-5. 
Bow Street, 51, .539. 
Bowdoiu, 26, 75-6, 144, 202. 
Bowdoinham, 25, 35,44, 7.5-6, 82, 184, 

188. 
Bowdoiu College, Act in Regard to, 510- 
12. 
Atlienasau Society of, 505-6. 
Beneyolent Society of, 507. 
Buildings of, 501, 504, 50S-9, 513. 
Calnyian Society of, 507. 
Colored Graduates of, 510. 
Decision of Court in Regard to, 

511-12. 
Douations to, 500, 509. 
Effect of Act of Separation on, 

507-8, 510-12. 
Fire in, 509. 

First Commencement at, 503—4. 
Graduates of, 517. 
Inaugurations at, 502, 505. 
Incorporation of, 499. 
Land (irants to, 499, 500. 
Libraries of, 517. 
Museum of, 97. 
Qyerseers of, 499, 500-1, 508. 
Petitions for, 498 
Peucinian Society of, 501, «0<e,503, 
I'icturc Gallery of, 517. 
Presidents of,' 501-2, 504-5, 507, 

513. 
Professors of, 502-3, 506-7, 509- 

10, 513-15. 
Secret Societies of, 518. 
Site of, ,501. 

Suit of President of, 511-12. 
Trustees of, 499, 500, 508. 
Bowfioin, Death of Goveruor, 506. 
Boyle's I'oint, 86. 



GENERAL INDEX. 



939 



Bradley's Pond, 76. 

Braining's Ledge, 87. 
Bream, 94. 

Brick Clay, Deposit of, 96. 
Brick Yards, 80, .568, 609, 620. 
Bridges, 201, 548-51. 
Bridges burnt, 261, 266, 269, 550. 
Bridge Company, Tlie Androscoggin, 549. 
Bridge across the Granny-IIole Stream, 
550. 
across the New Meadows, 550. 
Turnpike, across the New Mead- 
ows, 550. 
Railroad, across the New Mead- 
ows, 550-1. 
across Gravel Island Gully, 551. 
acrossGuUyin Winter Street, 551. 
across llavine in Bow Street, 551. 
Androscoggin, 548-50. 
Androscoggin Kailroad, 551. 
at Stone's Brook, 551. 
Bay, 550. 
between Great and Orr's Islands, 

550. 
Bull Rock, 550. 
The First, 548. 
The Free, 550-1. 
The Gurnet, 548. 
near Village Bnrying-Ground in 

Topsham, 5.51. 
on Federal Street, 551. 
over the Cathance, 548. 
Sliad Island, 550. 
Brimstone Hill, 77. 

Brook in Brunswick Village, An old, .32. 
Brook Trout, 94. 
Brunswick Academy, 47.5-6. 

and Topsham RiHe Co., 692-3. 

a Township, 104. 

Bank, The, 575. 

Cotton Manufacturing Co., 564. 

Divided into recruiting Districts, 

687. 
Factory Company, 565-6. 
Falls, i, 5, 14,25^77, 81, 88. 
Inhabitants of, 3.3. 
in War of the Rebellion, 696-700. 
Journal, 307-8. 
Light Infantry, 692. 
Militia Companies, 692-3. 
named, 104. 

represented in Provincial Con- 
gress, 122. 
Savings Institution, The, 576. 
Selectmen of, 33. See Appendix. 
Telegraph, 309-10. 
under the Commonwealth, 104-43. 
under the State of Maine, 143. 
Village Corporation, 274. 
Brunswicker, The, 309. 
Building Sites overflowed, 96. 
Bull-Head, 94. 
Bull Rock, 84, 550. 



Bunganunganock (or Bunganock), 4, 5, 

37,83,108-7,15.5. 
Burglaries in Topsham, 286. 
Burial alive, 680. 

Burial Expenses of Elislia Eaton, 437. 
Burial delaved bv a Storm, 62-3. 
Bunial-Places, 339-35 1 . 

Indian, 351. 
Burial-Place in Brunswick, oldest, 339. 

in Topsham, oldest, 347. 

others. See Graveyards. 
Burials, 209. 

Burkett's Commentary on New Testa- 
ment, 670. 
Burning, Deatlis by, 317. 
Burnt Place, Tlie, 5. 
Burying-Ground in Ilarpswell fenced, 

166. 
Butchers, 579, 611-12. 
By-Laws of Towns, 146, 200, 202. 



Cabinet-Makers, 579-80, 612. 
Cabot Manufacturing Company, 566. 
Calcite, 98. 
Calves, 220. 

Calls to settle in the Ministry in Bruns- 
wick, 354-5, 358, 362-5,' 370-2, 374, 
381, 385, 387, 389, 390, 396; in 
Topsham, 407-9, 416, 420-9, 431-3; 
in Harpswell, 436-7, 444-8, 453. 

Canada, 62-4, 68, 70. 

Canada Lvnx, 90. 

Canals, 132-3, 188, 555. 

Canal between Merrymeeting Bay and 
N. Meadows, 555. 

Canal from the Androscoggin to Maquoit, 
555. 

Canceau, Attempt to seize the, 681-3. 

Candlestick, A Wooden, 671. 

Canibas, The, I. 

Canton Point, 4, 53. 

Cannon of Topsham Artillery, 691. 

Cape Cod, 205. 

Cape Elizabeth, 52. 

Cape Small Point, 7. 

Captain Adams Place, The, 82. 

Captives, 65, 67-8, 70, 679, 694. 

Caravans, 223-5. 

Caribou, 90. 

Carpenters and Joiners, 580-1, 612, 620. 

Carpets, 216, 

Carpet Making, 568-9. 

Carriage-Makers, 580, 612. 

Carrving-Places, 6, 11, 45, 188. 

Cars^ etc., burnt, 262, 264. 

Carts, 216. 

Casco, 17, 52. 

Casco Bay, 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, 19, 45, 75, 
77,83, 95, 101, 104. 

Catalogue of Bowdoin College, 306. 

Cathance Mill, 35. 

Cathance Point, 35, 81, 183-4, 187. 



940 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Cathance Pond, 6, 76. 

Cathance rjivcr, 5, 6, 21, 25, 28, 35-6, 

4.3-4, 60, 76-7, 81-2, 97-8, 201. . 
Catholic Society, The Roman, 405. 
Cavalry Companv, 693. 
Cedar,'99. 
Cedar Ledges, 86. 
Cedar Street, 540. 
Celebrations, 227-233. 
Celebration of the Battles of Concord and 
Lexington, 233. 
Formation of Baptist Church, 

Topsliam, 426. 
Foxirtli of July, 228-30. 
Inauguration of Jackson, 229. 
laying of the Atlantic Cable, 232. 
Memorial Day, 233. 
Temperance Societies, 229-30. 
Washington's Birthday, 232. 
Census of Brunswick, 599 ; of llarps- 

Avell, 623-4; of Topsham, 617. 
Center Point, 82. 
Centre Street, .540. 
Chair-Makers, 580. 
Chaises, 215. 

Charitalile Associations, 239-42. 
Chaudiere River, 62. 
Cherry, 99. 
Chickadee, 92. 
Chlorite, 98. 
Cholera, 314. 
Cholera Infantum, 314. 
Chub, 94. 
Christian Church in Brunswick and 

Preeport, 38S-9. 
Christening Basin, 670. 
Church Choirs, 214. 
Church, Confession in. 368. 
Church Covenant, 368, 372, 389, 392, 

410, 433-34. 
Church Councils, 359-60, 366, 370, 372, 
386, 390,416, 418, 425, 429,431, 436. 
Church Creed, 372. 

Church, Difficulties in the, 368-70, 384. 
Church Government, Paper concerning, 

367 ; Form of 367, 369, 407. 
Church Libi^ary, 372. 
Church Members of First Parish Bruns- 
wick, 366, 375-7 ; of Baptist Re- 
ligious Society in Bath, Harps- 
well, and Brunswick, 378-9. 
of First Baptist, of Brunswick, 380. 
of Second " " 386. 

of Maine Street Baptist, of Bruns- 
wick, 387. 
of Baptist Religious Society, Tops- 
ham, 420-1 . 
of Baptist Church Society, Tops- 
ham, 423. 
of First Baptist Church and Soci- 
ety, TIarjiswoll, 446. 
of Second Bapti.st Church and 
Society, Harpswell, 447. 



Church ^lembers of Catholic Society, 
Brunswick, 405. 
of Congregational Society, Tops- 
sham, 411, 415. 
of First Free-Will Baptist Society, 

Brunswick, 388. 
of Free Baptist Society, Brunswick, 

390 
of Methodist Society, Brunswick, 

400. 
of Methodist Society, Harpswell, 

454. 
of Unitarian Society, Topsham.434. 
of First Free-Will Baptist Society, 

Harpswell, 449. 
of Second Free-Will Baptist Socie- 
ty, Harpswell, 449.. 
Church, Votes of the, 367-8, 370, 382. 
Cisterns, 274. 
City Charter, 153, 236. 
Clams, 93. 

Clapboard Manttfactory, 560. 
Clarke's Island, 87. 
Clay Land Falls, 4. 

Cleaveland's Cabinet, Bowdoin College, 
. 517. 
Cleaveland's Meteorological Record, 99- 

101. 
Cleaveland Street, 539. 
Climatic, etc., 99-103. 
Clock, Watch, and Jewelry Establish- 
ments, 569-70. 
Coasting, 215. 
Cobb's Quarry, 97-8. 
Cobbasecontee Pond, 36, 
Cochran's Adventure, 56. 
Cod, 94. 

Coins, Collection of, 670. 
College burnt, 258, 260. 
College Street, 540. 
Colonel Tliompsou ordered to Brunswick, 

etc., 684. 
Columbite, 97-8. 

Commeix'ial History of Brunswick, 552, 
602; of Harpswell, 618-24; of Tops- 
ham, 603-17. 
Commissioners, 13, 17, 52, .56, 112, 113, 

118. 
Commissioners' Court, 283. 
Commission of Adam Hunter, 65-6. 
Commission of Robert Patten, 685. 
Committee of Correspondence, Safety, 
etc., 123-7, 129, 168-71, 173, 184-7, 
676, 684, 689. 
Committee on Land Claims, 22, 36. 
Commons Hall, 102, 516. 
Common.s, Deed of Town, 522-4. 
Commons, Reports of Committee on 

Town, .525-7. 
Commons, Survey of Town, 525 
Commons, Tlie Town, 30, 1 150, 1,11 5, 
126-7, 131-2, 134, 138,1 149,3-421, 
521-7. 



GENERAL INDEX. 



941 



Communication to Town from Rev. Mr. 
Dunlap, 361-2. 

Commuiiioji Service presented to Bap- 
tist Church Society, Topshani, 425. 

Complaint of Sam'l Boone, with Keturn 
and Judgment, 278-9. 

Complaint of Town against Isaac Snow, 
279-80. 

Complaint for breaking open Jail, 282. 

Compressed-Air Company, 274, 567. 

Compressed-Air Power, 567. 

Concerts, 224. 

Concord, 127. 

Condy's Harbor, 47, 87, 687-9. 

Condy's Point, 6, 86. 

Conference-Room of First Parish, Bruns- 
wick, 642. 

Congregational Church, Topsliam, 410- 
l9; Harpswell, 4.36. 

Congress, Proceedings of, 122, 123. 

Constables, 18. 

Constitution of Maine, 143; Vote on the, 
170, 185, 200. 

Constitution of the U. S., Acceptance of, 
132, 171. 

Consumption, Pulmonary, 314. 

Controversy between Pejepscot and Ken- 
nebec Companies, 2;?-6. 

Convictions for Manslaughter, etc., 283, 
285, 286, 287. 

Cooking, Former Mode of, 221. 

Cook's Corner, 84. 

Coot, The, 92. 

Copper Pyrites, 98. 

Cordwainers, 581. 

Cotton, Price of, 219. 

Council of Plymouth, 7, 10, 12, 24. 

Counterfeit Money, 127, 171-2. 

Counties, Division of, etc., 119, 132,143- 
4, 149, 154, 171-6, 187, 189, 200-1, 
203. 

County Court established, 282. 

Course of Rivers, 76. 

Courts, 189, 199, 200- 

Courts and Trials, 277-87. 

Court at Topsham, The first. 283. 

Court House, 190, 199, 228, 656-7; at 
Topsham built, 283 ; sold, 286; burnt, 
269. 

Court, A Military, 283. 

Court, Municipaf, Brunswick, 286. 

Court of Common Pleas for Lincoln 
County, 283. 

Court Records, 278-9. 

Court, Regulations of the earliest, 277. 

Cow Island, 81, 93, 184. 

Crabs, 93. 

Crimes and Criminals, 277-87. 

Crops, 98-9. 220-1. 

Crow Island, 87. 

Crows, 91,164, 172, 190. 

Crustaceans, 93. 

Cuckoo, 91. 



Cultivation of Soil, 98-9. 

Cumberland County set off, 282. 

Cunner, 94. 

Cuprite. 98. 

Cushing Street, 540, 545. 

Cusk, 94. 

D. 

Daguerrean Artists, 581. 

Damariscotta, 58. 

Damariscove Island, 85. 

Dams, 553-4, 603. 

Dam, Tlie Upper, 553 ; Tlie Long, 553 ; 

The Gulf, 553-4 ; The Middle, 554 ; 

The Factory, 554. 
Dancing Schools, 222. 
Dangerous Places to bathe, 317. 
Danville, 26, 144. 
Day-Book of James Booker, Extract from 

the, 622-3. 
Day-Book of Jotham Stone, Extracts 

from the, 593-4. 
Deacons, a List of, 375. 
Dedication of Meeting-Houses, 372-3, 

396, 432, 453-4, 642-5. 
Deeds, 34, 37, 39, 42, 44-5, 48, 76, 81, 

126-7, 131, 522-4. 
Deep Cut, 77. 
Deer, 90. 
Delegates, 121, 123. 132, 1.34, 143, 171, 

17.3, 187, 189, 196,199. 
Dentists, 581 

Depositions, 46, 147, 553, 651. 
Depot burnt, 262, 263, 265, 
Derrick Manufactory, 609. 
Devil's Rock, 78. 

Diary, Extract from Mr. Baxter's, 353. 
Dimensions of Log-Houses, 44. 
Diseases, 311,314-16. 
Dismissals and Resignations from the 

Ministry, 360, 364-5, 372, 381, 

384-5, 389, 412, 417, 423, 431. 
Distances, 75-6. 
Division of tlie Town, 146. 
Dog, as a Mail Carrier, A, 69. 
Dogs in Meeting, 213-14, 220. 
Dollar of Capt. Dunlap, The first Silver, 

670. 
Dollars, First Mention of, 120. 
Dolpliins, Capture of, 93-4. 
Dorchester, England, 8. 
Dorchester, Mass., 20, 39, 48. 
Double dating of Records, 115. 
Dove, The, 91. 
Dover, 19. 
Drain, The, 603. 
Dresden, 18. 
Dress, 205, 218. 
Drinks, Spirituous, 221-2. 
Drowning, Deaths bv, 316-17. 
Drv-Goods Dealers, 587-8. 
Ducks, 92. 
Ducking-Stools, 281. 



942 



GEXEUAL INDEX. 



Duck Water Place, The, 5. 
Duulap Street, 540. 
Diiuuing Street, 540. 
Durham, 20, 42, 75, 1.34, 144. 
])urhain lload, 82. 
Dysentery, Epidemic, .314. 

E. 

Eagle Factorv, The, 321. 

Eagle Ishxiul," 86. 

Eagle, The Golden, 90. 

Eagle, The Wliite-headed, 92. 

Early Conditions and Circumstances, 
205-6. 

Early Preaching in Brunswick, 352-4 ; 
in Harpswell, 436; in Top.sham, 406. 

Early Provision for Public Worship, 352- 
4. 

Earthquakes, 103. 

Easterly Line of IMa.ssacliusetts, 10. 

East Brunswick Clmrch, 384. 

Eastern Baptist, The, 308. 

Eastern Bay, 11. 

Eastern County, 51. 

Eaton Brook, 82. 

Eaton Claim, 16. 

Ecclesiastical History of Brunswick,352- 
405; of Harpswell, 436-455 ; of Tops- 
ham, 406-435. 

Educational History of Brunswick, 456- 
81 ; of Harpswell, 493-7 ; of Tops- 
ham, 482-92. 

Education of early Settlers, 456. 

Egg Island, 155. 

Eider Duck, The, 90. 

Elders, Ruling, 370. 

Elegy, An, 228. 

Eleutheria, 19. 

Elliot Street, 540. 

Elm, 99. 

Elm Island, 86, 

Elm Street, 540. 

Embargo, The, 97. 

Emerald, The, 97. 

Engine Hall, 301. 

Enlistment, Encouragement of, 53, 130, 
189, 689-90, 696-9, 700-2, 702-5. 

Enlistment at Harpswell, 686. 

Entertainments, 223-5. 

Epidite, 98. 

Episc()])al Church, 402-5. 

Episcopal Services in Brunswick, 402-3 ; 
in Topsham, 435. 

Episco])alians in Harpswell, 436. 

Epitaphs, 340-51. 

Epitaph on President Apjdeton, 344 ; 
on Prof. Cleaveland, 345 ; on Ex- 
Gov. Dunlap, 345-6 ; on Kev. Hobert 
Duulap, 340; on Deacon i\ndrew 
Dunning, 350 ; on Andrew Dun- 
ning, 340 ; on Benj. Dunning, 351 ; 
on Rev. Elisha Eaton, 349 ; on Rev. 



Saml Eaton, 350; on Mrs. Eaton, 
350; on Dr. Hoyt, 347; on R^v. 
Clias. John.sou, 348-9 ; on Elder 
Geo. Lamb, 341 ; on Wm. INIcNess, 
350; on Sani'l JNIoody, 340; on Lt. 
James Purinton, 348 ; on Rev. 
Oliver Quinbv, 349 ; on Col. Reed, 
347-8; on Prof. Wm. Smyth, 345; 
on Prof. T. C. Upham, 345. 

Escritoire, The, 307. 

Eulogy on Washington, 228. 

Everett Street, 540. 

Excursions, 245. 

Exhibitions, Public, 223-5. 

Expeditions, 52. 

E.\pedition, Church's, 51. 

Exjiedition, Harmon's, 54-5. 

Express Companies, 338. 



Factory, The Brunswick Cotton, 564; 
Maine Cotton and Woollen, 564-5 ; 
Eagle, 565 ; Brunswick, 565-6 ; Wa- 
rumbo, 566 ; Caliot, 566-7 ; Bruns- 
wick Woollen, 507 ; Warp Yarn, 
567 ; Matcli, 571. 

Factories, 564-7, 608. 

Factorv Dam, The, 78. 

Fairs, 238-9. 

Falls, Height of, 78. 

Falmoutli, 57-8, 60, 67, 101, 118-19, 121, 
132, 155, 167, 187. 

Falstaif Inn, 229. 

Families of Soldiers, Provisions for, 685. 

Family Pioneer and Juvenile Kev, The, 
308. 

Farming, 220, 552. 

Farmington, 209. 

Farms, 98. 

Fasting, Dav of, 369. 

Fauna^ 88-94. 

Federal Street, 89, 145, 540. 

Feldspar, 95, 97. 

Feldspar Mill, 609. 

Ferries, 188, »)y/e, 546-8 : Brown's, .546; 
Peterson's, 546 ; Mustard's, 546 ; 
Randall's, 546-7 ; Samuel Wilson's, 
547; Brig. Thompson's, 547. 

Ferry over Long Reach, 547 ; from In- 
dian Point to Georgetown, 547-8 
second over Xew Meadows, 548 ; tem- 
porary, between Topsliam and Bruns- 
wick, ".548. 

Ferry Point, 80-1, 188, 209. 

Festivals, Masonic, 240. 

Fevers, Scarlet, Tvplioid, and Yellow, 
314. 

Fifth Indian War, 57-65. 

Finch, Tlu; Pine, 91. 

Fines of Court, 278, 280,282-3, 285. 

Finis Lavationis, 735. 

Fir, Tlie, 99. 

Fire-Arms, Sale of, 170. 



GENERAL INDEX. 



943 



Fire Companies in Brunswick, 271-4; in 
Topsiiani, 275-6. 

Fire-En,i,nnes, 145, I4C, 152, 231, 271-6. 

Fireplaces, 219. 

Fires, 51, 54, 143, 242, 257-76. 

Fires and Fire Companies, 257-76. 

Fires, Aid for Sufferers from, 258-9. 

Fires, a Boy wanted to .set, 259. 

Fires in Brunswick, 257-67; in Harps- 
well, 270-6 ; in Topsliam, 267-70. 

Fire-Works, 230-1. 

First-born Child on Sebascodigan, 18. 

First Indian War, 49-51. 

First Fire-Engine in Brunswick, 271 ; in 
Topsliam, 274. 

First National Bank, The, 576. 

Fish Act, 132. 

Fisheries, 8, 1.3-14, 19, 22, 30, 38, 46-7, 
82, 94, 115, 187-8, 211, 552, 618. 

Fisher's Quarry, 97-8. 

Fishes, 94. 

Fisli-Hawks, 92. 

Fish-House Hill, 54, 82. 

Fishing-Rock Island, 79, 211. 

Fish-Ways, 94, 603-4. 

Flagon of To))pau Family, The Silvcr,670. 

Flag Island, 85. 

Flagg's Brick-Yard, 80. 

Flip, 221. 

Flora, 99. 

Floral Procession, 231.. 

Flounder, 94. 

Flour-Mill, Purinton's, 608 ; Scri liner's, 
558. 

Flying Point, 62, 66-7. 

Fogs, 101. 

Food, 221. 

Footprints in the Rock, 79. 

Foot-Stove, A, 67.3. 

Force Pump, 272, 274. 

Foreside, The, 76, 98. 

Forest Church, The, 385. 

Forester, The, 309. 

Forts and Garri.sons iii/Brunswick,>'625- 
35; in ^Topsliam, 651-2; in Slarps- 
well, 662. 

Fort Andro.ss, 51-2, 54, 625 ; at Casco, 
undermined, 52; at Pejepscot, 15. 

Fort George, 32, 35, 38-9, '54, 56-7,62, 
65, 66,'68, 70, 107,110,117,206, 209, 
625-33 ; Ruins of, 633 ; Cost of, 627- 
9 ; dismantled, 68, 625, 629 ; lea.sed, 
68, 633 ; Petition against dismant- 
ling of, 629-32. 

Fort Right, The, 556, 559. 

Fort, an Indian, 52, 651 ; at Harpswell, 
694. 

Fort Riclimond, 57-8. 

Fort Saint George, 7. 

Foundries, 570. 

Fourth Indian War, 53-6. 

Foxes, 90. 

Franklin Family School, 239, 487,659-61. 



Franklin Street, 540. 

Freeport, 19, 67, 75, 77, 83, 134, 144. 

Freeport Road, 90. 

Free-Will Baptist Societies in Brunswick, 

388-91 ; in Hari^swell, 449-50 ; iu 

Topsliam, 426-9. 
French and Indian War, 65-70. 
Freshet Rock, 79. 
Freshet, The Great, 320-1. 
Freshets, 187-8, 319-22. 
Freyer's Island (or Friar's), 81. 
Friends in Harpswell, 436. 
Friends, Society of, 388. 
Frogs, 93. 
Frost, 101. 
Frost-Fish, 94. 
Fulton's Point, 18, 54, 81. 
Funerals, 208-9. 

Funerals, Metliod of conducting, 339. 
Furniture Store, 588. 
Furs, Trade iu, 552. 

G. 

Galenite, 97. 

Gales, 102. 

Gardiner, 96. 

Garnets, 97. 

Garrison at.Maquoit, 633; The .Dun- 
ning, 634 ; TheKJiveeu, 634 ; The 
> Gurnet Point, 635 ; The /Hinkley, 
634; 'Ham's, 634; ■.McFarland''s, 
634-5 ; 'Minot's, 634 ; tSkoltield's, 
635 ; tSpear's, 635;' James Wilson's, 
652; at/ Foreside, 652; Thd'Gore, 
652 ; on Bailey's Island, 662 ; ou 
Orr's Island, 662 ; on Harpswell 
Neck, 662. 

Garrisons, 37, 43, 68-9, 209, 633-5. 

Gas Manufacture, 570-7. 

Geese, 47, 92. 

General and Social, 205-56. 

General Court of Massacliusetts, 10, 17, 
21-2, 25, 27, 29, 35, 36, 50, 61, 63, 
104, 106, 109, 112, 114-21, 124-5, 
128-32, 134, 156, 160, 162, 184-90. 

Geological Features, 95-6. 

Georgetown, 39, 112. 

Gift of God, The, 7. 

Gilman Ayenue, 540. 

Glaciers, 95. 

Gneiss, 95. 

Goat Island, 78, 102. 

Gohnite, 98. 

Golden Pipe, 80. 

Goose Island, 85, 87. 

Goose Rock, 78, 545. 

Gore, The, 19. 

Goslings, The, 85, 87. 

Granite, 95. 

Grant of the Proyince of Laconia, 26. 

Grant to Purcliase and Way, 9. 

Grannv-Hole Bridge, Mill, and Stream, 
79-80. 



944 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Graveyaril at Grow.sto-\vn, 341 ; ITarps- 
well, 341) ; Ma.jnoit, 341 ; Xew Mead- 
ows, 341, 346 ; in Topsliam Vill^se, 
348; of First Parish, I5ritj)s«ick,340 ; 
of First Parish, Tojjsliam, 347 ; Piue 
Grove, 341-2. 

Great Fire, The, 259, .561. 

Great Islaud, Harpswell, 5, 1 1, 44, 75, 84- 
7, 93. 

Great Island, Topsham, 80. 

Great Jel)eagLsland, 11, 44. 

Great Plague, The, 314. 

Greene, 26, 88. 

Green Street, 540. 

Grosbeaks, 91. 

Grouse, 90-1. 

Grove Street, 540. 

Growstown, 83. 

Guard left on Bailey's Island in 1812, 
694-5. 

Guide-Boards, 534. 

Gulf Dam, 79. 

Gulls, 92. 

Gun of James Cochran, 671 ; of Thomas 
Spear, 674. 

Gun-Houses, 635, 652. 

Gun-House struck by Lightning, 102. 

Gunpowder, Appropriation for, 134, '685. 

Gunsmiths, 581, 620. 

Gurnet, The, 87. 

Gurnet Bridge, The, 56, 87. 

Gyles's Point, 81. 

H. 

Hackmatack, 99. 

Hacks, 338. 

Haddock, 94. 

Hail, 101-2. — 

Hake, 94. 

Halifax^ 68. 

Hallowell, 134, 189. 

Halls, Puldic, 204, 292-8, 301. 

Ham's Hill, 16, 84. 

Hanover, 85. 

Harding's Station, 63. 

liares, 90. 

Harness-Makers, 583, 612, 620. 

Harpswell Academy, 496-97 ; a District, 
162; a Precinct, 160; and Bruns- 
wick Church, 378, 384, 446-7 ; Ban- 
ner, 310; Church, 378, 384, 446-7; 
first District Meeting of, 162; first 
Officers of, 162; first Town Meeting 
of,169 ; Harbor, 84, 87 ; incorporated, 
155; in War of Bebellion, 702-5; 
Island 5, 98, 245; Island Meeting- 
House, 89 ; Militia Companies, 693 ; 
Nameof, 162 ; Keck, 5, 17, 18, 41,44, 
75, 84, 85, 87, 98 ; Kepresentation 
of, 174, 176; under Common wcaltli 
of Massachusetts, 155-73 ; under 
State of Maine, 173-9 ; Street, 540. 

Harraseekit Bay, 101 ; Landing, 77. 



Hartford, 8, 12. 

Harvard College Claim, 17, 45. 

Harwood's Brook, 82. 

Ha.skeirs Island, 75, 85-6. 

Hat and Cap Makers, 581-2, 612. 

Hat-Box of William Woodside, 671. 

Hawks, 91. 

H.ay Scales, The first, 142, 584, 613. 

Hay sent td Brunswick, 28. 

Health, Board(or Committee) of, 175,315. 

Hearse jmrchased, etc., 142, 151, 154, 
175, 200, 204. 

Height of Falls, 78. 

Hematite, 98. 

Hemlock, 99. 

Heron, The Great Blue, 92. 

•Herring, 94. 

High-Bank Brook, 5. 

High Head, 87. 

High Street, 540. 

Highways, 196. 

High W'ind, 322. 

Hodgkins's Hall, 294, 297. 

Hoe-Land, 4. 

Hoeg Island, 18. 

Hogs, 221. 

Home, A Frontier, 645-6, 

Horse Blocks, 219-20. 

Horse-Chestnut, 99. 

Horse Island, 87. 

Hospitalities, 315-16. 

Hostilities. See Settlers, Attacks upon. 

Hotels, 290-302 See also Taverns. 

Houses, Old, 219-20, 645-50, 658-60, 
667-9. 

House, The Alexander, 649; Cleaveland, 
650; Coffin, 659; Douglass (Wm.), 
659; Dunlap, 647-8; Dunning, 
649; Dunning (Andrew), 667-8; 
Fastman (James), 668; F^stabrook, 
648-9; Forsaith, 650; Foster, 659; 
Fro.st (Major), 659-60 ; Oilman, 
649; Goss, 650; Jackson, 649; 
Hinkley, 647; Howland (Stock- 
bridge), 660; Jovce, 650; McKeen, 
648;'McLella)i, 6.50; Melchcr, 648- 
9 ; Merrill, 659 ; Old Bed, 658 ; 
Orr (.Joseph), 668-9; Page, 650; 
Palmer. 649-50; Patten (Pachel), 
660; Pierce, 649 ; Porter, 660; Pn- 
rinton (Collins), 660; Purinton (Na- 
thaniel), 668 ; Bandall (Paul), 668; 
Eogers, 659; Siniiett (Michael), 669 ; 
Thompson (Charles), 660; Thomp- 
son (Robert), 646-7; Yea/ie, 668; 
Walker, 660 ; Weymouth, 649 ; 
^\'ilson (.James), 659 ; Wilson 
(Swanzey), 659. 

Houses, burnt in Brunswick, 257-67 ; in 
Harpswell. 271 ; in Topsham, 267-70. 

House of Correction, 283. 

Humphrey's Hall, 297 ; Ship-Yard, 81 ; 
Steam-Mill, 81. 



GENERAL INDEX. 



945 



Hunnewell's Cove, 155. 
Huuters, 209. 
Hunter's Island, 81. 
Hydraulian Fire Company, 272. 
Hydrauliau Fire-Engine, 272. 



Ice a Sculptor, 96. 
Illuminations, 232. 
Incorporation of First Baptist Church 

and Society, Topsham, 411, 419- 

23. 
Incorporation of Towns. See Act of. 
Indenture between Purchase and Gov. 

Wiuthrop, 9. 
Indian Attacks, 207, 208; Deeds, 12-16; 

Hunting, 52; Language, 3 ; Marks, 

15; Names, 3-5, 84; Point, 547; 

Point Landing, 6 ; Pace of Lt. 

Woodside with, 206-7 ; Relics, 673, 

674-5;. Trails, 205; Village, 1, 6; 

Wars, 2, 37, 43, 49-70, 207. 
Indians, The, 1-6, 19, 24, 30, 43, 47, 49- 

70, 81, 114, 206-7,209. 
Inhabitants, First Meeting of, 104; Pub- 
lic Meetings of, 104-5, 108-12. 
Inns, 190, 229, 230, 290-302. Also see 

Taverns. 
Insane Persons, 201. 
Insanity, 316. 
Insects, 92. 
Installations to the Ministry, 372, 426, 

431. 
Instructions to Representatives, 116, 126. 
Insurance Company, The Brunswick 

Mutual Marine, 577 ; Harpswell 

Mutual Fire, 621-2. 
Inventory of taxable Property in 1762, 

600-7. 
Ipswich, 43. 
Irish, 205. 
Irish, " Wild," 205. 
Irony Islands, 87. 
Iron Pyrites, 97. 
Island, The, 80. 
Islands, 42, 44, 46-8, 75, 78, 80-1, 84-7, 

121, 132, 145, 183-4, 186-7. 
Island Street, 541. 

\ ^ -^ 



Jaques's Harbor, 87 ; Island, 86.-* ^'■' 

Jay Point, 53. 

Jay, The Blue, 91 ; The Canada, 91. 

Jenny's Island, 86. 

Joiners, 612. 

Journal of Capt. Gatchell's March up 

the Kennebec, 58-60. 
Juniper, 99. 

Jurisdiction of Territory, 23, 26 
Juvenile Key, The, 308. 
Juvenile Watchman, The, 309. 

60 



K. 

Kennebec Company, 7, 17, 24, 25, 36, 44; 

Fire-Engine, 273-4 ; Indians, 52; 

Journal, 309 ; River, 1,10, 13-14, 18, 

24-5, 27, 50-1, 76, 82, 155. 
Kingfisher, 92. 

King Philip's War, 18, 49-51. 
King William's War, 51-2. 
King Chapel, 77, 513, 518. 
Kingston, 44. 
Kittery, 11, 18, 57, 84. 
Kiver, 94. 

L. 

Laconia, Province of, 26. 

Lake of New Somersett, 76. 

Lamps and Candles, 221. 

Land Claims, 17, 45, 48; Owners, 865; 
Sales, 11-12, 19, 21, 23-4, 35, 37, 42, 
44, 47. 

Landing in Brunswick, The, 80. 

Larches, 99. 

Lawsuits, 45, 201, 379. 

Lawyers in the three Towns, 287-9. 

Lav Exhorters, 370. 

Leases, 38, 42, 45, 46. 

Lectures, 225-7, 245. 

Lecture on — An Interior World, 225; 
A General Description of Inverte- 
brates, 227 ; American History, 226 ; 
Astronomy, 226 ; Common-Sense, 
227 ; Education, 226 ; Electricity, 
226 ; Explosions of Steam-Boilers, 
226 ; Graharaism, 225 ; Hygiene, 
226 ; Iceland, etc., 227 ; Macchiavelli, 
226 ; Methods of reckoning Time, 
227 ; Nationality, 226 ; Natural His- 
tory, 227 ; Natural Histor}' and Fine 
Arts, 227 ; Origin, etc., of the In- 
dians, 226 ; Physiology, 226 ; Popu- 
lar Education, 226 ; Primary Schools, 
226 ; Rags and Paper, 227 ; Read- 
ing, 226; Steam-Enginery, 226; 
Storms and Meteorology, 226 ; The 
Acadians, 227 ; Past, Present, and 
Future of Maine, 227 ; Relation of 
Natural History and Religion, 227 ; 
The Saracens, 226 ; True Enterprise, 
226; Vegetable Life, 226; Walking, 
227. 

Lectures, Antislavery, 233; Temperance, 
250. 

Leda Truncata, 96, 

Leeds, 26. 

Lemont Hall, 298, 

Length of Rivers, 76. 

Lepidolite, 97. 

Letters from Aaron Hinkley, 119-20; 
Isaac Hinkley, 60-61 ; Jolm Minot, 
119; Moses Getchell, 45-6; Mrs. 
Wilson to Thorn, 286 ; Proprietors, 
33, 35-6; of Brig. Thompson in 1775, 
678-9 ; of Instruction to Larrabee, 



946 



GENERAL INDEX. 



31 ; to Committee of Correspond- 
ence, Boston, 131 ; to Town of 
Brnns-vvick from Mr. Duulap, 361-2. 
Lewiston, 4, 25, 26, 75, 144. 
Lewiston Bridge, The, 95. 
Libraries, 244. 

Library of Dr. Woods burnt, 266. 
Lime Quarry, 571. 
" Lining ont " the Hymns, 213. 
Liucohi Fire Club, Topsham, 275. 
Lincoln Street, 242, 541. 
Ling, 94. 

Liquor Licenses, 149, 174-5, 177, 202, 
254; Traffic, Statement of, 250,597-8. 
Liquors, 221-2; Amount sold and Price 

of, in 1812, 250, 597-8. 
Lisbon, 25, 26, 75, 78, 144. 
List of early Settlers and Land-Owners, 

865. 
Litchfield, 76, 144. 
Literary Banner, The, 310. 
Little Birch Island, 86-7. 
Little Irony Island, 87. 
Little River, 8, 186. 

Little Sebascodigan. See Orr's Island. 
Lizards, 93. 
Loan to Kennebec R. R. Co., 152 ; Protest 

against the, 152. 
Lobsters, 93, 1 75-6. 
Localities, 78-88. 
Locomotive, The first, 326. 
Long Cove, 87 ; Dam, 79 ; Ledge, 86 ; 

Reach, 87. 
Lookout Island, 87 ; Point, 86, 87. 
Loons, 92. 
Lots, Apportionment of, 28-30, 32, 34- 

5; Prices of, 31-2, 39. 
Louisburg, Expedition to, 57-8, 64. 
Loup Cerviers, 88, 90. 
Lovewell's AVar, 6, 53-6. 
Lover's Lane, 543. 
Lower Carrying-Place, The, 6. 
Lumber Business, Statistics of the, 

560-2. 
Lygonia, Province of, 26. 
Lynn, 12, 

M. 

Machines, Planing, 561. 

Maciiine Shops, 571. 

Mackerel, 94. 

Mackerel Cove, 87. 

McKeen Street, 541. 

McLellan's Hall, 298. 

Magistrates, 278, 280, 282, 289. 

Magnetite. 97. 

Mail-Carriers, 302 ; Route, 70, 303 ; 
Stages, 303 ; first daily, 303. 

Mails, 302-3. 

Main Street, 544-5. 

Maine, Baptist Herald, 307 ; Intelligen- 
cer, 306-7 ; Ilall, Bowdoin College, 
517-18 ; Historical Societies' Rooms, 



517-18; Province of, 7, 11-12, 17, 
26, 50, 52, 53; State of, 1, 143; 
Street, 32, 51, 89, 154, 242, 541. 
See also 12-Rod Road. 

Maine Bank, The, 575 ; Cotton and 
Woollen Factory Company, 564-5. 

Mair Brook, 62, 83, 209; Point, 1-18, 
20, 21, 28, 37, 50, 52, 83-8, 102, 107, 
109, 155. 

Malachite, 98. 

Mall, The, 32, 538-9. 

Mammalia, 88-90. 

Management of the Tongue and Moral 
Observer, The, 306. 

Manners and Customs, 206-22. 

Manufactories of various Kiuds,5Gl, 568- 
74. 

Maple, 99. 

Maps, 40, 72. 

Ma(juoit, 1, 5, 6, 13-14, 18, 20, 31-2,39, 
51-2, 54, 56-7, 62, 66, 68-9, 83, 88, 
98, 101, 104, 107, 117, 133, 155, 188, 
205. 

Marble Works and Workers, 582,609-10. 

Marine IMammals, 93. 

Mark Islands, 86. 

Marsh, The, 134. 

Martins, 91. 

Mary and John, The, 7. 

Masons, 582, 620. 

Mason Rock, 80, 81, 188. 

Mason Street, 541 ; Religious Society, 
396-7 ; Ladies' Association of the 
Society, 397. 

Masonic Hall 239, 240, 297; Journal, 
309 ; Lodge, 239-41. 

Massachusetts — Colony, 26 ; Common- 
wealth of, 38, 51 ; Militia, 52; Hall, 
BoAvdoin College, 517. 

Massacre of Thomas Means, 67 ; of oth- 
ers, 69. 

Ma,sts, The Royal, 574. 

Match Factory, 571, 610. 

May Trainings, Burlesque, 224-5, 696. 

Measles, 314. 

Mechanic Fire-Engine, Tlie, 271. 

Medianic Yohmteers, 695. 

Medfield, 81. 

Medical College, 102, 518, 

Medical School of Maine,518-20; Forma- 
tion of the, 518 ; Graduates of the, 
519; Professors, etc., of the, 518-20. 

Meeting, Going to, 212, 214-15. 

Meetiug-House at New Meadows, 380; 
burnt in Brunswick, 260, 640 ; Cath- 
olic, 405 ; of Centre Cong. Society, 
Harpswell, 451, 453 ; Subscription 
Paper for Latter, 665-7; lieated, 371 ; 
Lot, Ownership of, 372; of Baptist 
Societies, Topsham, 420, 423-4, 656 ; 
of Federal Street Societies, Bruns- 
wick, 385 ; of Free-Will Bajjtist Soci- 
eties, Brunswick, 388, 391, 642-3 ; of 



GENEEAL INDEK. 



947 



Free- Will Baptist Society, Topsham, 
427-8, 656; of Free- Will Baptist 
Society, Harpswell, 449; of Orr's 
Island, 449-50, 667 ; of Methodist 
Society, Brunswick, 400, 402, 644 ; 
of Methodist Society, Harpswell, 
454, 667 ; of Orthodox Society, 
Topsham, 429, 432 ; Subscription 
Paper for building the Last, 654-6 ; 
of First Parish, Brunswick, 54, 102, 
116, 220, 354, 358-60, 365, 371, 373, 
637-42; of First Parish of Harps- 
well, 436, 445, 662-5 ; of First Par- 
ish of Topsham, 190, 214, 406, 413- 
4, 652-4 ; of Unitarian Society, 
Brunswick, 394, 398, 643-4 ; of Uni- 
tarian Society, Topsham, 433-4 ; of 
Universalist Society,Brunswick, 393, 
396, 643-4 ; of Universalist Society, 
Harpswell, 450; Old Yellow, 420, 
656 ; of St. Paul's Parish, 404, 644- 
5 ; Union, at Growstown, 643 ; Un- 
ion on Harpswell Neck, 667 ; West, 
228. 

Meetings, Public, 337. 

Meetings of Baptist Church Society, 
Topsham, 423-4 ; of Orthodox Soci- 
ety, Topsham, 429, 450. 

Members of Brunswick Religious Soci- 
eties, etc., 381, 383, 392-4, 403-4; 
of Topsham Keligious Societies, 
415-21, 427 ; of Harpswell Religious 
Societies, 451-2. 

Memorandum of Deeds, 38-9. 

Memorials to the General Court, 63-5, 
136-8, 184, 194-6; to the President 
of the United States, 191-2. 

Memorial Hall, Bowdoin College, 515, 
517, 518. 

Menhaden, 94. 

Merganser, The, 92. 

Merriconeag, 5-6, 11, 13-14, 17, 19, 20, 
30-1, 44-8, 75, 77, 84, 107, 155-6, 
158, 160. 

Merrill's, 6. 

Merrill's Island, 78. 

Merrymeetiug Bay, 5-6, 10, 13, 14, 18-20, 
28-9, 42-3, 54, 58, 60, 63, 69, 75-8, 
81, 92, 107, 119, 132, 245. 

Meteorological, etc., 99-103. 

Methodist Church, Society, etc., in 
•Brunswick, 398-401 ; in Harpswell, 
454-5 ; in Topsham, 435. 

Mica, 95, 97. 

Mice, 90. 

Middle Bay, 18, 37, 66, 83, 85, 87, 88, 98, 
155. 

Middle Rock, 80, 211-12. 

Middle Street, 541. 

Mild Winter, A, 102. 

Military History of the three Towns, 
676-705. 

Military Resolutions, 679. 



Military Stores carried up the Kennebec 
in Gondolas, 683. 

Militia. See Soldiers. 

Militia Companies, 689-96. 

Millinery Stores, 588. 

Mill Privilege, 32, 556, 559, 604-5. 

Mill-Pond Basin, 87. 

Mill Street, 541. 

Mills, 35, 604-9, 618-9; burnt in Bruns- 
wick, 259-64, 266, 269-70. 

Mills, Grist, 32, 555-7, 607-8; at New 
Meadows, 557 ; Maquoit, 557 ; Mair 
Brook, 557 ; in Brunswick Village, 
557 ; Purinton's, 608 ; Scribuer's,558. 

Mills, Saw, 558-62 ; at Bunganock, 558- 
9 ; at Cathance, 604-5 ; at N. Mead- 
ows, 559-60 ; Bourne, 561 ; early, 
558-60 ; Embargo, 606 ; Folly, 559- 
60 ; Goat Island, 321 ; Granny-Hole, 
605; the Great, 319, 321, 606; 
Hodge, 321, 605 ; Hodge (New), 606 ; 
Humphrey's 561 ; Nye, 559, 562 ; 
Page's, 561; Patten, "^320-1 , 605-6; 
Perkins, 322 ; Perry, 562 ; Pike & 
Co.'s, 561; Purinton, 321-2; Rogers's, 
321, 606; Shad Island, 560; Tide, 
619; Wind, 619. 

Mill, Paper, 322. 

Milton, Town of, 11. 

Minerals, 14, 46, 96-8. 

Mines, 14, 46. 

Minks, 90. 

Ministerial and Minister's Lots, 27, 134, 
357, 360, 407, 414. 

Ministerial Taxes, 364. 

Ministers, 109, 115, 116, 212, 454; Settle- 
ment of, 109, 115-16; Maintenance 
of, 22-3, 27, 116. 

Minot, 26. 

Minute-Men, 678. 

Missionaries to Indians, 352-4. 

Mobbing of Mr. Wilson, 680, 683-4. 

Moffitt's Point, 82. 

Moles, 90, 

Mollusks, 93. 

Molybdenite, 98. 

Molybdite, 98. 

Monhegan, 7. 

Moore, 88, 

Mortality, 311. 

Mount Ararat, 76. 

Muddy Riyer, 6, 21, 43, 76, 81. 

Municipal History of Brunswick, 104- 
54; of Harpswell, 155-79; of Tops- 
hana, 1 80-201. 

Murders, 285, 287, 3 IP. 

Muscongus Compaiiy, 7. 

Music, Instrumentai, 214. 

Musical Jourual, The, 309. 

Muski'nt«, 90. 

Mussel Beds, 96. 

Mustard-Mill, 571. 

Mustard's Island, 81 ; Tavern, 102. 



948 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Musters and Parades, 695-6 ; Burlesque, 
696. 

N. 
Nagusset Point, 3. 
Nail-Makers, 582; Factory, 610. 
Narrative, John Dunlajj's, 209-11. 
Narrows, Audroscoggiu or Pejepscot, 11, 

81, 184. 
Navigation, 330-7. 
Newbury, 52. 
New Casco, 101. 
New l^amariscove, 18, 21. 
New England Farmer, 308. 
New Haven, 19. 
New Marbleliead, 57. 
New Meadows River and Settlement, 6, 

8, 10, 18, 31-2, 38, 50, .58,6.3, 66, 75- 

7, 84, 90, 97-8, 107, 119, 132, 205. 
New Plymouth Company, 7, 17. 
Newspapers, etc., 306-10; in Brunswick, 

306-10; in Harpswell, 310; in 

Topsham, 310. 
New Stvle of reckoning Time, 108. 
New AViiarf, 83, 87. 
Niagara Engine Company, 273. 
Niagara Fire-Engine No. 3, 272-4. 
Noble Street, 541. 

Norridgewock, 55, 57, 86 ; Indians, 64. 
Northeast Boundary Question, 148. 
Northern Iris, 307. 
North Yarmoutli, 10, 47, 60, 85, 107, 109, 

118, 155, 158, 160, 162-4; Island, 

856. 
Notable Features of the Country, 76-8. 
Nucleus Club, 242-4 ; Officers of the, 

243-4. 

O. 

Oak, 99. 

Oak Hill, Brunswick, 77, 83 ; Topsham, 
82, 

O'Brien Street, .541. 

Obsequies of Lincoln, Observance of, 
232-3 ; of Washington, 227-8. 

Observatory, 77, 657-8. 

Odd Fellows' Hall, 242, 297. 

Oil-Mill, 571. 

Old Feldspar Quarry, 97-8. 

Old Style, 108. 

Old Sunday, 81. 

Orations, etc., 228-31, 240, 245. 

Orchards, 98. 

Ordinations in Brunswick, 358-9, 363, 
366, 370, 372, 381-2, 389-90, 397 ; in 
Topsham, 410, 416-7, 421, 425, 429; 
in Harpswell, 436-7, 445-6. 

Organ in Brunswick, The first, 372 ; 
Speech against, 372-3. 

Organization of the Baptist Church, etc., 
in Harjjswcll, 447-8; of Methodist, 
in Brunswick, 399-400; of Free- 
Will Baptist, in Topsham, 427. 



Origin of the Pejepscot Company, 21-3, 

27. 
Oriole, The Baltimore, 91. 
Orr Street, 545. 
Orr's Island, 47-8, 75, 84-7, 93. 
Orthodox Church, etc., Topsham, 439- 

32; Confession of Faith of, 429; 

Statistics of, 432. ' 

Otter, 88. 
Owen's Hall, 297. 
Owls, 91. 

P. 

Page Street, 541. 

Pail Manufactory, 571. 

Painters, 582-3. 

Paper-Monev, 133,188; Depreciation of, 
188. 

Paper-Box Manufactory, 572-3. 

Paper-Staining Manufactory, 573. 

Paper-Mill, Topsham, 608-9. 

Parisli, The Centre Cong, of Harpswell, 
451-4; Communion Service given to, 
453 ; Constitution of, 452 ; Votes of, 
453. 

Parish of Brunswick, The First, 354-65; 
established, 354 ; Church of, 365-77 ; 
Fund of, 377. 

Parish of Harpswell, The first, 436-46 ; 
Church of, 436-46 ; First Minister of, 
436 ; Votes of FirstChurch of ,438-40, 
441, 445; Eecords of, 444 ; Separa- 
tion from, 446. 

Parish of Topsham, The First, 406-19, 
432-5; Business Meetings of, 411, 
412, 415; Church of, 407, 410, 429- 
32 ; first Minister of, 406 ; Fund of, 
413-15, 434-5 ; Votes of, 407-9. 

Parish, Membership in a Poll, 418-9. 

Parish, St. Paul's. See St. Paul's. 

Parisli in TopsJiam, The Second, 413-14, 
419-23, 426-9; Votes of, 420-1. 

Parish in Topsham, The Third, 423-6. 

Partridges, 91. 

Pastors, Lists of, 375, 429, 454-5. 

Patents,. Old, 9. 

Patent to Purchase and Way, 7, 12, 29. 

Patten's Point, 81. 

Pauper's Cemetery, 146. 

Pauper, The first in Topsham, 190. 

Peace, 51-2, 56, 62, 69. 

Pearl Street, 541. 

Peat, 98. 

Peeking through the Door, 205. 

Pejepscot, 49, 51-2; Bank, 576; Com- 
pany, 24-5, 27, 34-6, 42 ; Agent of 
Company, 31,33-4,37-8, 127 ; Falls, 
8, 25, 104; Fort, 15; Indians, 1; 
Journal, 309; Papers, 19, 29, 47; 
Papers, how obtained, 149 ; Proj)rie- 
-" tors, 17, 19, 21-5, 27-34, 33, 37, 43- 
7, 53-4, 68, 96 ; Doings of the Pro- 
prietors, 27-35, 48, 53, 96, 126, 131 



GENERAL INDEX. 



949 



556, 558-9 ; Votes of Proprietors iu 
' Regard to Mills, 556, 558-9 ; Votes 
of Proprietors iu Regard to Preach- 
ing, 357-9 ;-JPurchase, The, 7-26, 
75, 83; Records, 8, 31, 33; River, 
5, 9-11, 13-14, 20, 25; Settlement, 
49; Tract, 3, 12,18-19,22-3, 26, 51, 
75. 

Pennacooks, The, 2. 

Pemaquid Company, The, 7, 47, 52. 

Pennellville, 83. 

Penobscot Indians, 2, 52, 64 ; River, 1-7. 

Perambnlation of Town Lines, 147, 154. 

Perch, 94. 

Perkins Hall, 301. 

Petitions, 105-6,109-11, 113-14, 117-19, 
121, 130, 132, 135, 143-4, 151, 156, 
158, 160, 183-8, 201,352,461-2, 465, 
466-7, 629-32. 

Petition against dismantling Fort 
George, 629-32 ; for Annexation of 
Harpswell to Brunswick, 156-7, 
159-60 ; for Incorporation of Towns, 
105, 106, 180-1 ; for Incorporation 
of School Disti'icts in Brunswick 
Village, 465 ; of Warumbo Manu- 
facturing Company, 466-7. 

Phippsburg, 76, 144. 

Phlozopite, 97. 

Photographers, 581. 

Physicians iu Brunswick, 311-13; in 
Harpswell, 314 ; in Topsham, 313-14. 

Picaroon, Attack upon a, 685. 

Picaroon at Harpswell, Capture of a, 
687-9. 

Pickerel, 94. 

Picnics, 232, 245. 

Pigeons, Wild, 91. 

Pine, 99. 

Pine-Grove Cemetery, 341-2. 

Pinnacle, The, 82. 

Pirates, 34. 

Piscataqua, 51. 

Pitchfork Manufactory, 610. 

Plague, The, 2. 

Plate of Chas. N. Leavitt, A White 
Earthen, 674. 

Pleasant Point, 10,36, 54, 68, 81. 

Pleasant Street, 32, 154, 541, 545. 

Pleasure Boat, 337. 

Plough Manufactory, 573. 

Plovers, 91. 

Plymouth Claim, Bounds of the, 34. 

Plymouth Company, 7, 17, 25, 33, 35-6, 
39, 49. 

Pneumonia, 314. 

Pocket Compass of Andrew Dunning, 
673. 

Poems, 226, 230-1, 245. 

Point Agreeable, 3. 

Poland, 26. 

Pole Island, 86. 

Pollock, 94. 



Pond Island, 86 ; Town, 36. 

Ponds, 76. 

Poorhouses, 134, 143-5, 149, 151, 176-8 
203-4, 648. 

Poplar, 99. 

Population, 43, 48, 116, 118, 599,617, 
623-4. 

Porgy, 94. 

Porpoises, 93. 

Portland, 52, 68, 75, 77, 102, 127, 132, 
189, 199; Road, 83. 

Portrait of Rev. James Woodside, 670. 

Portsmouth, 52. 

Postage, 305-6. 

Post-Offices, 303-6; in Brunswick, 303 
(burnt, 259) ; in Harpswell, 305 ; in 
Topsham, 304. 

Postmasters in Brunswick, 303-4 ; in 
Harpswell, 305 ; in Topsham, 304-5 ; 
Inconie of, 304. 

Potatoes, 220-1. 

Potter Street, 541. 

Potters, 583, 610. 

Potts 's Point, 19, 29, 85-7. 

Pound, 164, 171. 

Powder House, 635-6 ; Hill, 77, 95. 

Pownal, 144. 

Pownalboro', 184. 

Praying- Ho use. Petition for a, 352. 

Preachers in Brunswick, 355-8, 362-5, 
371, 377-8,380-4, 387-404 ;iu Harps- 
well, 436, 446-50, 454-5 ; iu Tops- 
ham, 406-9, 412-3, 419-20, 426-^32, 
435. 

Presbytery, 359. 

Presentation of Flag to Volunteers, 236. 

President's Reply to Memorial, The, 192. 

Press, Printing, 306; of Maine, 306, 310; 
Works from the, 306-10. 

Prices, 589-99, 616, 622-3. 

Price Current, 127, 128, 591-2, 595-6. 

Price of Lumber, 591 ; paid for Harps- 
well Neck, 11 ; paid for Sebascodi- 
gan, 16 ; of Liquor sold in Bruns- 
wick, 597-8. 

Prices regulated, 185, 188. 

Priests, Catholic, 415. 

Prince's Point, 84. 

Prisoners, British, 127, 686, 689. 

Prize.?, 231, 276. 

Privateers, 686. 

Processions, Public, 228-31. 

Prongs, The, 86. 

Proprietors' Stock at Brunswick, 589-90. 

Protector Engine Company, 273 ; Fire- 

Engine No. 4, 272-4. 
Protest against Call to Mr. Urquhart, 
409 ; against Elections, 190-1; against 
Vote of Town, 202. 
Public Dinners, 229-30. 
Public Meetings, 17, 30, 232-8; Anti- 
slavery, 233-5 ; Anti-War, 237 ; 
Temperance, 251-4 ; War, 236-7 ; 



950 



GENERAL INDEX, 



for Aid to Freedmen, 237 ; for Aid 
to Sufferers from Portland Fire, 238 ; 
for City Charter, 236 ; Location of 
Agricultural College, 237 ; orna- 
menting Village -with Trees, 235 ; 
Eelief of the Greeks, 233; in Eegard 
to Brooks's Attack on Sumner, 235; 
of Soldiers of the devolution, 233 ; 
to extend an Invitation to Presi- 
dent Jackson, 233. 

Publishment Box, 417. 

Public Lands, 521-8. 

Puggymuggy Eiver, The, 39. 

Pulp Company, 274, 573 ; Manufactory, 
573. 

Pulpit Island, 21. 

Punch, 222. 

Purchase's House, 8. 

Purpooduc, 60. ■ 

Pythonian Library, 244 ; Society, 244. 



Q. 

Quabacook, 5. 

Quails, 91. 

Quahaugs, 93. 

Quahauir Bay, 86-7, 93, 1 55. 

Quakers, 42, 164, 388, 436 ; fined, 164. 

Quarries, 14, 571. 

Quartz, 95, 97. 

Quebec, 67. 

Queen Anne's War, 52-3. 

Quick Carrying-Place, 5. 

R. 

Eabbits, 90. 

Eaccoons, 90. 

Eagged Island, 86. 

Eaid on the Indians, 145-6. 

Eailroads, 245, 325-30; Credit to, 326. 

Eailroad Company, The Androscoggin, 
329 ; Atlantic and St. Lawrence, 
327-8 ; Brunswick, 325 ; Kennebec 
and Portland, 326 ; Lewiston and 
Topsham, 329 ; Maine Central, 329; 
Portland and Kennebec, 329. 

Eailroad, Construction of, 326 ; Depots, 
328 ; Fares on the, 327 ; fir.st Trip on, 
326 ; Headquarters of the, 327-8 ; 
Travel on the, 329-30. 

Eain, 100-1. 

Eaw Island, 86. 

Eeach, The, 69. 

Eebellion against the Proprietors, 35. 

Eebellion, War of the, 6?6-705. 

Eecognizee A, 125. 

Records of the Baptist Church, etc., in 
Harpswell, 447-9. 

Eecords of the Universalist Society in 
Harpswell, 451. 

Eecords of the Topsham Artillery, 691. 

References to Map, 41, 73-4. 



Eegattas, 224. 

Eegimental Officers, 695. 

Eegulator, The, 309. 

Eelics, Interesting, 670-5; of Mrs. Ean- 
dall, 672 ; of Skipper Malcolm, 672. 

Eeligious Eevivals, 387. 401-2, 423-4, 
455; Services, 108; Societies, 134. 
See also Denominational Names. 

Eelinquishment of Accounts bv Samuel 
Eaton, 442 ; of Civil Contract, 442. 

Eemonstrance against Eepeal of the Act 
creating Village School District, 
465 ; in Eegard to Annexation, 202 ; 
in Eegard to Election, 190; in Eegard 
to tlie County Jail Yard, 174. 

Eeport of Committee to Communication 
from Boston, 165-7; of Eev. Sam- 
uel Eaton, 443-4. 

Eepresentative, The first, 111, 164; 
others, 125, 131, 174, 176, 188-90, 
202. 

Eesignation of Eev. Dr. Adams, 373 ; 
of Samuel Eaton, 442 ; of Mr. 
Go.ss, 417 ; of Dr. Wheeler, 396. 

Eesolutions, 122-4, 128, 130, 132, 135-6, 
138-41, 144, 147, 178-9, 191-4, 196- 
9, 232, 234-6, 251, 254, 286, 429, 
485, 679, 685, 697-8. 

Eesolutiou to support Congress, 685 ; in 
Eegard to a Statement of W. S. 
Lindsey, M. P., 697-8. 

Eevision of Constitution, 133. 

Eevolutionary War, 676-89. 

Eheumatism, Acute, 314. 

Eiding to Church, 212. 

Einging the Town Bell, 146, 151. 

Eiver Eoad, 82. 

Eoads, 32, 117, 119, 128, 164, 205, 528- 
38, 542-6. 

Eoads in Brunswick, 528-38 ; Twelve- 
Rod, 528, 534-38; Four-Eod, 528; 
from Fort to Town Landing, 528 ; 
from N. Meadows to Twelve-Bod 
Eoad, 529 ; from Stephens's Carry- 
ing-Place to Coombs's Point, 530; 
from Gurnet northerly, 530 ; from 
Old Meeting-House to Middle Bay, 
530; from Brunswick to George- 
town, 530; from N. Meadows to the 
Androscoggin, 530; from Nathan 
Woodward's to N. JNIeadows, 532 ; 
from Maquoit to Bunganock, 532; on 
Mair Point, 532 ; from Alexaniler's 
to Eaymond's, 533 ; from Bath to 
Freeport, 534 ; from Cook's Corner 
to Bath, 532-3; from Oak Hill to 
Bunganock, 533 ; the Pennell, 532; 
the Durham, 532; the Freeport, 
532 ; Friends, 533 ; New Wharf, .533 ; 
Otis, 533 ; Shunpike, 533 ; Turnpike, 
533. 

Eoads in Harpswell, 545-6 ; from the 
Ferry, 546 ; on Great Island, 546 ; 



GENERAL INDEX. 



951 



on Orr's Island, 546 ; on the Island , 
the Main, 545; on the Neck, 545; 
purveyed, 545-6. 

Roads in Topsham, 542-5 ; County, 544 ; 
Foreside, 543 ; from Bowdoin to 
Bowdoinham, 544 ; from Elm Street 
to River, 544 ; from Isabella's Barn, 
542 ; from Little River to Bowdoin 
Road, 544 ; from Main Street to the 
Landing, 544 ; from Narrows to 
Cathance, 542-3 ; from Rufns 
Rogers to Andros R. R. Bridge, 545; 
Lower to Bowdoinliam, 543-4 ; Main 
Street, 544 ; Meadow, 544-5 ; over 
Goose Rock, opposed, 545 ; to Bow- 
doin, 544 ; to Bowdoinham, 543. 

Roliertson's Hall, 297. 

Robin, The, 91, 

Rocamoco, 53. 

Rock Cod, 94. 

Rocky Hill, 77, 82, 97. 

Rogue's Island, 86. 

Roxbury, 20, 44. 

S. 
Sabattis's Visit to Brunswick, 68. 
Sabbath-Breakers, 213. 
Sabbath School, History of the first, 

374-5. 
Sabbath School of the Free-Will Baptist 

Society, in Brunswick, 390-1. 
Sachems, 2, 10. 
Saco Independent, The, 307 ; Indians, 

52 ; River, 1. 
Sacrament, Administration of the, 370- 

1, 410, 417. 
Sacramental Plate of First Pari.sh, Bruns- 
wick, 671. 
Saddle-Bags, 215. 
Saddlers and Harness-Makers, 583, 612, 

.620. 
Sagadahoc Agricultural Society, 204 ; 

Hall, 204, 301. 
Sagadahoc River, 1, 7, 10, 13, 18, 51. 
Sagamores, 2, 3, 10-12, 15, 52. 
St. Francis Indians, The, 6. 
St. George, The River, 1, 7, 57-8. 
St. Paul's Parish, 402-5 ; a Mission, 

403; Baptisms in,405; Burials in, 405; 

Confirmations in, 405 ; Communion 

Set, 404 ; Ladies' Society of, 404 ; 

Marriages in, 405 ; Organ of, 404 ; 

Rectors of ,403-4 ; Wardens of, 403-4. 
Salamanders, 93. 

Salaries relinquished in Revolution, 683. 
Sale of Liquor prohibited, 203. 
Salem, 123. 

Salisbury, 16, 21, 55, 68. 
Salmon, 94, 552 ; and Sturgeon Fisliing, 

8, 13-14, 38, 82, 211, 552 ; Island, 79. 
Salt Works, 573, 619. 
Sandpipers, 91. 
Sand Plains, 96. 



Sandy Gully, 82. 

Sanitary Condition, 311, 314. 

Sapsucker, The, 91. 

Sash and Blind Factory, 607. 

Satire upon General Thompson, 681. 

Sawacook, 5. 

Scales and Weights, 164. 

Scarborough, 2, 18. 

Scenerv, 76-8, 82, 86. 

Schools, 116, 134, 145, 204; Provision 
for early, 457. 

Schools in Brunswick, Public, 457-60, 
461 ; first Teacher in, 457. 

Schools in Brunswick, Private, 477-81 ; 
MLss Buss's, 477-8 ; Mrs. Putnam's, 
478 ; O'Brien's, 478 ; Miss Chap- 
man's, 478 ; Smith'.s, 478 ; Preble's, 
478 ; Jones's, 478-9 ; Dodge's, 479; 
Adams's, 479 ; Miss Lee's, 479 ; 
Misses Owen's, 479 ; WoodhuU's, 
479; Baker's, 479; Miss Folsom's, 
479 ; Miss Dunning 's, 479 ; Miss 
Hinckley's, 479-80; Pike's, 480; 
Kendrick's, 480. 

Schools in Harpswell, 493-7 ; Private, 
497. 

Schools in Topsham, 482-92; Private, 
487-92 ; Thompson's, 487 ; March's, 
488 ; Miss Eastman's, 488 ; Mrs. 
Fields's, 488-91 ; Mi.ss Wheeler's, 
491-2; Miss WiLson'.s. 492; Nut- 
ting's, 492 ; Wood.side's,492 ; Frank- 
lin Family, 487 ; Topsham Female, 
488. 

School Districts in Brunswick, 458-9 ; 
Votes of, 460-2. 

School Districts in Harpswell, 494-5 ; in 
Topsham, 483, 484. 

School District in Brunswick, The Vil- 
lage, 460-75 ; Act of Legislature in 
Regard to, 462, 467 ; Board of Agents 
of, 463-4, 467 ; Depositions concern- 
ing, 466 ; Doings of, 463, 467-75 ; 
first Meeting of, 463 ; Formation of, 
460-7 ; Petition for, 461-2, 465 
Schools in, 463-4, 473-5. , 

School Books adopted in Topsham, 485. 

School for Indians, 457 ; High, Topsham, 
484. 

School Fund of Topsham, 483-5. 

School-Houses, 165, 486; in Brunswick, 
459-60; burnt, 261, 266, 269, '271 ; 
in Harpswell, 493, 495-6 ; in Tops- 
ham, 486. 

School Lots, 27, 189, 457, 459, 482, 483; 
Sale of, in Topsham, 483. 

School-Masters, 112, 115, 119, 125, 458, 
460, 477-81, 482, 486, 495, 497. 

School, Negroes in, 459. 

Schools, Special, in Brunswick, 480-1 ; 
in Topsham, 492. 

School, Special, for Dancing, 481 ; Em- 
broidery, 481 ; Instruction in Fancy 



952 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Painting, 481 ; French, 481 ; Music, 
481 ; Navigation, 481 ; Singing, 481, 
492 ; Writing, 481, 492. 
School, Supervisors or Committee of, in 
Topsham, 484 ; in Harpswell, 494-5. 
Schools, Votes of Erunswick in Regard 
to, 457-9, 461 ; Votes of Proprietors 
in Regard to, 457. 
School Street, 541-2. 
Scragg Island, 87. 
Sculpin, 94. 
Seals, 93. 
Sea Point, 83. 
Seat of Government, 144. 
Sebascodigan, 5, 6, 11-4, 17-9, 30-1, 46, 

48, 75,84-5, 155, 160, 164. 
Second Adventist, The, 310. 
Second Adventist Church, etc., Tops- 
ham, 435. 
Second Indian "War, 51-2. 
Second Union Bank, The, 575. 
Selectmen, Brunswick, 104-5, 108-11, 118, 
160; Har])s\vell, 162; Topshain, 183. 
Seminary, The Brunswick, 476-7 ; The 

Plea"sant Street, 476. 
Separation from tlie Town, 119, 143; of 
Maine from Massachusetts, 132-3, 
142-3,171-3, 186-9, 191, 199. 
Sermons, 212. 
Settlements, Abandoned, 37, 52 ; under 

the Proprietors, 37-48. 
Settlement of Rev. Mr. Clement, 431 ; 
Coffin, 365, 370; Elislia Eaton, 436; 
Samuel Eaton, 437 ; Ellis, 409 ; Goss, 
416; Harlow, 445; Kellogg, 453; 
Kendall, 422; Lamb, 449; Lord, 
429; Mead, 372; Miller, 362-3; 
Moore, 364; Pinkham, 448; Potter, 
446 ; Rice, 433 ; Rutlierford, 355 ; A. 
D. Wheeler, 433 ; Samuel Wheeler, 
408; Wilde, 431; Woodside, 354. 
Settlers, Attacks upon the, 49-56 58, 60- 

3, 66-8. 
Settlers, Earlv, 3, 7-26, 27, 37-9, 41, 43, 

47-8, 69,'205, 805. 
Sextons, 121. 

Shad Island, 78-9 ; Mill, 79. 
Sliapleigh's Island, 20. 
Sheep stealing, 283. 
Slieldrake, The, 92; Point, 21. 
Shells, 96. 
ShelUn- Island, 84. 
Shingle Manufactory, 610. 
Sliip burnt, 268. 
Shipwrecks, 332-4. 
Sidewalks autliorized, 152. 
Singing in Churcli, 363, 370. 
Sixth Indian War, 65-70. 
Skeletons, 674. 
Skunks, 90. 

Slaves and Slavery, 205-6. 
Sleeping in Meeting, 212-3. 
Sleeve-Buttons of Capt. John Rogers, 
673. 



Sluicewav, The Topsham, 603. 

Small Island, 86. 

Small Point, 13, 14, 19, 20, 22, 28. 

Small-Pox, 314-16. 

Smelts, 94. 

Smith's Journal, Extracts from, 60. 

Smithsonian Institution, Report of, 99- 
101. 

Smoking Fish Point, 18. 

Snakes, 92. 

Snipes, 91. 

Snow, 100, 102 ; Island, 8. 

Snow's Pond, 59. 

Soap Factory, 573. 

Societies, Bowdoin Temple of Honor and 
Temperance, 256 ; Brunswick and 
Topsham Athenaeum, 242, 245; 
Brunswick Brass Band, 246 ; Bruns- 
wick Division Sons of Temperance, 
255 ; BrirhsM'ick Humane Society, 
241; Brunswick Linnanxn, 245-6; 
Brunswick Lyceum, 244-5 ; Bruns- 
wick, Topsham, and Harpswell, for 
tlie Suppression of Intemperance, 
250-1 ; Brunswick Total Abstinence 
and Charitable, 252; Brunswicic 
Watch Association, 247-9 ; Cadets 
of Temperance, 255-6 ; Castalian, 
of Brunswick, 245 ; Hayden, 246 ; 
Joshua Nve Lodge, Good Templars, 
256 ; Ladies' Soldiers' Aid, 242 ; Lib- 
erty Association of Brunswick, 247 ; 
Martha Washington, 254 ; Mozart, 
246 ; Nucleus Club, 242-5 ; Patrons 
of Husbandry, 239 ; Peace, 246 ; 
Pejepscot Division Juvenile Tem- 
perance Watchmen, 255 ; Pejepscot 
Lodge, Odd Fellows, 242; Pytho- 
nian, 244 ; Reform Club, 256 ; Saga- 
dahock Agricultural and Horticul- 
tural, 238-9 ; Sawacook Division 
Sons of Temperance, Topsham, 255 ; 
The Temperance, 255 ; Temper- 
ance, of Brunswick, 251-2; Tem- 
])erance, of Bowdoin College, 252 ; 
Temperance, of Harjxsw ell, 256 ; 
Temperance Watchmen, 255 ; Tops- 
ham Antislavery, 246-7 ; Topsham 
Temperance, 252 ; Town Ilistory 
and Natural Ilistory, 246 ; True 
Washingt onian Temperance, of 
Topsham, 254-5 ; United Lodge Free 
Masons, 239, 241 ; Washington Fire 
Club, 244-5 ; Washington Temper- 
ance, 252; Washington Total Alisti- 
nence, Brunswick, also of Tojisham, 
252-3 ; Young Men's Temperance, 
252 ; Young Men's Washingtouian, 
254. 
Soil, 98-9. 
Sokokis, The, 1. 

Soldiers, 30-50, 51-2, 54. 57, 60, 62. 66, 
114, 117, 124-7, 1 ,■■' ■■-> . :ir-.0, 
172, 174, 186,200, ( • i'Ny-i, t ,5 



GENERAL INDEX. 



953 



Soldiers' Monument, 154. 

Somerset Point, 36, 82. 

Spaleuite, 980. 

Spanish War, 57-65. 

Sparrows, 92. 

Spawell, 62. 

Speeches, 232-7, 250, 679-80. 

Sprague's Quarry, 97-8. 

Spring Street, 542. 

Spruce, 99. 

Spruce Company, The, 682. 

Squirrels, 90. 

Stable Keeper.?, 583. 

Stage Companies, 323-5. 

Stage Drivers, 323-5. 

Stage House, 292-3. 

Stage Eoutes, 302-3, 323-5. 

Stages, 323-5 ; Fares on, 324. 

Statement of Pejepscot Title, 23-6. 

Statistics of Church-Goersiu Brunswick, 

405. 
Stave Island, 11, 81. 
Steamboat Navigation of the Kennebec, 

143. 
Steamboat, The first, 335-6; Flushing, 

336 ; Kennebec, 336 ; Patent, 336 ; 

Eough and Ready, 245, 336; Tom 

Tliumb, 336 ; Victor, 336-7. 
Steamboats, 245, 335-7. 
Stetson Street, 542. 
Stevens's Carrying-Place, 6, 8, 19, 39, 

107, 119. 
Stevens's River, 39, 76. 
Stocks, The, 111, 115, 120, 280-2. 
Stoddard's Hall, 297. 
Stone's Hall, 297. 
Stores and Shops, 584-9 ; burnt, 258-65, 

268-70. 
Store-Keepers, 584-9. 
Storms, 101-3. 
Stove Manufactories, 613. 
Stow, 122. 
Streets named, 539-42, 545 ; Signs 

erected, 545. 
Students' Pranks, 223. 
Sturgeon, 94, 552. 
Sucker, 94. 

Suicides, 318; Punishment of, 282. 
Sununer Street, 80, 545. 
Sunfish, 94. 
Sunset Hill, 77. 
Superstitions, 220. 
Surplus Revenue Money, 150-1, 175, 

201-2. 
Surveyors, 620. 
Surveys of Land, 29-30, 35-6, 75, 126, 

148, 172, 189, 525. 
Suspender Factory, 574. 
Swallows, 91. 
Swamp, Depot, 32. 
Swan Island, 20-1, 27-8; Pond, 76. 
Swivels captured from Picaroon, 

689. 



Sword, John Harmon's, 673 ; Nathaniel 

Purinton's, 673. 
Sword-Fish, 94. 



Tailors, 583, 612-13, 620. 

Tanager, The Scarlet, 91. 

Tanners, 583-4, 610-11, 620. 

Tar box Quarry, 97-8. 

Tariff, 147. 

Tavern, Encouragement to keep a, 290. 

Taverns and Public Halls, 34, 290-302. 

Taverns burnt, 260, 268, 271. 

Taverns in Brunswick, 290-7 ; in Harps- 
well, 301-2; in Topsbam, 298-301. 

Taverns, American House, 294 ; Bailey's, 
301 ; Baker's, 300 ; Blanchard's, 299 ; 
Bowdoin Hotel, 296 ; Brunswick 
House,294-7; Chase's, 292 ; Cleaves's, 
296 ; Coombs's, 290 ; Curtis's, 291 ; 
Dennetts', 300; Dinsmore's, 300; 
Dnnlap's, 291 ; Elm House, 301 ; 
Eastman's, 301 ; Gatchell's, 296 ; 
Green's, 300 ; Half -Way House, 296 ; 
Haynes's, 300; Hebberd's, 300; 
Ho' gkins's, 294, 323 ; Hunter's, 298- 
9; Hunter's (Widow), 299 ; in Fort, 
291 ; Jack's, 300 ; Jewell's, 302 ; Lin- 
coln House, 294, 300 ; Maine Hotel, 
294 ; Mansion House, 302 ; Merrill's, 
299 ; Moorhead's, 292-3 ; Mustard's, 
300 ; Nichols's, 292-3 ; Mrs. Nichols's, 
292 ; Old Wheeler's, 296 ; Pejepscot 
House, 294 ; Pumpkin, 293 ; Puring- 
ton's, 299 ; Reed's, 298 ; Richardson's, 
300; Rogers's, 299; Ross's, 291; 
Sager's, 300; Sandford's, 300; 
Spear's, 290; Starbird's, 301 ; Stinch- 
field's, 294, 296, 323 ; Stoddard's, 293; 
Stone's, 291 ; Storer's, 296 ; Temper- 
ance House, 300 ; Thompson's, 290 ; 
Thompson's (Brigadier), 299; Til- 
tou's, 299 ; Tontine Hotel, 294-6 ; 
Tucker's, 300 ; Union House, 301-2 ; 
Veazie's, 300 ; Walker's, 300 ; Walk- 
er's (Elijah), 302; Washington Hall, 
292 ; W^ashingtonian House, 301 ; 
Whitney's, 299; Wilson's, 298; 
Winchell's, 298 ; Wvman's, 299. 

Taxation, 36, 115-17, 121, 129, 132, 184- 
8, 190, 203. 

Teal, The, 92. 

Telegraph Companies, 337-8. 

Telegraph Company, American, 337 ; 
Atlantic and Pacific, 338 ; Interna- 
tional, 337; Maine, 337; Western 
Union, 337, 

Telegraph Line, 329, 337-8. 

Telegraph Offices, 329, 337-8. 

Telegraph Operator, The first, 337. 

Temperance, Addresses, 250, 253 ; Ban- 
ner, 253 ; Pledge, 251, 253 ; Reform, 
249-56. 



054 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Temperature, 100-1. 

Ten-Mile Falls, 8, 56, 65. 

Terraced Land, 96. 

Terramngus Cove, 10, 80. 

Territorial Limits, 26. 

Theatre, 224. 

Third Indian War, 52-3. 

Thompson's Brook, 84; Island, 80; 

Street, 542. 
Three Years' War, 53-6. 
Thrnshes, 91-2. 
Thunder-Storms, 102-3. 
Tin Shops, 588-9, 613. 
Titanite, 98. 

Title of Andrew Lee's Sermon, 410. 
Titmouse, The Black-Cap, 92. 
Toads, 93. 

Tobacco Manufactory, 584, 611. 
Toll-Bridge, 93. 
Tom-Cod, 94. 
Tontine Hall, 297. 
Tontine Hotel Company, 294-5. 
Tool Manufactory, 574. 
Topsham Academy, 486-7, 657 ; burnt, 

269. 
Topsham Artillery Company, 690-2. 
Topsham, First Meetino; of" Town, 183 ; 

First Officers of, 183 ; in War of 

Rebellion, 700-2; Inhabitants of, 

33-6; Militia Companies, 690-2; 

named, 180; Plan of, 185; settled, 

130; under Maine, 200-4; under 

Massachusetts, 180-200. 
Topsham and Brunswick Twenty-five 

Cents Savings Bank, The, 576-7. 
Tories, 676, 689. 
Torture of Moses Eaton, 55. 
Tourmaline, 97. 
Town Clock purchased, 151. 
Town Fund, 114. 
Town Houses, 150, 1.54, 177, 204, 636, 

657,665; burnt, 153, 263. 
Town Line, 147. 
Town Meetings held in Taverns, 290, 

299; Warrant for, in 1775, 677; 

illegal, 200. 
Town Officers, Election of the first, 104. 
Townships laid out, 22, 27, 29, 34. 
Trades and Traders, in Brunswick, 577- 

89; in Harpswell, 619-21 ; in Tops- 
ham, 611-15. 
Traditions, 65, 69-70, 78-81, 84-5, 92, 

259, 683. 
Trails, Indian, 6. 
Train Band of Topsham, 690. 
Transfer of Islantls to Topsham, 145, 

183. 
Trial for Barn burning, 284 ; Breach of 

Promise, 285 ; Murder, etc., 283, 

285-7. 
Trial of — Boone v. Woodside, 278-9; 

Capt. William Woodside, .278; 

Clark V. Dole, 283-4 ; Jenny Eaton 



r. Rogers, 282 ; First Parish Bruns- 
wick i'. McKeen, 284 ; Giles v. God- 
dard, 278 ; McNess v. Smith, 279 ; 
Orr V. Woodside, 280; Smith v. 
McNess, 279 ; Smith v. Vincent, 
279 ; State v. Crips, 286 ; State v. 
Dudlev, 286-7 ; State v. Miller, 
287, State v. Thorn and Wilson, 
285-6; Veazie v. Jewell, 284-5 ; 
Village School District v. Titcomb, 
470-2 ; Pres. Allen v. State, 511-12. 

Triconnick, 56. 

Trou])le between the Proprietors and 
Town, 113. 

Tungstite, 98. 

Turnip Island, 86. 

Twelve-Rod Road, 83. 

Twentv-Mile Falls, 25. 

Twins," The, 84. 

Tything-Men, 213-14. 

U. 

Uniforms of Topsham Artillery, 691. 

Union National Bank, The, 576. 

Union of Religious Societies, 396-7. 

Union Street, 32, 542, 545. 

Unitarian — Bible Class, 394 ; Church, 
Topsham, 433-4 ; Preaching in 
Brunswick, 394-5 ; Preaching in 
Topsham, 433 ; Second (Congrega- 
tional) Society of Brunswick, 394-5 ; 
Society of Brunswick, 397-8 ; So- 
ciety of Topsham, 432; Fund of 
Topsham, 434-5 ; Society removed 
to Brunswick, 434. 

Universal Cliristian Society in Bruns- 
wick, 392-3. 

Universalist and Unitarian Societies, 
391-8. 

Universalist Preaching, The first Efforts 
for, 391-2 ; in Harpswell, early, 
450 ; in Topsham, 434. 

Universalist Societv — of Brunswick and 
Topsham, 393-4, 395-6; in Harps- 
well, 450-1 ; Constitution of, 450-1 ; 
reorganized, 451. 

Upper Carrying-Place, The, 6, 11. 

Uppermost Falls, The, 13. 

Urquhart as a Preacher, 409. 

V. 

Vaccination, 175, 196, 200, 31.5-16. 

Validity of Claims to Land, 23-4. 

A'aluation of Real Estate, etc., 599-602, 
616-17, 623. 

Ventriloquism, Exhibition of, 224. 

Vessels, 164, 330-7; seized on the Ken- 
nebec, 684; List of, 330-7; Acc(mi- 
modation, 335 ; Alice, 335 ; Ambi- 
tion, 333-4 : America, 333,688 ; Bos- 
ton, 335 ; Caroline, 335 ; Defiance 
331 ; Elijah Kellogg, 337 ; Eliz- 
abeth, 333; Eliza, 333; Friendship 



GENERAL INDEX. 



955 



335; a Gunboat, 333; Hannibal, 
332; Hope, 332, 335; Industry, 
331 ; Iris, 332 ; Jobn Adams, 332 ; 
Maine, 333 ; Maquoit, 330, 335 ; Mer- 
rj'meeting, 331; Orlando, 335 ; Pejep- 
scot, 330 ;"Sbaving Mill, 688 ; Speed- 
well, 331 ; Statira, 333 ; Susan, 333 ; 
Union, 335; Unity, 331. 

Visit from Talleyrand, 291 

Visit of Soldiers to Mr. Wilson, G83. 

Visit of Mob to Mr. Wilson, 683-4. 

Vocal Music, 224. 

Vote of Towns for — Aroostook E. E., 
154; Postmaster, 204 ; Sliire Town, 
203 ; in Eegard to First Parish of 
Harpswell, 437; Liquor Law, 154; 
Settlement of Eaton's Accounts, 
442 ; to support the Constitution, 
133. 

Votes, Congressional, 133 ; for Presiden- 
tial Electors, 132, 188-9; for State 
Officers, 129, 143, 170, 174; in Ee- 
gard to Formation of Baptist Soci- 
ety, 411; in Eegard to settling Mr. 
Ellis, 409-10; on Amendment to 
Constitiition, 151-2, 202-3. 

Votes of Brunswick in Eegard to Eeturn 
of Conspirators, etc., 689. 

Votes of Harpswell, 163, 166-79; of 
Topsham, 183-99, 202-4. 

Voting, Disorderly, 190. 

Voyages of Discovery, 7. 

W. 

Wagons, 216. 

Waldo Company, The, 7, 

Wales, 144. 

Walrus Tusk, 96. 

Wampum, 11. 

Warming-Pan, John Merrill's, 673. 

Warnings from Town, 120. 

War — of the Bebellion, 696-705; of 
1812, and Preparations for, 196, 693- 
5 ; of Eevolution, 676-89 ; Thomp- 
son's, 681-3. 

Wars, Indian, 49-70. 

Warumbo Manufacturing Company, 566. 

Washington Fire Club, 271-2. 

Washington Hall, 292-7. 

Washiugtonian House, 230. 

Watch, The, in Brunswick, 247-9; 
Eecords of, 249 ; By-Laws of, 247-9 ; 
organized in Harpswell, 167. 

Watches, Invention of Machine-made, 
569-70. 

Water Street, 542, 545. 

Water Power, Survey of the, 554. 

Wawenocks, The, 1. 



Weasles, 90. 

Weddings, Accounts of Singular, 216-18. 
Weighers of Hay, etc., 584,6 13. 
Weights and Measures, The first, 118. 
Wells, The, 44. 
Wells, Town of, 114. 
Wescustego, 155. 
West Bath, 75-6, 204. 
Western Bay, 11. 
Whales, 93. 

Whaleboat Islands, 75, 85, 87. 
Wharton's Deed, 12-16. 
Wharves, 334. 
Wheelwrights, 580. 
Whigby, 19. 

Whipp'ing-Post, 115, 280-1. 
Whiskeag, 19. 
White Bull Island, 102. 
White Mountains, 77. 
White's Hall, 301. 
AVhite's Island, 18, 86-7. 
Widgeon Cove, 11. 
Wigwam Point, 6, 32. 
Wild-Cats, 88, 90. 
Wild Fowl, 92. 
Will Gut, 87. 
Willow, 99. 
Will's Island, 84-5. 
Wind, The, 100. 
Winnegance, 18, 20. 
Winnisimmet Ferry, 21. 
Winter Street, 551. 
Winter Harbor, 52. 
Winthrop Hall, Bowdoin College, 577. 
Winthrop Ponds, 58-9. 
Witches, 220. 

Wolves, 85, 114-15, 130, 186, 220; Anec- 
dotes about, 88-9. 
Woodchucks, 90. 
Woodcocks, 91. 

Wooden Pegs instead of Xails, 216. 
Woods burned, 257-8,261-3, 266-7, 269. 
Wood Thrush, 91. 
Wood Trade, 574. 
Wool Braiding, 219. 
Work-House, 1.34, 171. 
Worumbo Deed, The, 12-16, 24-5. 
Wrentham, 184. 



' Yagerhamer, The, 309. 
Yaggers and Eowdies, 222. 
Yagger Club, 672. 
Yankee-Killer, The, 50. 
Yarmouth, 19, 62. 
York, 45, 47. 

York County (or Province) Eecords, 16, 
21. 



INDEX OF N^^lMES 



BIOGEAPHIES AND FAMILY HISTORIES. 



Abbot, Hon. Jacob, 709-10. 
Abbott, Rev. John S. C, 710. 
Adams, Rev. George E., 710-12. 
Aldeii, Peter O., 712. 
Allen, Rev. William, 713-14. 
Anderson, Jacol), 827-8. 
Appletou, Rev. Jesse, D. D., 714-15. 

B. 

Babbidge — Betty, Courtney, James, 
Sarab, Steplien, Susannah, and Wil- 
liam, 828. 

Badger, Capt. Joseph, 715-16. 

Badger, Capt. Nathaniel, 715. 

Bailev — Delight, Olive, Sarah, and 
timothv, 828. . 

Baker, Willuun, 716. 

Ballard, Rev. Edward, 716-17. 

Bari'on, Hon. John, 717-18. 

Barron, William, 718. 

Barstow — Agnes, Elizabeth, George, 
James, John, Joshua, Michael, Rob- 
ert, and William, 829. 

Berry — Adam, Hannah, Harvey, Jenny, 
John, Josiah, Joseph, Robert, and 
Rufus, 829. 

Bisbee — Aaron, Alice, Elisha, Hannah, 
Huldah, Mary, Oliver, Rnt'us, Sarah, 
Seth, Studley, Thomas, and Wil- 
liam, 829. 

Bisbee, Charles, 829-30. 

Boardman, Alexander F., 718. 

Booker — Daniel, Ester, Isaiah, James, 
John, Joseph, Jotham, Mercy, Mir- 
iam, Ruth, and William, 830. 



Chase — Anne, Anthonv, Isaac, James, 
Jean, Judah, Margaret, Mary, Na- 
thaniel, and William Vincent, 830. 

Clark — David, James, John, Margaret, 



Mary, Nathan, Robert, and Samuel, 
830. 

Cleaveland, Prof. Parker, 718-25. 

Coburn, John, 725-7. 

CoomI)s — Caleb, George, Peter, and 
Samuel, 830. 

Coombs — Anthony and John, 831. 

Curtis, Capt. Nehemiah, 727. 

Curtis — David, Ezekiel, Michael, Paul, 
Ruth, and William, 831. 

Gushing, Caleb, 727-8, 831. 

Gushing — Daniel, Deborah, Erancis 
Dunning, Jeremiah, John, John 
Schwartkin, Louis Tileston, Mat- 
thew, and Rufus King, 831. 

D. 

Dennison, Col. Andrew, 728. 

Douglas, John, 831-2. 

Douglass — Cornelius, Daniel, Elijah, 
George, Israel, Job, John, Joseph, 
Mary, Patience, Sarah, 832. 

Duncan, Dr. Samuel, 728-9. 

Dunlap, David, 731. 

Dunlap, Gen. Richard T., 731-2. 

Dunlap — Jane, John, Margaret, and 
Robert, 832. 

Dunlap — Elizabeth, Hugh, Jane, John, 
Samuel, and Roi)ert, 832. 

Dunlap, Capt. John, 730-1. 

Dunlap, Hon. Robert P., 732-3. 

Dunlap, Rev. Robert, 729-30, 832. 

Dunning, Andrew, 733, 832-3. 

Dunning — Andrew, David, James, Rob- 
ert, and William, 832. 

Dunning, Deacon Andrew, 733-4. 

Dunning, Benjamin, 734, 833. 

Dunning, David, 734. 

E. 
Eaton, Rev. Elisha, 734-5, 833. 
Eaton, Rev. Samuel, 735-8, 833. 



NAMES IN BIOGRAPHIES AND FAMILY HISTORIES. 



957 



Ellis — Caleb, Elisha, Elizabeth, John, 
Haunali, Mary, Samuel, and Thad- 
deus, 833. 

Ellis — Almira, Asher, Benjamin, 
Bethiah, Daniel, John, Mary, 
Eobert Fulton, Samuel Deane, and 
William, 833-4. 

Ellis, Kev. Jonathan, 738-9, 833. 

Emerson, Dr. Ebeuezer, 739. 

Estabrook, Col. Thomas S., 740. 

Everett, Ebenezer, 740-1. 



Farr — Elizabeth, Henry, Isaac, Jenny, 
John, Lorauey, Mary, Michael, 
Noah, Thomas, and Thomas, Jr., 
834. 

Farrin (or Ferrin) — David, Ebenezer, 
John, Eichard, William, and Win- 
throp, 834. 

Fields, Mrs. Elizabeth, 741-2. 

Frost, Major William, 742. 

Fulton — Gowen, James, John, and 
Eobert, 834. 

Furbish, Benjamin, 742-3. 

G. 

Gatchell (or Getchell) — Abigail, Dorcas, 
Hugh, John, Jude, Mary, Moses, 
Nathaniel, Eobert, Samuel, Susan- 
nah, and William, 835. 

Gatchell, Capt. John, 743, 835. 

Giddings, Mrs. Dorotliy, 744-5. 

Giveen (or Given) — David, David, Jr., 
Jane, Jolm, Martha, and Eobert, 
835. 

Goss, Dr. Ebenezer H., 745. 

Gower — Edward, George, James, John, 
Eobert, Samuel, and William, 835. 

Graffam — John, Josepli, Mary, and Ee- 
becca, 836. 

Graves — John, 835-6. 

Graves — Crispus, Daniel, Elizabeth, 
John, and William, 836. 

Graves, Johnson, 745, 836. 

Graves — Ann, Daniel, Ebenezer, Eliza- 
beth, Esther, Jabez, Jacob, John, 
Johnston, Joseph, Levi, Molly, Sa- 
rah, Susan, and Thomas, 836. 

Green, Hon. Nathaniel, 745-6. 

Greenleaf, Eichard, 746. 

Griffin, Joseph, 746-7. 

Gyles, James, 747-8. 

Gyles, Capt. Jolm, 748-9. 

Gyles, Thomas, 749-50. 

Gyles, Thomas, Jr., 750. 

H. 

Haley, Pelatiah, 750-1, 836. 

Haley — Elizalieth, John, Mary, Pelatiah, 

and Susannah, 836. 
Haley — Abigail, Abner, Esther, James, 



John, Jesse, Joseph, Joshua, Mary, 
Moses, Eebecca, Euth, Samuel, Sa- 
rah, and Susannah, 836-7. 

Hall, Hatevil and John, 837. 

Hall, Paul, 751,837. 

Ham — Benjamin, John, Joseph, Judith, 
Nathaniel, Eeuben, Thomas, Tobias, 
and Tobias, Jr., 837-8. 

Harmon — Hannah, Johnson, Johnson, 
Jr., Joseph, Martha, Mary, Miriam, 
and Zebulon, 838. 

Hasey, Benjamin, 751-3. 

Haskell, Deacon Joshua, 753-4. 

Henry — Ann, Betty, James, James, Jr., 
Jennett, Mary, and Sarah, 838. 

Hinklev, Aaron, 754, 838-9. 

Hinkley, Samuel, 754, 838-9. 

Hinkley — Edmund, Experience, Mary, 
Mehitable, Eeliance, Samuel, Seth, 
and Shubael, 838-9. 

Holbrook — Abizer, Deborah, Hannah, 
Israel, Jonathan, Jonathan, Jr., 
Polly, Priscilla, and Eebecca, 839. 

Humphreys — Daniel, Eliza, Lawrence, 
Margaret, Marv, Nancy, Sally, and 
William, 839-40. 

Humphreys, John C, 754-5, 839^0. 

Hunt — Charles, Clarisse, Daniel, David, 
Ebenezer, Ephraim, Hannah, James, 
Jennet, Jeremiah, John, Lydia, 
Martha, Mary, Sarah, and William, 
840. 

Hunter, Adam, 756-7, 840-1. 

Hunter, James, 757, 840-1. 

Hunter — Arthur, Elizabeth, James, Jane, 
John, Margaret, Mary, Eobert, 
Susannah, and William, 840-1. 



Jaques — Benjamin, Miriam, Richard, 

and Susannah, 841. 
Jordan — Dominicus, Jedediah, Jeremiah, 

John, Eobert, Robert, Jr., and 

Samuel, 841. 
Jordan — Fields, John, John, Jr., and 

Peter, 841. 

K. 

Kendall, Eev. Henry, 757-8. 
King, Hon. William, 758-9. 

L. 

Larrabee, Benjamin, 759, 841-2. 

Larrabee — Abigail, Benjamin, Elizabeth, 
Hannah, Isabella, James, Mary, 
Nathaniel, and Stephen, 841-2. 

Larrabee, Capt. Nehemiah, 760. 

Lemont, Adam, 760. 

Lincoln, Dr. Isaac, 760. 

Lincoln, Dr. John D., 761-2. 

Lunt, Amos, 762, 842. 

Lunt — Frederick, Harry, Henry, and 
Joseph, 842. 



958 



NAMES IN BIOGRAPHIES AND FAMILY HISTORIES. 



M. 

McKeen, Dr. James, 7GG-9. 

McKeen, John, 765-6. 

McKeeu, Rev. Joseph, 762-4. 

McKeeii, Josepli, 764-.5. 

McMauus — Daniel, James, James, Jr., 
John, Richard, and Robert, 842. 

McManus, Richard, 769-70, 842. 

Mariner — John, Samuel, and Sarah, 
842. 

Martin, Capt. Clement, 770-1. 

Martin — Elizabeth, Ephraim, Jennet, 
John, John, Jr., Rebecca, and Sam- 
uel, 843. 

Melcher — Aaron, Abner, Eliza])eth, 
John, Josiah, Joseph, Lois, Mar}% 
Nathaniel, Noah, Rachel, Rebecca, 
Reliance, and Samuel, 843. 

Merrill, John, 771-2, 843. 

Merrill, Col. Abel, 7 72,. 843-4. 

Merrill, Leonard P., 773. 

Merrill, Capt. Moses Emery, 773. 

Merrill — Abel, Daniel, Hannah, Hum- 
phrey, John, Joseph, Mary, Obed, 
and Susannah, 843-4. 

Merryman — Hugh. James, Michael, 
Thomas, and AYalter, 844. 

Miller, Rev. John, 773-4. 

Miuot, Hon. John, 774-5, 844. 

Miuot — George, Hannah, John, Mehit- 
able, Mercy, Stephen, aud Thomas, 
844. 

Morse — Adam, Anne, Anthony, Ben- 
jamin, Ephraim, Hannah, James, 
Joseph, John, Margaret, Martha, 
Mary, Sarah, and Susannah, 844-5. 

Mouutford — Edmund, Ester, Hannah, 
Margaret, Mary, William, aud Viu- 
ceut, 845. 

N. 
Newman, Prof. Samuel P., 775-6. 
Noyes — Cutting, Harriet, James, Jane, 
Joseph, Mary, aud Nicholas, 845. 

O. 

O'Brien, John M., 776-7. 

Ori', Benjamin, 777-9. 

Orr — Clement, John, Joseph, Lettice, 
Marv, and Richard, 845-6. 

Owen, Philip, 779-80, 846. 

Owen — David, Dorothy, Gideon, Han- 
nah, Hugh White, Jane, Janney, Jo- 
anna, Jeremiah, John, Lucy, Mar- 
garet, Martha, Philip, Rachel, 
Thomas, and William, 846. 

P. 

Packard, Rev. Charles, 783-5. 
Page, Dr. Jonathan, 780-1. 
Patten, John, 781-2, 846. 
Patten, Cai)t. Robert, 782-3, 846. 
Palteu — Abigail, Actor, David, Dorcas, 



Elizabeth, Hannah, Hugh, Jane. 
John, Joseph, Margaret, Mary, 
Matthew, Rachel, Robert, Rebecca, 
Sarah, Thomas, and William, 846. 

Pennell — Jacol), John, Matthew, Ste- 
phen, and Thomas, 847. 

Perkins, Major Nahum, 785-6. 

Perry, John, 786, 847. 

Perry — Hannah L. W., Isabella Hunt, 
Jesse Appleton, John A., Martha G., 
Octavia Jaue, and Nathaniel, 847. 

Perry, William S., 786-7, 847. 

Peterson — Abigail, Charles, Daniel, 
Hewett, James, John, Jonathan, 
Joseph, Levi, Lucy, Nancy, Sarah, 
aud William, 847-8. 

Porter, Dr. Benjamin Jones, 787-8. 

Potter — Alexander, Andrew, Christian, 
David, Elizabeth, Hewey, James, 
Jaue, John, Joseph, Matthew, Mary, 
Samuel, and William, 848. 

Purchase, Thomas, 788-97. 

Purinton, Humphrey, 797, 848. 

Purinton, Francis T., 797-8. 

Purinton, Nathaniel, 798, 848. 

Purinton, Stephen, 799. 

Purinton — Abial, Hezekiah, Humphrey, 
James, Joshua, aud Nathaniel, 848. 

R. 

Randall — Benjamin, Joseph, and Wil- 
liam, 848. 

Randall — P^lizabeth, Ezra, Heatherby, 
- Isaac, Isaiali, John, Joseph, Mar- 
garet, and Nabby, 848-9. 

Randall — Benjamin, Daniel, Jane, Paul, 
aud William, 849. 

Raymond — Edward and Paul, 849. 

Reed — Anna, Charity, David, Deina, 
Hannah, Jane, John, Margaret, 
Martha, Mary, Susan, and William, 
849-50. 

Reed, John, 799, 849. 

Rich — David, Isaac, Obadiah, Richard, 
Reuben, and Zabeth, 850. 

Ridlev — Daniel, James, Mark, and 
Rachel, 850. 

Robbins, Augustus C, 799-800. 

Rogers, Hon. George, 800, 850. 

Rogers, George A., 800-1. 

Rogers — Alexander, Ann, Dinah, 
Hugh, Jenney, John. Margaret, Rob- 
ert, Thomas, and William, 850. 

Ross, William, 801-2, 851. 

Ross — Anna, Elizabetli, James, Jennett, 
Martha, Robert, Sarah, and Wil- 
liam, 851. 

Rutherford, Rev. Robert, 802. 



Simpson — Jane, Josiah, Lewis, Robert, 
and William, 851. 



NAMES IN BIOGRAPHIES AND FAMILY HISTORIES. 



959 



Sinnett — James, Michael, and Stephen, 
851-2. 

Skolfield, George, 803. 

Skolfield, Thomas, 802-3, 852. 

Skolfield — Anne, Clement, Elizabeth, 
George, John, Joseph, Martha, 
Mary, Rebecca, Richard, Susan, 
Thomas, and William, 8.52-3. 

Small — David, Deborah, Ephraim, Jo- 
seph. Lydia, Mark, Samuel, Taylor, 
Thankful, and Thomas, 853. 

Smith — Joseph, Molly, Samuel, and 
Thomas, 853. 

Smyth, Prof. William, 80.3-7. 

Snow — Ambrose, Anthony, Elisha, Eliz- 
abeth, Hannah, Isaac, John, Joseph, 
Mercy, Nicholas, Samuel, and Wil- 
liam, 853. 

Spear, Robert and William, 853. 

Sprague — David, Elizabeth, Erances, 
James, Joseph, Mary, Oakmau, 
Robert, Ruth, Samuel, William, and 
Willis, 85.3-4. 

Stanwood, David, 807-8. 

Stanwood, William, 808. 

Stanwood — Charity, David. Dorcas, 
Ebenezer, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Jere- 
miah, Lydia, Lucy, Mary, Samuel, 
Sibbel, Stephen, Susan, William, and 
Winslow, 854. 

Staples — Anne,Daniel, Epliraim, James 
John, Josepli, Josiah, Jude, Lucy, 
Marv, Robert, and Stephen, 854. 

Stetson, "Rev. Seth, 808-9. 

Stone, Alfred J., 809. 

Stone — Benjamin, Daniel, Gregory, 
Hannah, James, John, Jothani, 
Lydia, Matthias, Rebecca, Simon, 
Theodore, and William, 855. 

Stover (or Stafford) — Abigail, Alcott, 
John, Johnson, Joseph, Mary, and 
Wanton, 855. 

Swett — James, John, and William, 855. 

Swift — Dean, Jane, John Luf kin, Lem- 
uel, Mary, and Susan Dincen, 856. 

Sylvester, Marlborough, 809-10. 

Sylvester — Barstow, Charles, Deborah, 
Elijah, Gabriel, Hannah, Huldah, 
Isaac, Marlborough, Mercy, Rich- 
ard, and Stephen, 856. 



T. 

Tarr — Betsey, Catherine, Clark, Mary, 
Richard, and William, 856-7. 

Thompson, Abner B., 810. 

Thompson, Charles, 810-11. 

Thompson, Brig. Samuel, 811-16, 857. 

Thompson — Aaron, Adrian, Alexander, 
Alpheus, Benjamin, Dixey, Eliza- 
beth, Eunice, Ezekiel, Francis A., 
llaunah, Isaiah, James, Jane, Jemi- 
ma, John, Ljdia, Mary, Rachel, Re- 



liance, Ruth, Sarah, and Wildes T., 
857. 

Titcomb, Rev. Benjamin, 816. 

Toothaker— Abigail, Abram, Andrew, 
Alexander, Elizabeth, Ebenezer, 
Gideon, Isaac, Jenney, Rebecca, 
Seth, and William Rodick, 858. 

U. 

Upham,Prof. Thomas C, 816-18. 

V. 

Veazie — Deborah, George, John, Re- 
becca, Samuel, and William, 858. 
Veazie, Samuel, 818-20, 858. 

W. 

Walker — Augustine, Gideon, Hannah, 
John, Lucy, Richard, and Susan- 
nah, 858-9. 
Walker, Nathaniel, 820, 858-9. 
Webber — Abigail, Betsey, Charles, 
Daniel, David, Deborah, Eleanor, 
Elizabeth, Hannah, James, Jane, 
Jeremiah, Joseph, Josiah, Lucy, 
Martha, Mercy, Patience, Phineas, 
Richard, Robert, Sarah, Susannah, 
Waitt, andWaitstill, 859. 
Weston — Edmund and Jacob, 859. 
Wheeler, Rev. Dr. Amos D., 820-2. 
White — David, Doretha, Elijah, George, 
Hugh, Jane, Jean, John, Josepli, 
Judah, Mary, Martha, Polly, Sally, 
and William, 859. 
Whitney — Benjamin, John, Jonathan, 
Lettis, Lydia, Samuel, and Susan- 
nah, 860. 
Whitten — Eleanor, Hannah, John, Jo- 
seph, Joshua, Molly, Moses, Ruth, 
Samuel, and Sarah, 860. 
Wilson, Thomas, 822-3, 860-1. 
Wilson — Alexander, Betsey, Catherine, 
David, Elizabeth, Ester, Hannah, 
Hugh, Isabella, James.Jennet, John, 
Lettice, Margaret, Mattliew, Mary, 
Robert, Samuel, Susannah, Swan- 
zey, Thomas, and William, 860-1. 
Winchell — Ann, Ebenezer, Hannah, 
James, John, Martha, Mary, Rob- 
ert, Salome, Samuel, and Silence, 
861-2. 
Woodside, Rev. James, 823-5, 862. ■ 
Woodside, William, 825-6, 862. 
Woodside — Anna, Anthony, James, 
Jean, Mary, Sarah, Vincent, and 
William, 862. 
Woodward — Ebenezer, Joseph, Peggy, 

Peter, and Samuel, 862. 
Wyer — Agnes, 1 )avid, James S., JaneE., 
Josepli^ Lettice, Lucretia, Margaret, 
Mary, Robert, and AVilliam, 86^. 



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